The importance of grief.

"Sorrow"
Acrylics and mixed media on canvas
12" X 14"
SOLD


I have been working with trees for a while now.

As most of you know my love affair with trees started a lifetime ago 

and

now I am portraying them in ways that are special to me.
Trees are life.
And what about death?
How do trees signify that?
What role do they play into our sorrow?

Many plant a tree in honour of a deceased loved one.
The symbolism of these trees

has served us well as we watch them grow tall and strong.
I see a tree as a place where one can collect thoughts.

Under which we can cry and vent our frustration at the brutal

finality of
Death.

A place of calm where we can try to sort out a troubled soul.

Recently I have had two friends that have lost 

to death

younger members of their families.
One to an accident

and

another to illness.
I say to them;

If you have a young member in your family, or a young child that is near to you,
Hug them and tell you that you love them.

Look at the parents and thank them for allowing their children to be a part of your life.


Life is to be treasured 

and`

 we, (as we age) understand how precious youth is.

How wonderful it is that  children make our world.


For you that will not hear the laughter again I weep.


But I tell you now, that the time your family and friends had with them
while they were alive helped make this world a beautiful place, 

and

 we will be forever grateful.
They will always light up our hearts with beautiful memories.


Rest in Peace

(Apologies,
My camera is broken, so until it is replaced, I am using my IPad as a camera.  Not the best choice, but for now
it will have to suffice)
~~Kathleen

My Love affair with trees.

I have long had a strong love affair with trees. I love looking at them, I love walking anywhere near them.

I love their shapes and colours.

To me they are so representational of all life.

When I began painting I was not so aware of this love, but eventually I realized that it goes way back many years.

The very first painting that I thought of as "Professional" quality was of a stand of Lodgepole Pines.

Personally it is probably my favorite painting of all time because it was my "First" that was, in my mind perfect.

Over the years since this painting I have painted trees in many shapes/styles and forms.

Needless to say trees are never the same,

the light in an hour can change the appearance of a tree.

so I present to you a few of the trees I have painted over the years......

"Lodgepole Pines"

12" x 18"
Acrylics on canvas board

This painting is unique in that one of these pined has a curved base.

Lodge pole Pines are quite unique to the Prairie areas of Canada
They (for the most part)
Grow straight and very tall.
For centuries the original Native Canadians,

and later settlers used them as the center beam for their homes.



 ~~

"Willow Bay"
12" x 18"

acrylics on canvas.
SOLD

Birch and Poplar trees by Lake Manitoba




~~
"A study in Blue"
Acrylics on Masonite
18" x 24"

 

A challenge from a friend that I could not paint a realistic painting using only blue/white and black.

~~

"Manitoba Morning"

12" x 18"

Acrylics on Canvas
SOLD

Sunrise from a friends Kitchen window.

(Commissioned)

~~

"The Way to the Lake"

12" x 12"

Acrylics on canvas

Again near Willow Bay in Manitoba, Canada

~~

"After the fire"

12" x 18"
Acrylics, Gold leaf and Mixed media
on canvas

A few years back a beautiful and very old 

stand of Spruce trees were destroyed by a forest fire

 alongside Highway # 6 in Manitoba, Canadas  North.

Amazingly after 15 years they are almost back to where they stood  years.

~~

 "The Old Railway"
12" x 18"
Acrylics/metal leaf & mixed media"
on Canvas
SOLD

A grown over escarpment where a CNR
spur line once existed
(near Moosehorn and Spearhhill Manitoba)

~~
"Miyajima Island Hot Springs"
24" x 24"
Acrylics  and mixed media
on Masonite.

painted from a wonderful photograph  taken by a friend when he visited Japan

~~

"Fourteen Trees on a  River Walk"
12" x 18"
Acrylics on Canvas
SOLD

Over Wintering,  a stand of newly planted trees.
Along Nosecreek park walk way
Airdrie, Alberta, Canada.


~~
"Moonlight in Manitoba"
 12" x 12"
Acrylics on canvas.
SOLD

The old road that my Dog Ben and I would walk in the evenings.

Just outside McCreary, Manitoba.

~~

As you can see I have represented trees in my art, in many ways.

I have used Acrylics and Molding paste, and Metal leaf
Every painting is very unique from the others, and usually they stand alone as a work of art.
The latest two Paintings I have done are actually a complimentary set.
I will not go into great detail about them as they are highlighted in the post just
before this one.

Later all
~~Kathleen