tree image history

Trees appeared instinctively in my art when I was a student. I drew a tree and growing from the inside as part of the trunk was a native American Indian in full headdress. Above him the tree continued, branches and all. I didn’t question or wonder about it. Later more trees appeared, turning into oil paintings, big ones when I was in my “big” period. The early drawings I thought looked a little ridiculous. I didn’t respect my spiritual instinct. I’ve changed since then. While visiting at a clairvoyant’s home I began to see auras at night around trees. Glowing white. I asked her what’s happening. Oh, trees are special. I saw star shapes around them, big ones. She thought that was quite normal too. One has to be careful in trying to understand miraculous sights. Don’t try too hard. Let them be and feel their naturalness.

As I am older I draw and paint deliberately the spiritual life I feel is in and around the trees. These solid huge plants anchor the Earth and connect above. Mondrian’s great squares emanated from the tree’s verticality from the flat base to the sky. Studying his work you find the steps in between.There is more response to my tree paintings than to any others, "Girl In A Garden" and “Family In A Tree”. So far I haven’t tired of painting tree visions. In New London recently working with art students and Ellen Kort, Poet Laureate of Wisconsin, I found the same spirit and enthusiasm. The students understood easily what my attitude was about trees. Their art and poetry showed the same feelings. Ellen Kort, too, has a lifelong love affair with trees. Her favorite of my art is also “Family In A Tree”.My group of Tree paintings will be exhibited in upcoming shows, to be announced on my website.