Arms Outstretched
6x8, soft pastel
This tree is outside our back door (actually in the backyard of our neighbor's acreage so fortunately we don't have to rake the leave it drops each fall), I watch it all year long through the seasons and marvel at it's outstretched branches. During the spring it vibrates with new life. During the summer it's bark glows when touched by the setting sun. During the fall it's absolutely radiant with autumn colors and during the winter it gathers much needed moisture from new fallen snow.
I'm not a landscape artist. Artistically speaking, trees have been my nemesis. Painting them seems so daunting a task and there are many other subjects that I enjoy painting more (ie just about anything else). During 2018 I hope to change this feeling of inadequacy by painting them more often. After all, I love trees and have climbed many many trees in my lifetime. It was my favorite pastime as a kid. I can just imagine how fun it would be to climb this gentle giant.
