STORY BEHIND THE ART OF CARRIE DICOSTANZO

17th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists at The Horticultural Society of New York

Eastern White Pine

Pinus strobus

I am drawn to painting pines for a variety of reasons. For me, the pine needles are simply lovely in both color and texture. The composition, as always, is so important for me. I love the way the needles can be placed throughout the page, enhancing the composition. Painting the difference between the needles in the foreground and the background, and showing the sheer multitude of the needles and how they intersect with one another is a process which I enjoy. Yes, it is difficult, but I am never bored and I love watching the painting come alive with each needle that is added. The branch and cone of the pine tree also have some great textures which I enjoy illustrating.

The challenge of painting this piece, as with the other pines I have painted, is achieving the volume of the needles. There is the danger of making them look flat. I try to show both the highlights and shadows of each needle to achieve volume. The shadow is painted quite dark and the highlights are much lighter. It is also important for me to show the proper shape, width, and length of the needles.

This piece fits well with my other work of pines which include the Jeffrey Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Gray Pine, and Sugar Pine. Each tree has its own distinct beauty and it is my hope to represent that beauty. The Eastern White Pine has fine needles and a somewhat narrow branch which sets it apart from the others. I chose it because it is so prevalent in my area of New Jersey that I have seen it many times throughout my life and I thought it would be a nice opportunity to paint. It is a wonderfully delicate subject which I hope to paint again.

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Read more about this artist's work:  Weird, Wild & Wonderful