In a mood to paint something whimsical and fun, I decided to paint my own version of a "Tree of Life" and fill it with symbols that were meaningful to me. This marks a return to a style I used when I was much younger and did far less realistic paintings and drawings. In that sense, I allowed myself to be more creative and less literal.The hardest part may have been choosing what to put on the branches of my tree of life. Each item has a special meaning, of which I will give you only the basics so you can participate by filling in your own connections as you view it.
Here is a list of a few of the items and what they represent:
- Hummingbird - "timeless joy & the nectar of life"
- Morning Glory - "affection" & "resurrection"
- Dove - "peace"
- Snail - "perseverance & determination"
- Apple - "Old and New Testaments"
- Pear - "Christ's love for all of mankind"
I kept thinking my painting wasn't finished so I painted until I could go no further. I'm still not entirely sure why I added the word "hope" but thought it was interesting to discover after the fact (Really! Completely unintentional!) that Proverbs 13:12 reads: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life."
"A Tree of Life"
18"x24" oil on canvas, gallery wrapped
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