“The Making of Wood” was painted after a lengthy walk in the South Lake Tahoe woods. I continually saw faces and designs in the trunks of trees, making each one highly individualized and unique. I found myself imagining my life as a tree: what would be gained and what would be lost? Certainly, an intimacy with nature and sense of self, one that was deeply internal and knowing, would be gained. And, of course, endurance. In the painting, the face that arises out of the wood desires those qualities, or perhaps already has them.
The Making of Wood
Mixed Media on Canvas: Acrylic, Ribbon, and Newspaper. 18″ x 24″ (SOLD)
I have often marveled at the sight of great pines, great cedar trees—so deeply rooted and entrenched in the earth, yet simultaneously aloft and erect, extending above all else. There is an unwavering and ageless beauty about such strength and constancy. I find myself wondering what these mighty giants think of us? Do they look down upon us with cool indifference, intrigue, or ambivalence? Do they envy our mobility? I admire their resilience, their ability to withstand the pounding of rain, the thrashing of hail, the blankets of snow, and the penetrating sun. I admire their generosity and selflessness, their supreme ability to provide for others (habitat, sanctuary, food) in the face of the changing seasons, year after year, decade after decade, century after century.
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