Hickory Leaves

2003

12" X 12"

Oil on Panel

SOLD

On the north wall of my studio is tacked a quote taken loosely from Joseph Campbell.
Paint from your authentic self.
Open your eyes and conscious mind to what is around you everyday
and act out of your true nature.

When I was beginning the body of work for the Philly show
I took it down and taped the piece of paper to my easel.
Then I stepped out onto the one woman deck which overlooks the creek
and took stock of my corner of Pennsylvania.
My tree house of a studio is only a third of the way up the length
of most of the great old trees that surround it.
Pin Oak and Locust, Red and White Oak and Ash, Hackberry
and a couple of snarling century old Hickories.
All of them with trunks two humans together would need to stretch to embrace.
Shade in the summer, hickory nuts to whack out into the creek for driving practice with the “Betty”
(the old wooden driver that found it’s way into my studio years ago) in September,
leaves to rake at Thanksgiving time, and mulch for the winter garden beds.
Taken for granted since they require little maintenance and yet offering beauty and
graceful companionship, they silently watch over us.

And then the wind picked up.
And the leaves blew in great ribbons of earthy color.
As they collected at my feet,
I reached out and found in these two leaves
a portrait of my self.