Art brings nature indoors

Taking a walk to enjoy nature is a great way to relax and lower stress. But if you can't get outside that much or the weather is too bad to do it, then think about how a landscape on your wall can bring you there year-round!

Get to know the differences in art medium

Two different drawings, done on two different sized drawing pads (but both on acid free paper!), using different media, depicting two different stopping points on the same orchard path in the New Canaan Nature Center.

Effect of dark chalk in a landscape

Sunny Orchard by Paul Creedon, 2012.

The first drawing shows the entrance to an orchard, with a patch of woods on the left and a large apple tree in the center. The shape of the tree and the dark shadow underneath drew my interest: it formed a near triangle, and gave a perfect center of attention to the scene. I used dark chalk on white paper to convey the stark impression of bright sunlight in the orchard.

Softened light using graphite

A smaller, graphite lead drawing was done further down the path, and the heavy shadow under the apple tree can be seen on the right hand side. The trail continues toward Rt. 124 in the distance.

             Orchard Shadow by Paul Creedon, 2012.

At that point the shadow of the tree is directly to the right and the woods are still following along on the left, and the feel of bright sunlight is gone. I had reached this second vantage point on an overcast day, whereas I encountered the previous scene on a sunny afternoon. The focus shifts to the path and to the way down to the road. So I used a lighter lead pencil on a softer tone of paper to suggest the change of atmosphere. After I scanned the drawing I noticed the inadvertent cue at the end of the lane: the shadow between the bushes looks like a hand with a finger pointing to my destination.

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