Blog

One of the things that I love about trees is the stories that they tell in their quiet way. I will never know what they communicate deep underground in their roots. However, with mindfulness and a little detective work I can learn quite a bit of their stories.

I found this tree beside the trail at Barnett Ranch a few weeks ago when the grasses were still hanging on to some green. It is a large old oak tree; the main branch is long and heavy, dangerously close to breaking. What attracted me at first were the blues and greens in the morning shadows. As I began to paint, I noticed the arching branch and the fine twigs and stems reaching out to the ground below, as if the tree is trying to keep from falling.

I have been painting in the back country for a long time and have observed trees change over time. They sway in the wind, move toward the light, living their lives in slow motion. I will be watching. It could be next spring or the year after, the bough will break, and the story will change.

Becoming an artist involves learning process and technique. Eventually, through practice, that knowledge is internalized and becomes intuitive. The other half of the equation is surrender. When there is a balance between control and surrender to the creative process, the result is transcendent.

For most of us control is the is our default position, and a good place to be…until it isn’t. Through experience we learn that often the best thing to do is step out of the way and let the art happen.

Like a dancing, practice and learning the steps comes first, then the real dance begins.