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Before the Leaves

12/17/2020

10 Comments

 
Picture
Before the Leaves
"Before the Leaves" - acrylic on cradled wood panel, 24" x 24" x 1.5".  Ready to hang (sides are painted; no need to frame.  Hanging wire attached)  Part of the collection "A View from the Gorge."  Available for a limited time exclusively at Get the Gallery.


Before the leaves can mount again
To fill the trees with another shade,
They must go down past things coming up.
They must go down into the dark decayed.

from  In Hardwood Groves, Robert Frost



​Late autumn in the gorge is stark and windy.  Leaves are gone for the year, trees stand bare.  The sound of the wind changes without the leaves.  Gone is the rustling.  Instead, the teams moan and creak as they reluctantly move and groan in the relentless wind.
I listen to the trees and think of the humans of the world.  We, too, groan in the winds of change - pandemic,  news, fear, loss, loneliness.  We are reluctant to embrace this thing, and who can blame us?  But we must, it seems, "go down past things coming up" for a little while longer.   I hold in my one hand the fact that I desire spring,  warmth and companionship without worry.  In my other hand, I hold the knowledge that it won't be today.  In a recent interview with Brene Brown, Barack Obama spoke of the ability to hold opposing truths  and to function in that place of discomfort as a sign of strength and resilience.  

As 2020 goes "down into the dark decayed", I wish for you (and for me, dear reader) the ability to hold opposing truths as comfortably as you can.  And perhaps a lovely, warm slice of pie.  Whatever flavor is your favorite. :)

About the art: using the same technique as "Blowing Like Shadows", this piece was created with a strong underpainting and then masking with painter's tape before the final layers of color.  I was so immersed in the process that I neglected to get pics along the way....so you will have to.use your "imaJENnation" !!!
10 Comments
Carl Stoveland
12/17/2020 10:32:15 am

Jen- yes two opposing truths indeed. We’ll get there and the proverbial post covid spring will be glorious.

The painting is exquisite. I really love it.

Carl

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Dotty Seiter link
12/17/2020 10:54:33 am

Bob + Brené + Barack + Jen = breath of life!

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jen
12/17/2020 12:22:32 pm

Dotty! I love it when you do prose math! ha ha! Thank you!

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Carolyn Laudati
12/17/2020 11:18:38 am

Pie? Did you say pie? Why, yes! Thank you! Really enjoyed the incite this morning, yes, hold on to the opposing truths, comfortably. xoxo

Reply
jen
12/17/2020 12:23:32 pm

Carolyn! Indeed, I said PIE! ha ha! Pie in a pandemic is a panacea. :). And thank you....holding those opposites. OY!

Reply
Susan McClellan
12/17/2020 11:24:00 am

Beautiful....beautiful...both the piece and the thoughts....2 truths very very introspective that Mr Obama!! would love some pie now!

Reply
jen
12/17/2020 12:24:10 pm

Susan! Thank you! Love Obama's insights. And PIE! When this is all over, let's have a slice together!

Reply
Carol Edan link
12/19/2020 11:53:23 am

Frost, my favorite poet! Each tree a story, each tree a personality, each tree a lesson. They will sprout their new life, and hopefully the world will follow.

Reply
jen
12/20/2020 11:38:16 am

Carol! I didn't know you liked Frost! Love the tree lessons...

Reply
Candis Ladenburg
12/22/2020 06:34:14 pm

I love this so very much! We are dreaming and scheming of purchasing a cabin in the woods and I think this would be *perfect* for it! It's on my birthday wish list!

Reply



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Here's the blue wild, where
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(by poet Mary W. Cox)
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