Horse Chestnuts or Conkers
by Keith Cains
This is a horse chestnut tree growing in my garden:
- I particularly liked the the perspective while looking up through the tree to the sky.
- It was a painstaking painting and I worked on it for several days.
- I added the raven to give a focal point, and I like how he is pre-occupied with stretching his wings.
Horse chestnuts are used in a child’s game known as conkers where the conker is pierced and threaded on a string.
- The object is for one player to attempt to break the opponent’s conker and knock it off the string.
- My wife had a particular fondness for new conkers fresh from their shell, and usually had a few in her pocket.
- She would also put them on the floor by the skirting, she said they would keep spiders away.
- I don’t know if that is true, but the cats liked to play with them.
Horse Chestnuts or Conkers
by Keith Cains
This is a horse chestnut tree growing in my garden:
- I particularly liked the the perspective while looking up through the tree to the sky.
- It was a painstaking painting and I worked on it for several days.
- I added the raven to give a focal point, and I like how he is pre-occupied with stretching his wings.
Raven in a Chestnut Tree
Horse Chestnuts or Conkers
Horse chestnuts are used in a child’s game known as conkers where the conker is pierced and threaded on a string.
- The object is for one player to attempt to break the opponent’s conker and knock it off the string.
- My wife had a particular fondness for new conkers fresh from their shell, and usually had a few in her pocket.
- She would also put them on the floor by the skirting, she said they would keep spiders away.
- I don’t know if that is true, but the cats liked to play with them.
I really enjoy the perspective of the chestnut tree, which, while a common perspective from the ground looking up, is much less commonly seen in a painting.
The conker painting brings back memories of childhood: splitting open the prickly outside skin, to reveal the shiny new conker or conkers inside. I was always excited to discover twins, nestled in their silky white beds. Beautifully portrayed.
I feel like I am standing under the tree myself. The detail and reaction I have to it makes me feel awe and wonder as if I am truly taking in the view in person for one of the first times as a child.
I have heard the same about chestnuts.
I love the perspective looking up the tree at the Raven.
I also really like the painting of the horse chestnuts, brings back memories of breaking them open, and how smooth and shiny the conkers were. I also remember Mom putting them around the house to keep the spiders away, and the Cats batting them around.
Wonderful paintings Keith, I really like the painting with the tree and the raven. I was unaware that those chestnuts are also called conkers, so I learned something today!