When I was a little girl, there was a large elm tree in our front yard and I would spend many hours in its higher branches. I even had an "apartment" up there, with various limbs representing "rooms" in my pied-à-terre. I don't think it is any accident then, that I have lived the last twenty years of my life in a Swiss Chalet style "tree house" with an enormous silver maple tree right outside my bedroom window.
In my artwork I have been exploring my fascination with trees for their gentle and steadfast presence, while being a reminder of the impermanence of all things, including ourselves.
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| Linda Povey The Source of the Hollow encaustic mixed media 6x6 inches |
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| Linda Povey Solo Journey encaustic mixed media 4x4 inches |
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| Linda Povey Prayers of Impermanence encaustic mixed media 6x6 inches |
I have also been inspired by the work of other artists who are as enamored with trees as I am. Bridgette Guerzon Mills, a wonderful encaustic artist from Chicago, has done some brilliant work with trees as one of her themes. Widely recognized as an inspired teacher of encaustic painting, art journaling and altered book making, I am looking forward to taking a workshop with Bridgette sometime in the future.
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| Bridgette Guerzon Mills Visual Journal, March 9, 2008 Mixed media 5×7 inches |
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| Bridgette Guerzon Mills Outside of Time encaustic mixed media, sold 2012 |
In addition, my close friend of thirty years and artistic mentor, Cape Cod artist Sharon Hayes, has been introducing some of her photographic work into the encaustic process. Here's a sneak peak from something she's been working on in her studio, incorporating the ancient and magnificent trees of New Orleans.
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| Sharon Hayes Untitled encaustic mixed media 8x8 inches |
As a meditation, I go out onto my deck each day and take a picture of the majestic line of Norwegian spruce trees on the south side of our hollow, where they stand shoulder to shoulder like conquering heroes. Each day, the light is different, or the air, but there they stand, reminding me of this constant yet ever changing world. As I've gotten older, I find that the changing nature of things frightens me less and less, and that it is no longer something to resist but to welcome. These are the lessons that the trees have to teach.
The knell of the bells at the Gion temple
Echoes the impermanence of all things.
The color of the flowers on its double-trunked tree
Reveals the truth that to flourish is to fall.
He who is proud is not so for long,
Like a passing dream on a night in spring.
He who is brave is finally destroyed,
To be no more than dust before the wind.
13th Japanese Heike war tale
Linda...this is absolutely wonderful and exceptionally inspiring! Not only are you truly a very gifted encaustic artist...but a beautiful writer, as well.
ReplyDeleteI cannot tell you how much I loved reading both of your first two blog entries...."Spreading My Wings" and "Treeness."
Your words sing and I thoroughly enjoyed getting a glimpse into the intricate creative mind that makes you, well....YOU!
Your artwork is fabulous. And, I am seriously going to have to come on down to Valley Forge someday to spend a few hours with you and figure out which piece I could buy...that is, if any of them are for sale!!! I'm serious too. Your work has reminded me of one of my greatest loves in life too....that being, trees. Thank you.
Keep up the incredible work!
And, to all of your many followers and friends...if I can figure out how to leave a comment, then you can too! It's simple! I just needed to create a google+ account profile. I already had a gmail address...so doing it was simple!
Happy New Year, my dear friend. I am so thankful for your presence in my life.
XO
Ham
On TREENESS and bringing the artist's journey up from the roots, strengthening our trunks, branching to thoughts and leaving enough light to heaven. I think of people I know who bring me joy, as we age, Joy the breathless beauty becomes Joy the binder of life's best moments. Those best moments become the intersection of what is stunning and human at the same time. There is nothing more stunning than an artist exploring, growing, producing and gifting me with a whole pile of leaves to jump into and roll around in. While the process is permanent, the outcome is always open for interpretation.
ReplyDeleteYesterday, the sentimental me thought Frost, Auden, Dickinson referenced them easily for the poet's, TREENESS. Today, swatting back, "I think I shall never see something as lovely as a tree..." I remembered Linda Pasten's poem, Something About the Trees.
"I remember what my father told me
There is an age when you are most yourself.
He was just past fifty then,
was it something about the trees
that made him speak..."
Look up the rest if interested. I hope the verbosity has not muddled the message; I LOVE THIS BLOG, as 2013 approaches I thank God my friend is an artist and an explorer who SHARES and happens to be so friggin talented. Oh Bodacious to be that Povacious, I can see 2013 will be auspicious and because of this blog intellectually nutritious.
Rena