This new painting, which is part of my upcoming show, Inward Bound, at the Kada Gallery is a 16″ by 20″ canvas that I call Full Regalia. It’s one of those pieces that I see as portraits with the Red Tree acting as the head and the mound below as the body. The fields in this piece have a lively, decorated feel as though this personage might be sitting there proudly wearing the colors and emblems, the full regalia, that denote its accomplishments. Like a highly decorated soldier or a scholar in their gowns and sashes. Or a tribal king wearing a multicolored patterned dashiki or other ceremonial robe.
There’s a sense of pride and strength in this depiction as well as an optimism I can’t quite put my finger on. Maybe it’s the blue of the skies and the white of the clouds. Or maybe the way this figure is imposed on the background. As I said, I can’t quite determine why I feel this optimism but I do like this mix of cheerfulness and pride here, a feeling of satisfaction at having reached some plateau through hard work and determination.
As I said, this piece is headed to the Kada Gallery in Erie, PA for the show which opens October 20. Hope to see you there!
*************************
Name This Painting! Contest Ends Wednesday
Don’t forget to get your titles in for the Name This Painting! Contest which ends at Midnight on Wednesday, October 3. You can get details from the post of September 25. Good luck!
Redtree Times 
I really like this one. The sky, clouds and smooth, featureless green behind allow the tree and its hill to really shine.
After all this time, this painting reminded me of a photo I took three years ago on one of the best roads in Texas – the famed “Twisted Sisters” much beloved of motorcyclists and Miata road rallies. Art imitates life imitates art in this photo of a red tree.
Nice photo! Thanks.
A great picture but surely that’s more than one red tree, no?
Yes and no. As I understand it, this variety of sumac can put up multiple trunks from its underground root structure, so even though it appears there’s a little grove, the various “trees” actually are related to one another. It is a fact that where I’ve seen one I’ve always seen many, so it makes sense.