the artist soul is a tree

lately I’ve been under the spell of trees. I can spend hours bathed in trees, photographing trees, bearing witness to trees. the photos below are from an almost-spring week in berlin, and a sun-filled day in a forest nearby.

I’ve been thinking about the form and vessel of trees — the architecture of trees — as a metaphor for the life and creations of an artist. I’ve been thinking about art — my body of work, what is a book, what art will truly satisfy me — while staring at trees.

here are my questions and findings:

• if a single creation is a leaf, then what is a larger body of work (like a book?)

• if a book is a collection of leaves (pressed and carefully arranged, and ordered), then what is a branch?

• if a branch is a reoccuring theme or subject in a body of work, then what is a tree?

I am a tree. the artist soul is the tree.

and each piece of my work is a single leaf.

if I am a tree, then what truths must follow?

• I must honor my seasons of creation — my winters of incubation, my springs of blossoming, my summers of abundance, my autumns of transformation.

• I must pay attention to myself as a living ecosystem, sensitive to storms and birds and invaders. I am a tree, not a machine. and not just any tree — a moody one.

• I must allow all parts of me (branch, bud, leaf, flower) to grow as they wish — without too much control, or planning.

• when my body and heart are tired, my body of art can give me shade and rest.

• when my stomach is hungry, my body of art will bear me fruit.

• when my heart is in need of shelter, my art can offer its branches to a secret world.

to see the artist soul as a tree — is to see ourselves as living ecosystems to nurture, grow, and discover, rather than entities to control, pressure, and tame. a tree contains the essence of a forest. a tree can grow as magnificant and tall as a castle. each leaf can feel like a discovery, like a mystery.

how would we treat ourselves differently, if we were to see our artist souls as trees — as vast as an entire world?

I think I would allow her the spaciousness to breathe, and be, and sleep. I would give her weekly pruning, but also allow her to be wild. I would invite bird friends who can make her happy, and chase away the pests. I would examine each leaf and accept it, as it is, and know that there will come an abundance more. I’ll begin the process of collecting the most beautiful leaves, and making an inventory. this is what I’m doing now.

so, my friend, may our artist tree souls speak to each other.

welcome to my forest room.

may you sit, and browse amongst my leaves.