Backyard Smoke Trees

Backyard Smoke Trees

6x6, soft pastel

Every year I severely prune our smoke trees/shrubs and each summer they sprout new growth causing what looks like knots where the old growth meets the new.  I took a page from Vincent Van Gogh's Willow's At Sunset, 1888 while painting my backyard smoke trees.  He did a much better job on his willows at sunset than I did on my smoke trees at sunrise but it was fun trying out his style of painting boldly.  One can't help but wonder what he was thinking when he painted...as for me?  I am battling a cold so my meds may have kicked in mid-painting or, maybe I had too much coffee this morning.  Unfortunately, I think I may have pruned my smoke trees too much...right now they look like a gnarly mess as does this painting.