[Kraellin]

things are beginning to bloom nicely here in kentucky. the daffodils and forsythia are out in full bloom now and others are on the way. now, i dont know what this tree is. i shld, perhaps, but i dont. every year it brings out a bounty of these gorgeous, large, purple and white blooms. perhaps someone can i.d. it for me.

i'm a bit disappointed how much got lost in this image during compression to make it fit into the forums, but perhaps there's enough to inspire yet. i took this today. it was overcast and i was just passing by, but the blooms were now almost fully out, so, shoot now or forever hold your tongue... or lens cap.

and because i didnt really set up the shot, i've also done a little work in Paint Shop Pro to clean things up a bit, removing fallen branches, and some other impediments.

at any rate, feel free to work this one however you wish

edit: ok, added a larger size at image shack. click on this link: http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/4...11k1eiswg0.jpg

[Janet Petty]

It is a tulip tree, part of the magnolia family, and it smells heavenly.

[Steve Conway]

Tulip tree it is....we have 'em around here too.

5teve C.

[alexmeta]

Thank you, Craig for nice pic.
AHB+Gertrudis
Other versions...

[palms1]

Totally agree with you Steve, magnolia tree here although the white one flowers first here usually

Nice spring like photo Craig, Thank you

Palms

[lkroll]

Went for a watercolor on textured paper rendering. Here's the fullrez (so big, I had to reduce the quality some to keep withing ImageOx's specs). Attached is even a lower quality crop.

[Kraellin]

ah, you guys are good! yes, tulip tree; now i remember and that dark green tree on the right side of the image is a southern magnolia. you shld see that one when it blooms! i didnt realize the tulip was in the same family. thanks

steve, a delightful paint and i like that you made it brighter. thanks

and alex, it's like pointilism meets smudge. like the tree is dancing in color. very cool

and i'm not quite sure what to call yours, palms; dry brush, maybe? i like that added canvas texture too

ah, lyle, you really made the blossums pop! love that. and i think you found the sort of 'hidden' theme of this...hmmm, theme isnt quite right... motif, maybe? green and purple. you brought out both beautifully.

[mikajomc]

Beautiful art everyone!!
Alex- which do you do first? ahb or gertrudis?

Here's mine.
Lyle- I always laugh when you complain about compressing your paintings. But this is the first time I actually had to compress so far it really reduced the quality! Frustrating!

[alexmeta]

Nice paint, Jordan
...Gertrudis first

[Kraellin]

i like the crop, jordan. you also seem to have caught the green and purple theme. very nice

i've never used gertrudis or ahb, but you seem to do quite well with them, alex. i like the flare in both of those. (by 'flare' i mean the free moving brush strokes).

[alexmeta]

Thank, you Craig. You can see my other works in this technique here

[Kraellin]

alex, wow! those are impressive! i absolutely love those last six on that page! really quite good!