I have discussed before how I translate my paintings for myself. I have often described the blowing red tree I sometimes use as being symbolic of sacrifice or giving of oneself to something larger than oneself. Or I have said that it could symbolize the sending out of something into the universe. A message. A prayer. A hope or desire.
But there is another that I may have missed. This new painting reminded me of what it might also stand for.
The flame.
It has the look of the flame and reminds me of the fire of thought, wisdom and creation. The flame that illuminates, chases away the darkness.
The flame of reason.
That’s how I immediately read this painting as it came to its completion. It has a real feeling of underlying darkness and the way the tree sat with the light breaking over the horizon really enhanced the feeling of the tree as a flame, burning away the dark.
I’ve been spending a lot of time the last few days looking at this 16″ by 20″ canvas. There is a real, active sense of hope in this painting, a feeling that reason can endure and prevail through dark times.
Let’s hope…
Redtree Times 