Positively Up Lifting!

"There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden,

but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it." 

 ~Minnie Aumonier

 Trees have always positively up lifted my spirits!   They have a way of cooling us when the days are sweltering, giving us hope that we can survive the heat of a long summer day.  They have a way of relaxing us, inviting us to sit and ponder.  Trees can also wave a magic wand over us charming our souls, our hearts!

Tuesday night during my weekly "artist date", I heard music amongst the trees.   Jeff and Bryan gave me art lessons at Inspire Cafe and Art Studio for Mother's Day! My first lesson was to walk to Riverside Park with a group of other artists, and pick any area to draw, using only pencil and paying attention to the lines, light, and perspective.  Naturally, I chose to draw trees over the cenotaph, train, bridge, lamp posts and water fountain!  Of course, the hour and a half we had was not enough time for me to sketch the whole scene I wanted to sketch, because I surrendered my attention to the details of the stories the bark and branches were trying to tell me. They seemed to be telling me an uplifting story.  The branches were curved and bent, relaying a story of determination to stretch and find the clear blue sky.  The branches of the oldest, mightiest tree formed a giant hand cradling hope for reaching the heavens.

I heard music amongst the trees too! The music of a young tatooed man on his bicycle, the wings of two butterflies gently taking turns landing on my shoulder whispering closely in my ear their happiness to be alive,  the deep green leaves quietly dancing to the wind's softly blowing song, and the water fountain's finger tips tapping on the pool of water at its feet.  I also heard music of the past, the hymns of people gathering to remember their loved ones who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, wedding marches of brides and grooms celebrating their love for each other, marching bands entertaining parade crowds during Stampede week, the tinny music box from the steam boat that used to help people cross the Saskatchewan River, and the chimes from the nearby church reminding us to be grateful for what we have, that things could be worse.  Yes, I opened my heart to the music of the trees as I drew them.  Who knew that a simple heart felt gesture at Mother's Day could lead to such a lovely, up lifting encounter?

A Giant's Hand

For you artist's out there, I know that it is more pleasing to the eye if the focal point is not smack dab in the middle, but this is what happened! I got distracted by all the stories and music I heard amongst the trees Tuesday night!  Oh, well!  I actually like all of the space surrounding the trees giving me time to imagine all of the stories happening in the park...hmmm, could this be an idea for a future painting?

 Stories Crossing



Eyes of the Past



Grasping

The tree art is "soul property" of Renee Dowling. 

Please ask for permission to use her images

by contacting her at

dowling@shockware.com