🔵 By Shane Espinoza. Photo by lauragrafie.
I was asked why do I draw so many trees. At first, I said I was inspired to create a tree of life for my mom as she had recently lost her biological son. I wanted to create something profound. A while back I started to experiment with watercolors. I painted a background of blues and purples. It looked like a night sky over water. I put it away for about a month. One day I pulled it out and decided to draw a large pastel moon that took up most of the picture. I put it away again as I was not sure what to do with it. Now an opportunity showed itself through my mom. Again I pulled out the picture and started to paint a tree of life in pastel. It rose up out of the water. I used three colors randomly and separated each one with charcoal so it would shimmer when looking at it. My mom loved it. She framed it and put it up so she would always see it. I suppose most moms would love anything their child produces.
After completing the tree-of-life I became motivated to draw trees in graphite. I like landscapes so I did winter scenes and different types of trees. The more I practiced and experimented the better I got. So, what is it about trees that inspires my creativity? The longer I meditated on it the deeper the meaning. Trees have stories to tell. There is depth to them that is not readily apparent. The strongest trees have deep roots that help them flourish in good weather and withstand the storms and floods of bad weather. They remain strong and steadfast no matter what comes at them.
A tree’s rings tell us how long they have lived. We know they have been through many adventures and continue on the journey of life. The roots that go deep keep the trunk stable. The earth provides nourishment. The branches reach up to the heavens and commune with the universal consciousness that connects us all. They provide us with life-giving oxygen while removing contaminants from the air. Trees are essential to life. We are all made up of many layers and we have gone through many adventures. Whether it be storm and floods or sunshine and warm breezes, a strong, stable tree maintains its ground. It addresses each day with enthusiasm. Life, for me, is like this.Storms of life help me grow stronger. I may bend if the force is too great but I will not break. The warmth of the sun on a calm day is joy to my soul.
This is why I draw so many trees. What do you like to create and why do you do it?
Answer this question and see where it takes you.