“Near The Shade & Glow of a Tree Named Flo” from today’s Plein Air Austin paint out at Barton Springs Pool. This is a small 8x8” gouache on panel painting from our monthly paint out at Zilker Park today. Also shown here is a color sketch from my sketchbook of the same tree from earlier this morning. The news here is that “Flo”’s fate is in the hands of the experts. But the prognosis at this point is not good. An announcement could come this week. The thought of losing this particular pecan tree is hard to fathom as I’m not usually a tree hugger per se, nor do I play one on TV, but I do know from experience that if it is to go away then along with it goes not only the shade it provides in summer, but the very sense of place at Barton Springs Pool will be forever changed. The canopy poolside, as well as over the swimmers in the water is irreplaceable, as is it’s very unique presence. The backstory of this pecan tree named Flo should be told and it’s presence at the pool documented in artwork. I hope to get other artists to depict this majestic pecan while we can. Many other pecan trees here have been lost over the years on both sides of the pool. That’s life. New trees will surely be planted and will grow poolside at the heart and soul of Austin. Perhaps those trees will even have names and hopefully inspire future generations of plein air artists to paint their forms and colors beneath the shade next to the water and rocks under the blistering Texas sun, not far from “the philosophers rock”, and they too might then contemplate the genius loci of this special place.
Posted on Instagram September 6, 2023