“Treehouse” ©Ruth Armitage 2013 Acrylic on Paper 22×30″
I have been enjoying painting my memories of growing up “Down on the Farm” recently. One strong image that resonates with me when I think of childhood on the farm is my treehouse. It was a place of sanctuary for me, where I went to read, write, and dream. It was an escape from the noise of a busy household, a place to observe nature, and a place to be alone with my thoughts.
I know what you’re visualizing, but my treehouse was NOT elaborate. It was a small seat, a simple board about 8″ by 14″ by 1″ thick. My mother nailed it to a couple of branches that were approximately on the same plane, and I could climb up about 8 feet into the tree (no ladder) and perch precariously on the seat, leaning against the trunk of the tree. Mom also made a box for me to keep my treasures in. It was an old cigar box that she covered with a watercolor image of a young girl perched in a tree. I’m not sure which came first, the treehouse or the box.
The tree is long gone, but I still have the box. It reminds me of my connection to nature, and my mom. I’ve used colors here that remind me of the box, and of that era. Calligraphic marks made by scratching, drawing, brush and fluid drips suggest the movement of the tree, as well as the texture.
If you were to paint a memory from your childhood, what would it be? What colors would you choose? Here is an interview with local artist Richard Thompson about his connection to the Northwest Landscape. His work will be showing at Art Elements in Newberg, Oregon, September 26 – October 19, 2013. Looks like it will be a very interesting show! Richard will give a talk at 6 p.m. on September 26.
Breathtaking, Ruth! I love it that you still have the little box, and you must be so grateful that your Mom understood your need to be alone and to create art. What a gift.
Your question is a good one–I will have to think about painting a memory from childhood. You’ve got my brain working overtime (which is a good thing). Sometimes, to move forward, we have to look back at where we’ve been.
Thanks Liz 🙂 Mom is an artist too, so she understood well. Looking forward to hearing about what kind of memory you would paint.
Well said, Liz. Jane Fonda, in a recent TED talk, addresses the “third act” of life and how we need to understand where we’ve been to ground in the present and know where we want to go. I recently did a “personal retrospective” of work since childhood and was pleasantly surprised at the revelations of the experiment. The senses of memory seem to become more intense attached to created art.
Initially, I was not as taken with “Tree House” as
I have been with the others in the farm series,
then, as I continued to ponder your latest
work I fell into it, began to wander through
and gained appreciation. It’s a very interesting
work although appears very simple at first glance.
Like getting to know people 🙂
Thanks Roxanne,
I appreciate your comments. It is a bit of a departure from the Down on the farm series… not being an aerial perspective. It was interesting to paint from that memory of sitting in my tree house though. I like the fact that you saw it as simple at first. It went through some very complicated stages, and I was hoping to calm it down… So I’m glad to hear you found interest to hold you there, while still seeing the whole as fairly simple.
Ruth – I have been thinking for years of doing memoryscapes. And lately thinking about trying some new directions with my art. You may have just kicked it into gear. Thank you. Love your work and words.
Becki Trachsel Hesedahl
Thanks Becki! I would be interested to hear what memory you choose to paint! You might also be interested in my workshop coming up next month…
Ruth I would love to take the workshop but my schedule is tight next month. Still thinking about it though. You still have spots available?
Hi Becki,
Yes! Spots are still open 🙂 Would love to have you up here!
Beautiful mark making!! My eye wants to follow the blue green line wherever she leads!
Love it! The colors are so unusual and before I read why you chose them, I thought “teenage girly colors”, but they work so well in contrast to the nature theme. Fab.