Going out on a limb here.. No, no.. Branching out.. No wait, “Don’t Stop Be leafing” ..yeah, that one.
(TREE PUNS)
Much like myself, the Vine Maple is from Western North America and is usually found within 300 km of the Pacific Ocean. Good choice.
Another awesome local species, Acer circinatum features bright green and chartreuse branches, white flowers with deep-red sepals, and brightly coloured red and green, winged fruit. It has symmetrical, almost round, palmate leaves that turn from green to golden yellow in the fall. Typically, each leaf has 7 to 9 lobes.. lots of interesting lines, shapes and colours to consider when setting out to capture an artistic likeness of this specimen.
One of the most recognizable characteristics of the Vine maple tree is its penchant to twist, bend and droop. Branches regularly grow horizontally, often changing direction and sometimes bending right over, coming into contact with the ground. This can cause the top of the tree to grow a new root system, creating natural archways. This characteristic makes it the only maple capable of layering, adding a uniquely West Coast flair to out wooded areas.
A few stunningly complex tangles come to mind locally in; Stanley Park, especially along the trails near Beaver Pond; Tynehead Regional Park in Surrey; Campbell Valley and along the Fort-to-Fort Trail in Langley; Mundy Park in Coquitlam; Deer Lake Park in Burnaby; and Buntzen Lake in Anmore, to name a few. All have beautiful examples of established (probably second- or third-growth by now) Vine maple specimens, 30-40+ years old and highly visible from the many walking paths and trails.
I didn’t really have anything specific in mind at first. I had just returned from a walk and had taken a few pictures of some rain soaked Vine maple branches along the way. It was early February and there were few living leaves to be found in the woods. With no foliage to obstruct my view, theses branches stood out against the browned and mostly dormant forest, like over-sized stalks of fresh asparagus.
Their colour stayed with me the entirety of my walk back and I tried my beginners best to replicate it in watercolor when I got home. I started with the branches and decided to add the fruit and flowers next. I really think I need to work on my color mixing, but overall I’m happy with it. I’m still a bit reluctant to add text. I think it needs it, but I’ll probably come back to it one day with a bit more purpose.
– Aaron