I have used trees as inspiration for my art for a very very long time. It’s a tremendously engaging subject for many reasons, but the tree is also incredibly flexible as a motif. Many designs require a great deal of research, but I must admit, on many occasions, I just sit with a glass of wine and a pencil, start to doodle, and voila, without really much thought, out comes something new.
My blue trees are a case in point. The first one appeared years and years ago. Since then, the ‘collection’ grew whenever I felt the need to ‘get off script’…. Hey, when you make a blue tree, you don’t need to worry about the practical stuff … no holds barred.
So today I will show you a bunch of them, most of which are not on my website, and hope you enjoy!
Blue Ash 2002 22×41″ Wall hanging
This was part of a touring exhibition inspired by rare and endangered trees of Ontario. There were 17 in the collection… and this one was stolen at one of the venues. I made another one to replace it…. but sadly, the first was never recovered.
BLUE TREE 2000 28X30 Wall hanging
This may be my first blue tree, made when I was living in Quebec City, and it’s still there, somewhere….
LITTLE BLUE #3 2010 8X8″
A blue tree just belongs in the snow at night.
FERTILE GROUND #2 2011 6X6″
One of the first from a very long Fertile Ground series. I can still remember my excitement at this new direction in my work!
JAPANESE MAPLE #17 2002 13X13″ Wall hanging
From a grouping of ten, all the same size, but all different colours.
BLUE GROVE 2009 24X12″
Another night sky.
BLUE ROOTS 2009 30X10″
An early version from my Fertile Ground series.
COURAGE 2010 24X24″
The courage to be blue.
What are they about? What can they mean? Do we really need to know? One of the perks of being an artist is the freedom to create your own world. Mine has blue trees in it. What colour are yours?
LITTLE BLUE 2010 12X12″
Oh little blue tree! Doesn’t need a thing more to be happy.
Tags: art making, art process, art textiles, Blue Ash, blue trees, creativity, enhancing creativity, fabric, inspiration, inspiration for art, roots, textile art, trees, wall hangings, winter
So in love with your blue trees – unexpected, invigorating and delightful.
Thank you, Win!
Hi Lorraine,
I have always admired your work and wish I was as brave as you are with your blue trees !
I often use trees in my work, don’t know why, but I feel a great connection to them.
Hi Sharron, I don’t know about courage… I think it’s just curiosity. I want to know what a blue tree might look like! 🙂
Love love love these!
I like it when we are challenged to look at things in a new way. I’ve made a blue, a red and a pale teal crow, and each expresses different feelings and characteristics. Your blue trees do the same for me. They make me sit up and take notice of what’s around me.
I’m very fond of imaginative works by other artists… sharing a moment of release into another world. I don’t know how it works for others but sometimes I have to really talk myself into letting go (maybe they will laugh at me, maybe they won’t think I’m a serious artist) All beside the point….
Inspirational, as always! I feel the same way … I need a nudge sometimes to go “off script”!
Love your blue trees Lorraine.
Thanks for sharing.
Lovely works Lorraine.
Thank you, Bob!