Linda Blondheim Art Studio Landscapes Of The South

Palm Icon
5x7 inches
oil on panel
unframed


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Painters Tip


Florida Palms

Palms are very popular in Florida and most patrons are attracted to them. The North Florida palm has a short fan shaped frond on stems. South Florida palms have longer fronds with narrow leaves that run up and down a single spine. Sabal Palm, like the painting above grow prolifically throughout the upper part of the state where I live. The colors vary, but the tend toward a nice olive green when you view them up close. Often he fronds turn brown at the tips, or a yellow/rust combination. The further down the trunk the go, the more likely they will be a tan or brown color. As the tree grows the lower fronds die off.

One of the problems I see with inexperienced palm painters is their tendency to make all of the fronds grow out of a single spot. In fact, they are growing out from the tree trunk in multiple angles and directions. The foreshortening makes the fronds directly in front of you look like a fan with no stem because you will not see the stem. the canopy also creates deep shadow on the trunk directly below the canopy. there are multiple tones from gray to brown on the trunks and some have quite a lot of texture while others will still retain the spines of broken off fronds.

They come in various sizes and heights as well. You will need to air them out in places so that they look three dimensional, with some spots of sky color showing through the canopy. When I demonstrate palm painting, I draw a little circle or half circle for the canopy and then proceed to fill it in with fronds. That is a good way to practice. Some canopies are smaller or wider or taller. They are never quite the same, so variety of shapes and colors will enhance your palm paintings.