The oldest tree in town, maybe
Posted: September 19, 2022 Filed under: Uncategorized 10 CommentsThere’s a splendidly-gnarled olive tree in the main square of Vouliagmeni. If you walk around it, you’ll see a sign that has a big 1,200 on it. Under the 1,200, there’s a word in Greek, but I don’t read Greek, so let’s just assume that the word can be translated into “years” and that the tree is 1,200 years old. If nothing else, it makes for a good tidbit to go along with my drawing. As for the proportion of ink to wash, I figured that if a tree managed to survive twelve centuries, including at least 50 years in close proximity to a major coastal road in Greece, it deserved all the colour in the sketch.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
I’ve also been working on some gnarly olive trees from my trip to Israel last summer.
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I find it interesting to see the very old tree that has stood the test of time surrounded by the signs of a new world. The train or traffic signs and the new young trees. You did a beautiful job by putting color on the tree spotlighting it’s beauty.
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I love the combination of linework with and without color! Nice stuff. Thanks for sharing!
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I agree with Karen’s comment-great combo. And I might add that I hope your work will be admired 1200 years from now as well!
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Quite a tree and quite a sketch/painting. I keep staring at it. Thanks. It is lovely.
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Whoa..what kind of tree?..hope its protected by gov..someone?
Brenda
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It’s an olive and it is protected.
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Amazing and very interesting. Thanks!
Connie Renaud
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Love the story, the limited area of color and your lines. Great job!!
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Very interesting tree. I know in Ontario I highly doubt any trees are that old. We do have some very old hemlock trees that may be 800 years old. This tree almost looks like an ancient Conifer Tree, like the kind recently found in Australia, or most likely it is a type of modern Pine / Fir Tree.
I really like how you used a limited selection of colour in this painting, and thin washes of green / brown. The pen work seems fairly loose and natural.
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