TSoT = The Story of Trees
“Honesty saves everyone’s time.” This was said by a Mr. or Mrs. Anonymous according to https://www.awakenthegreatnesswithin.com/35-inspirational-quotes-on-honesty/. To become honest with oneself may sometimes be a lengthy process of uncovering the real deal or finding the core of the issue. The arts provide us all with wonderful opportunities to clad or reveal our truths in various ways, to whom we choose.
Nature brings us each year this wonderful opportunity of seeing it without its colourful trappings. That beautiful tree or shrub which parades its flowers for all to see in spring or summer looks bare and it tells us, “Remember, this is still me and I am just resting.” We don’t have to be honest with everyone we meet about our internal states, but I think one of the truths which winter underlines annually so graphically, is that we have to rest. Resting is not always on our list of priorities because we assume we have to reside in the fast lane of productivity.
At the moment, for the last year to be exact, I am in a learning curve, which is entirely self-imposed and it may last for the rest of my life it seems. I bought a second-hand saxophone and I am trying to come to terms with this challenge. I am not musically gifted, but I can read notes, so I am trying to make it happen; I may never play for an audience, but I am having fun, or that is what I am trying to assure myself of. The reason for mentioning the saxophone is because I am learning to play the famous song, Autumn Leaves. One of the lines say: I miss you most of all, my darling, when autumn leaves start to fall.
Autumn and winter link us with nostalgia and memories and we have a moment to be honest with ourselves as to where we are on the inside. Autumn Leaves has a beautiful tune and its emotional impact can not be ignored. If you click on this link, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCi59-y6dNg, you can hear its moody story.
Today, here in the Kalahari on the farm, about 150 metres from the scene from which I drew inspiration for Winter Honesty, a sad winter’s wind is blowing and the landscape is stripped of the green charm it displayed a few months earlier. It looks almost exactly like it did when I took the photo in August in 2020 for visual reference. One of the lessons we learn in our Art studies is less is more. Maybe that is what nature teaches us during winter.
When I look at Winter Honesty, I remember struggling with those dry branches. The Kalahari provides ample firewood for all purposes, but when I wanted to portray these lovely lines of the dead wood credibly with watercolour, it felt as if I had ignited a challenge beyond my ability. The diagonal orange line of the path and the calm of the open sand area with its yellow plants contrast the moody entanglement on the left. The water and colour somehow managed to extinguish my fiery concerns, as I applied myself rather mechanically, led by the visual reference. Seen as a whole, I can "honestly" say, I tried to do justice to the scene with its tree skeletons and desert colours.
I think I have to sign off. May you have the courage to be honest where and when it matters. Remember there is art in your heart and I hope to meet you at the next tree in a new landscape soon. As usual, I will add a few links to my Shopify-store where you can see other options for Winter Honesty.
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