Welcome to my home! Through the years, I have collected more than 50 artworks that depict trees. As you will see, they are presented in many different media, sizes, and shapes. I love them all but have selected a few of my favorites for you to enjoy.
Photography by John Harkey
Let’s start our tour with this pen and ink picture done by Paul Olson, a Professor in the Illustration Department at RISD. I had seen it at the RISD museum 10 years ago where it was displayed as part of a faculty exhibition. I fell in love with his work so I ended up buying this picture.
A short time later my husband and I went up to the Arnold Arboretum in Boston where Paul Olson exhibited. His illustrations were all of trees growing in the Arboretum. “My” tree was also growing there. Paul framed my picture with beautiful old wood that he had at his house.
 | A defining aspect of his work is that he always places his grandchild’s name on the illustration for him to find among the squiggles of his pictures. This gives both of them much delight. |
This blown-glass ball has a glass tree inside it.
| I love glass and am always drawn to its fragile beauty. I found this creation to be especially amazing. |  |
This artwork, Slow Beneath the Branches, was done by Cristiane Mohallen, a female Brazilian artist whose work was part of an exhibition in Key West, Florida. It is created with cotton thread stitched on linen. The exhibit focused on displays of the wild marshes and mangroves that are part of the Key West landscape.
| This captures the way it looks if you go out in a canoe – which we’ve done – everything is growing all over! It depicts so well the beauty amid the chaos of the tropical environment. |  |
 | I found this artwork in Savannah, South Carolina. It is all paper cutting. |
I was intrigued by its detailed work which captured so well the ancient and gorgeous trees in the area. The picture is nicely bookmarked on our wall by two small, carefully cut wood plaques.
This I loved because of what it says about the importance of trees. Even though it is just a greeting card, it was clear to me that it merited displaying on my wall of trees! It says, “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit.” Greek proverb.
I came across this rendition fairly recently. It was done by a photographer who was particularly fascinated with tree bark. She had an exhibit at the Arnold Arboretum which focused entirely on bark.
This picture, printed on metal, is of the bark of an ancient bonsai Chinese Elm tree, Ulmus parvifolia.
This is a photograph taken by the RI professional photographer, Stephen Brigidi.
I like it a lot because it’s sort of fuzzy, not so harsh. The features are not so clearly defined; it seems to glow more than just show details.
Compare this to the Stephen Brigidi photo. It is impressionist, not a photograph. The tree almost seems to float.
Can you guess what this artwork once was? It started its life with us as a dinner table placemat but I thought it would look better framed and on a wall. And so, there it rests.
 | Do you see anything unusual about this picture? |
It’s a postcard that I came across. I think it’s very clever and funny.
| This photograph I got at an art festival in Key West, Florida. Notice the mirroring of the tree as it is bending over the water. It looks like it is dancing! I love its simple beauty. |  |
 | This small picture was done by a local artist. I love its subtle rendition of birch trees, printed on metal. The tones of the colors are perfect. |
I got this piece many years ago. I think it was created locally but I am not sure.
It’s a metal and glass box with embossed doors. Inside is an ivory-toned object on which is depicted a tree. The metal flaps hinge so you can close it up and it becomes like a traveling oratorio. Except it doesn’t travel! With my collection, the art only goes in one direction: into my little gallery.
 | This is a pencil drawing of a Georgia apple tree. |
You can see where the apples have fallen. This came from my husband Jim’s family. No one in his family particularly liked it but I thought it was great. It has soul and beauty.
This is a piece of wood that an artist displayed at a local art festival that I attended. The artist drew on it a branch of leaves. I love its flow.
Below it is a stick that my grandson found in the woods and gave to me for my birthday. He said, “Nana, I saw it and it made me think of you. I knew you’d love it.” And I do love it.
Here are two glass window-hangings. The first I found many years ago in a small store on Long Island. I was drawn to it because it appears to depict Gingko leaves. And I love Gingko leaves.
The piece on the right features in its center a tree made from copper wire. This came from an art festival in Burlington, Vermont, many years ago. I loved it instantly because, of course, it's made from glass and depicts a tree.
And, finally, I don’t just collect depictions of trees. I look for a variety of aesthetics, as indicated in this display. I’ve gathered together beautiful stones, shells, leaves, and small statues that I like and that bring me peace and joy. These are assembled on an old wooden chest tucked into a corner of my house. One of my friends described this display as a kind of altar. And I guess it is.
Editor’s note: Village Voices is for members and volunteers of The Village Common who engage the “creative spirit” in any manner: as an artist, collector, writer, craftsperson, musician, or thinker. Contact us at
villagevoices123@gmail.com. We’ll help you assemble your submission.