Painting: Oil on Canvas.

Painted: 2021

Size: 40” X 16”

Owner: In Storage

Music Selection: “The Long and Winding Road” The Beatles (Paul)

I wanted to paint an unhappy little tree. Bob Ross painted happy little trees and Kinkade painted light and happy little cottages, so I went in a different direction. Have you ever felt like you were spinning your wheels going nowhere stuck in one place? Have you ever had a dream where you were running from something and just could not get away? That is the feeling I was hoping to portray. If you see a happy little scene, then I failed once again. This tree is an impediment to your journey. The tree overwhelms the painting and obscures the viewer’s path. It is that one obstacle that must be overcome in our lives before we can move on.

This is a very long and narrow canvas. The tree is an impediment. It is in the way. The path is empty, yet you cannot get past the tree blocking you. If only you could step around it and be on your way. There is a light up ahead. Home, safety, or happiness is just down the road. On the other side of the path is broken glass or chaos. Stepping off the path could spell disaster, or is it something beautiful? What is perceived as a city is nothing more than geometric blocks that create the illusion of a city. Should you stay where you are or step off the path?

The background is dark, and the moon is shining bright. There is a hint of clouds in the sky, but what does that represent? Is that home ahead or just blocks of color? You are alone with a black dying and not so happy little tree? What is the solution? The decision is yours.