Sunday, May 24, 2009

Had to get this one out of my system....

When Trees Bleed, 24 x 24, acrylic on deep cradle panel

I'm a Midwesterner by birth; raised in the flat plains of Central Illinois where the wheat and soybeans and corn often stretch as far as the eye can see - and well beyond the curve of earth's crust. To this day, I'm convinced that my early impression of so-much-sky is for me the ultimate symbol of what landscape is. The photograph below is one of many taken on a trip "home" a couple of years ago.

I had rounded a curve coming off the interstate when I glanced over and saw this little row of very green trees standing as sentinels in the triangle between onramp and interstate . My immediate thought was that the trees had bled onto the grass. My second immediate thought was that the trees had dropped red leaves in June...

My third immediate thought was that I had to photograph these guardians of red phenomena. By then I had realized these were poppies - and that it was the angle of my approach that magnified the intensity of the red. There was no way to (safely) capture just what I had seen from my van - but the image was imprinted on my memory and I've known I had to reproduce it. Thus the title comes from that first impression and my own commitment to the trees of our earth. We cut them, burn them, destroy them and replace the diverse species with concrete, blacktop and genetically engineered facsimiles. Do they not bleed? Do they not bleed for us?

14 comments:

Unknown said...

We only get orange wild poppies. I love these red ones. I love love love your painting.

Kathi said...

What a peaceful painting! Love the sky! I could just sit here and stare at this forever!
Beautiful!

Ima Wizer said...

I love this painting and the low horizon line is iust fabulous!

Roy said...

This is great, Patrice! For me at first glance, it seemed as if the trees had made the earth bleed pushing up through the "skin".

Patrice said...

Sheila - You must have those fabulous California poppies. I love those - but the only place I could ever get them to grow was a spot where I had burned a huge pile of brush. (I think there's a "hint of how" in there somewhere.)

Kathi - It is peaceful, yes... I hadn't thought of like that.

Ima - thank you. It's a funny thing that I have to force myself to fill in "land" but sky just lays itself down for me.

Roy - Thanks so much - and you are right; it could be the trees are guarding a wound in the earth.

Shayla said...

Spectacular.

Pam Holnback said...

This is a great piece. I like seeing the photo reference along w/ the painting. I get a good idea of your thought process.

Patrice said...

Thank you, Shayla

And thank you, Pam. I'm pleased to share my processes - and I love seeing how others work/are inspired. I often work from dreams, "first impressions" and my own photos... but it's the result that matters.

paulandrewrussell said...

What a beautiful painting.

DJ said...

Lovely!
More, please...

Anonymous said...

Great work, Patrice! The group of trees brings to my mind a group of old ladies who have just had their hair done... :) I love it. Another one I'd display in my home.

It's beautiful.

M.A. Wakeley said...

Beautiful, tranquil painting, Patrice. I love the sense of stillness in the composition. It's nice to see the photo image too. Really lovely.

Elizabeth said...

Such a wonderful painting!
Such colors!

Barbara/myth maker said...

Wonderful piece.