There is much “to-do” about how to make greens, because (heaven forbid) one should never use greens straight out of a tube! So, on this gray day, I enjoyed respite from Texas heat and painted the muted greens on our property from observation. For the artists reading — On my palette was ultramarine blue, cerulean blue, light cad yellow, yellow ochre, burnt umber, payne’s gray, titanium white and a touch of radiant red. From that, (no green tubes there) I painted the greens of the hayfield and mesquite trees. In case you noticed in the photo, yes, there are other colors at the top of my palette, but they are dried up spots from other sessions.
Now back to those of you who don’t care what colors I used. As I painted, I thought. I thought about the twists and turns of the tree trunk and wondered how long it took to get to this size. Knowing the power of the wind that blows across this field, I imagine this one is deeply rooted. Notice how the twisted limbs show that life knocked him for a curve for a few years! And, notice the new growth toward the top; the tiny branches that keep growing, even when the trunk itself has done a full life’s work. Even after the Texas Ice Storm, when it looked dead, this mesquite came back to life for another year!
In case you missed the obvious lesson here…life is a journey of twists and turns. It makes us, or breaks us, as we learn to adapt to the winds that blow. We start with basics and learn to mix the paints to give the results we want. Strong roots are important for standing against obstacles. And the twisted scars that we end up with are often beautiful, when we stand back and observe with a grateful heart. Even on a gray day.
