Aspens for the Olsons Finshed

I loved finishing up these bright Aspen trees.  Ready for hanging in their new home for my friends the Olsons.  

Aspens for The Olsons (final)
by Cheryl Harris White
18" x 24" each (3 panels)
Acrylic

1000 GIIFTS 381-400

381)  Courtney's school getting a new drama and art teacher.  We are so thankful we made this choice for her high school years and looking forward to an amazing year.

382) Her developing leadership skills.  I love what a strong person she is becoming.

383) Caleb's great start as a 7th grader at a new Middle School.

384) His maturity and independence amazes me daily.

385)  My kids motivation to make good grades this year

386) Positive attitudes

387) Discipline

388) Paintings getting finished

389) Friends who encourage my artistic pursuits

390) Friends who challenge me to deepen the roots of my soul 

391) Hello Hugs

392) Another idea to paint

393) Sharing my art with people around the world

394) A new opportunity to share my art in Uruguay

395) Rest before a long night ahead at work

396) A Job for today.

397) My Nook Color!

398) Connection

399) Conversation

400) Looking into the straight in the eye of the future and feeling absolute calm.

1000 Gifts 361-380

 (Family Vacation)
361) Visiting my Dad in Minnesota
362) Seeing my kids chat with their grandpa
363) Two sunny, sparkling days in Duluth
364) Lunch with Dad at the top of the Radison and ice cream at Portmans!
365) The nicest man working at the awesome Schlotzkys downtown Duluth
366) Playing in the sand at Park Point 
367) Wading in Lake Superior... the water was so cold it made our feet numb
368) Peddling a 4 person surrey Lake Superior Canal Park 
369) Watching a boat come in
370) Sounds of seaguls
371) Skipping rocks 
372) Remembering summer days spend there with my mom and sister 
373) Gooseberry Falls hike
374) Going to the cabin in Cable, Wisconsin nestled in a circle of 50 foot tall pine trees.
375) Reuniting with cousins
376) Belly Laughter around the dining table
377) Seeing my kids play with cousins and making them friends
378) There is something so comforting and familiar about being around people who have known you since you were small.
379) Milking the last drops out of the summer with the Wisconsin side of the family...Doing a scavenger hunt, Pinecone Pete story, Big Foot, Keep A Way, Kick ball refereed by Duke, Toy airplanes and The hammock, Delicious food, Poolside chats...all memories made for keeps
380) The four beautiful deer bidding us goodbye as we drove away the last morning.

Aspens for the Olsons Day 2

Aspens
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic on Three canvases
18 x 24 " each

Day 1 Aspens for the Olsons

This is the beginning of a commission piece I've been needing to get done.  It is for a precious family that has been so encouraging to me in pursuing my art.  They needed three canvases to hang in a row above their couch in their living room... and they love Aspens!  I researched Aspens first and came across a few things that you may find interesting...

One was a poem sent to me from a friend  titled 

"Binsey Poplars" 

by  Gerard Manley Hopkins (1879)

My aspens dear, whose airy cages quelled,

Quelled or quenched in leaves the leaping sun,All felled, felled, are all felled;
Of a fresh and following folded rank
Not spared, not one
That dandled a sandalled
Shadow that swam or sank
On meadow and river and wind-wandering weed-winding bank. 
O if we but knew what we do
When we delve or hew— 
Hack and rack the growing green!
Since country is so tender
To touch, her being so slender,
That, like this sleek and seeing ball
But a prick will make no eye at all,
Where we, even where we mean
To mend her we end her,
When we hew or delve:
After-comers cannot guess the beauty been.
Ten or twelve, only ten or twelve
Strokes of havoc unselve
The sweet especial scene,Rural scene,

The other thing which really inspired me to go ahead and paint was this little story from a Tree Legend website   

Aspen 
Populus tremuloides 
This tree was referred to as ~Distinguished man or wood.~ In Old Irish, the word for ~wood~ and the word for ~knowledge~ came from the same root. The leaves of the Aspen tree were believed to tremble, hence it is also known as the ~Shivering Tree.~ The Greek word ~kepkis,~ which means ~shuttle~ was given to this tree because of the movement of the leaves. 

It is believed that the cross on which Christ was crucified was made from the wood of the Aspen tree. The tree was filled with grief and remorse at being connected with the Crucifixion. The Aspen was the only tree reputed not to bend but to tremble as a result. 

According to a legend from Germany, the Holy Family was walking in a forest and all the trees bowed. The only tree that didn't was the Aspen. Seeing this Christ cursed the tree, and the leaves began to tremble and have continued to do so ever since. 

The movement of Aspen leaves have been associated with women's tongues. Aspen is said to cure fevers, as it was believed to have curative powers. The nail clippings of the sick person were placed in a hole cut in the trunk that was covered again to seal the tree. This was effective only if it was carried out at night.

In the language of flowers the Aspen Tree symbolizes Lamentation; Sighing 

I began to paint . . .

Day 1 of Aspens
for the Olson Family
I'm not done yet...
                 ... more to come

A Conversation With My Canvas

For three weeks I have not painted... 
My well was dry and creativity would not flow.  


I waited... 


       and dead silence... 


nothing gushed forth to the surface.  


I could not force a drop, and the barren canvas sat lonely on my easel.  


                                       It cried out to me...

I know 
    I must.... 


         But what?    


                  What is worth painting?

Trees?  Just trees again?

                 Yes my Spiritual sister says... 

                                 "Paint the Aspens".

Yes, You will become ART... soon.

                             And you, all my friends, 

                                              Like my easel, You also have been waiting. 

Waiting for a post with a painting.  

I hear and you will have it soon  I am inspired and paint is flowing, and soon 

                            you shall see The Aspens!

1000 Gifts 341-360

An Artist's List continued...
341) Brunch w/ a friend I hadn't seen in 3 years
342) A spiritual sister
343) Timely words touching my soul
344) Aspen tree inspiration
345) Leaves trembling in the air
346) Colors shining in the sun
347) Encouragement in the dry spell
348) Friends who put wind in my sails
349) 1000 Gift group study sisters going to see my art
350) Beauty in nature
351) Created by our Creator
352) Pausing
353) Refreshing
354) Deep breaths
355) Learning to overcome resistance
356) Valleys ... 
357) that help us appreciate the view when we are through them
358) Focus, Drive and Inspiration to paint
359) Relief from the heat
360) My Dad's enthusiasm at our soon coming

1000 Gifts 321-340

An Artists list continues, a bit late this week.

321) Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentice
322) Discipline
323) Football camp
324) Courtney's audition
325) Hello Dolly at MCL Grande Theater
326) Our Anniversary, 21 years
327) Having Courtney help me in my art class last week
328) Encouragement
329) Plans to visit my Dad
330) Love in our home
331) Duke fixing our AC!
332) Electricity
333) Insight
334) Understanding why we give thanks
335) Catch ups with friends
336) Understanding loss
337) Understanding giving and receiving
338) Knowing God is good
339) Believing it also