Looking Up

"Trees seem to do their feats so effortlessly.  Every year a given tree creates absolutely from scratch ninety- nine percent of its living parts.  Water lifting up tree trunks can climb one hundred and fifty feet an hour; in full summer a tree can, and does, heave a ton of water every day.  A big elm in a single season might make as many as six million leaves, wholly intricate without budging an inch; I couldn't make one.  A tree stands there accumulating deadwood, mute and rigid as an obelisk, but secretly it seethes; it splits, sucks, and stretches; it heaves up tons and hurls them out in a green fringed fling."  Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

This painting is an attempt to convey the overhead canopy of sky and branches and the dappled delight of being outside on a cool and comfortable afternoon with no upset from bugs or heat or wind.
I did have a few challenges with a sudden breeze or two.  The page, suddenly flipping down upon a brush loaded with paint, just gives it that authentic outside character.  The Metrosketchers organized by artist Liz Carlson gathered by the Como Park Pavillion.  I was a bit late at finding the group.  This tree is just north of the waterfall and close to a shady spot that was just right for the task at hand.