Two new challenges.
Not only did I push my plein air hiking to the 2 mile mark, I also set out to paint one of my favorite trees in the crater, the African Fever Tree.
This is the magnificent Fever Tree.
Pictures cannot capture it's grand scale. Even the green around the bottom of it, that look like bushes, are actually part of the tree.
I was once again out of my plein air comfort zone, but am actually starting to enjoy the challenges more and more. I set up, looking out for any potential widowmakers, and got to work. The day was hot and sunny, but the shade that this enormous tree provided was amazingly cool.
At certain times of the day, this tree has a light aqua-green glow to it. As I was finishing up my painting, the glow was there, and I was actually capturing it in my painting! I couldn't believe it! But then, I moved away, and the glow in my painting was gone. The fever tree was still glowing, but my painting was not. What I thought I had accomplished was only my aqua colored shirt reflecting into the painting! It just happened to be the same color that the tree radiates in certain light. No wonder they say to wear neutral colored clothing while plein air painting. Dang! I thought I had attained the magic glow of the magnificent Fever Tree!
Nonetheless, I was still happy with my finished painting.
I packed up and said good-bye to my spectacular model.
What a great plein air adventure!