Trees

Trees

David Hockney said in the rather wonderful and highly recommended book A Bigger Message Conversations With David Hockney by Martin Gayford “Trees are the largest manifestation of the life-force we see.” (page 29). This book accompanying his fantastic exhibition at the RA, of which I had the pleasure of seeing when it showed back in 2012, titled “A Bigger Picture”, was a joy to behold truly. To see such an influential and contemporary artist still being so inspired by the landscape. He continues in the interview, mentioning that no two are the same, and the fact that they are so difficult to draw!

Trees are difficult to draw, their branches are a mass of different angles and shapes, their foliage is dense and constantly shifting. The light is often tricked upon the shape of a tree, even the sun seems to struggle sometimes to determine which part of its mass to illuminate, and which to keep shaded. They pose then a rather fascinating and challenging subject to attempt as an artist. But they are also rather critical for a landscape painter! They are so important to the natural world around us, its geography and topography, they are therefore really impossible for any artist interested in the landscape to ignore. The seasons are always most evident when viewing the trees. They are the most patient things really, and yet go through some incredible and violent changes throughout the course of a year. Surviving as they do the changing temperatures and weather, as well as what ever we as a species will throw at them.

And yet (on the most part) they will stand and provide us all with some of the most awe inspiring sights we can behold in the natural world. It has always filled my heart with a simple joy when I travel a particular road out of Rye and towards Udimore, and see the row of trees that flank a particular stretch along that road start to turn red and golden brown when the Summer is running out of steam. Autumn being the month that honestly I enjoy the most, it is the one when nature seems to give us all one final big effort before falling into slumber for Winter. And its the trees that without a doubt stop me so often in my tracks. I don't quite hug them, but I do stop and run my hand along the rough bark, and listen to the noise as the wind blows through the canopy high above. That wonderful soft creaking as it sways its branches in time with the wind. Its truly one of life`s greatest and simplest pleasures.

And painting them! The joys of interpreting and recording these shapes and colours, and the wonderful interaction between them, apparently trees are very sociable! The way the branches form and flow, its a constant inspiration for me.

I have my favorite groups of trees, to which I often return to not only check up on, but to see how the season has changed them. A tree is never the same tree twice, it will always be different. It will change depending on the light, the atmosphere, and will often reflect my own moods. The most cheerful summer tree, can seem most imposing and sometimes quite terrifying in the cold dark wet of a winters walk. Its barren branches reaching out like gnarled and ancient bones. Trees age so beautifully, and as a lifelong student of history, the age of some leave me lost for words. There is for example a Yew tree, in the church yard in Catsfield that I often cycle past, that is supposedly over 4000 years old!

They are a true natural wonder, providing us with so much visual stimulus, that sometimes it can be overwhelming. And it is often the case when drawing and sketching them, that you must abstract certain details from them. Relishing purely in the colour or scale of them within their surroundings. Ahh the scale! I recall seeing two huge Wellingtonia Coast Redwoods once when my wife and I were holidaying near the New Forest. We had heard that these giants existed and I was desperate to go visit them to pay my respects. We trundled off and delved deep into some truly old woodland, the kind that just oozes history and stories. We wandered and without to much hassle, found these two enormous Redwoods. Their trunks were vast, like huge ancient pillars, incredible texture woven into the thick bark. They stretched up taller then I could see, their huge vast canopies were like sails on some tall masted ship. I love to manipulate the perspective when I paint trees, often cutting out all other elements and focusing solely on form and colour. Which vary hugely between the different species. Some appear almost metallic in the correct light, others seem dulled and pale. I also love the appearance of them in the distance, when a copse is sat upon a hill, the silhouettes appearing like a wandering spirit heading across the fields towards the horizon.

I will never tire of seeing, drawing and painting trees. Just wandering amongst them lifts my spirit and mind. They truly are a never ending source of inspiration.

Many thanks for your time

Till next time

AViner