'The Sound of Trees'
original art
20x16
homegrown indigo pigment & oil paint on hand-dyed canvas
 
The composition suggests both movement of grass and the stability of mountains in the distance. The painting came to life when I placed it in front of an old pine tree near the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail in Ripton, Vermont. I thought about the age of the tree and realized it would have been there when the poet was walking these same trails. 
 
The Sound of Trees, by Robert Frost
 
I wonder about the trees.
Why do we wish to bear
Forever the noise of these
More than another noise
So close to our dwelling place?
We suffer them by the day
Till we lose all measure of pace,
And fixity in our joys,
And acquire a listening air.
They are that that talks of going
But never gets away;
And that talks no less for knowing,
As it grows wiser and older,
That now it means to stay.
My feet tug at the floor
And my head sways to my shoulder
Sometimes when I watch trees sway,
From the window or the door.
I shall set forth for somewhere,
I shall make the reckless choice
Some day when they are in voice
And tossing so as to scare
The white clouds over them on.
I shall have less to say,
But I shall be gone.
 
This artwork is part of the winter 2024 "Shadows" collection. The series contemplates the stillness of winter while honoring the memory of what has come before. For this series I took pride in connecting with the surfaces beneath my paint. All oils are painted on a beautifully textured 100% hemp canvas which was hand-dyed with the shadow of a composition before being stretched and primed as traditional canvas surfaces are. The signature natural pigment for this series is homegrown indigo, which I nurtured from seed last spring, cared for through the summer, harvested in the fall, and processed into paint this winter. 
 
Please consider measurements carefully before purchase and take the time to view colors on different monitors, as colors may appear different on different devices. I have done my best to represent all artworks accurately. All works are signed, stamped, and titled individually by the artist.
 
Note that your purchase does not include a frame. This mounted canvas original arrives ready to hang with picture wire, so it doesn’t need to live in a frame. If you are unsure about framing, I have created a guide for you here.