The Mighty Oak Tree

If you have ever seen the classic western movie, “Paint your Wagon”, then you probably remember one of the songs Clint Eastwood sang in the movie entitled, “I talk to the trees”. As the first lyrics go; “I talk to the trees but they don’t listen to me”. Well, that may be the case in reality, but we don’t know. Maybe they do listen in some way? Could you imagine for a moment if they could  hear as well as have vision? Wow, the stories they could tell, the history and the wisdom they could enrich us with!

Today it was rainy, cold and gray. But it didn’t stop me from hiking into the forest to visit some of my favorite trees. I couldn’t help but  think how trees in a small way are similar to people. They all have different physical aspects just like us, as far as vanity goes. And you could say that they all have their own personality…well, maybe personality is not the right word. Having “Character” might be the more appropriate word. One tree in particular that I always stop and marvel at is a very tall, large Oak tree. The circumference of the trunk of this oak is 241 inches. Its bark is thick and with deep crevices that from the perspective of an insect, would be their equivalent of our Grand Canyon. One of this oaks massive limbs that reaches out almost horizontal next to a meadow where it stands, finally gave way to its weight and snapped off during a recent storm. As I looked in aw at that massive limb now lying on the ground, it would seem as if it was an individual tree that once stood on its own.

I’m familiar with a lot of the trees in this forest and I have seen them in their dress of all the four seasons. As silly as this might sound, I get a feeling of comfort when I see them. It’s almost like the feeling of meeting up with a family member or a good friend.

When I was living in the foothills of California, Oak trees are the most dominant trees in that area and many of the oaks I became familiar with were part of paintings I did at that time. Some are still very clear in my memory. I was once commissioned to paint the portrait of a huge oak tree that was growing on the peak of a hill that watched over an avenue in a suburb of Sacramento California. That tree unfortunately was sacrificed for a housing development and is no longer there.

I guess I’m feeling inspired to give tribute to the Oak tree through my paint brush…..we will see.

pen & ink sketch 2014