The Sublime in Nature and Art
10 New Small Tree Paintings
I have been looking at trees. I also have been making paintings of trees, ones that have survived logging, fire, and disease.
Trees do not have a common ancestry like birds, dogs, or humans, yet are some of the oldest organisms on earth. The Bristlecone Pine, which can be found in the higher elevations of Utah and California, is amongst the oldest species on earth.
Where I live in NW Lower Michigan some of the largest and oldest trees are Silver Maples. A maple with a 24” wide trunk can be over 100 years old. A 36” wide trunk, which is not uncommon, could have sprouted during the war of 1812. The soil underneath these elder trees may not have been touched by a human hand for well over 200 years.
Tomorrow, Monday December 4th, I am having an online sale
of 10 new small paintings of trees. More on how to see and
purchase one of these paintings below. On my walks in the woods and fields, I often look for stately trees like Maples, Hemlocks, Red Pines, and tall White Pines (my favorite). They stand majestically off on their own or in a unique grouping; like a portrait that is both personal and familiar. Large maples can be found alongside old farmstead driveways; the location of the farmhouses long gone.
The most concise word as to why I am drawn to paint these grand trees is the adjective - sublime. They are both beautiful and sublime.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines sublime (in terms of nature and art) as affecting the mind with a sense of overwhelming grandeur or irresistible power; calculated to inspire awe, deep reverence, or lofty emotion, by reason of its beauty, vastness, or grandeur. One definition of the word beautiful in the OED is affording keen pleasure to the senses.
The trees that I see on my walks provide more than sensual pleasure (they do that for sure). Looking for trees in the woods not only increases your oxygen levels but you also breathe in Phytoncides which have antibacterial and antifungal qualities.
Trees also impart in me deep reverence and awe. To walk in the woods is to be amongst grandeur; living things that have existed much longer than me. I want to be able to create more of those feelings of awe and beauty in my life, and making paintings is a way I have found to do that.
I am releasing 10 small tree paintings that will go live on my website on Monday morning, December 4th. They will also be posted on my Instagram.
Each painting is mounted in a handmade white frame which I made in my shop.
To purchase a painting please email me at richardkooymanart@gmail.com starting Dec. 4th. I will email you back if the selection you want is available. I can text you a confirmation if you include your phone number.
For this special series, shipping is free! As always, thank you so much for supporting my work.
As you know, I have some of your trees in my studio and I’m glad to know more about how you relate to them, and why they are so meaningful to you. We have a majestic white pine on our property here in Maine. On the day we moved in I declared that it was my favorite thing about our new home. It received the name My Friend Pine. Whenever we have a big windstorm. I say a little prayer for it—in hopes that it will survive and continue to live here with us.
I’m excited to see this new collection of your paintings when you release it tomorrow.