Something Beautiful

Twisted Pine, 2021

Oil paint on canvas panel

12” x 16”

I found the inspiration for this painting while on a nature hike at Tubbs Hill. The Tubbs Hill trail loop is a favorite among tourists and locals alike. I totally understand why. This trail boasts breathtaking views of Lake Coeur d’Alene and a cornucopia of private little sitting spots where one can just relax and take in the beauty. 

I had never had the pleasure of meandering along the two mile loop before. So, when God blessed us with a beautiful sunny day, Todd and I leapt at the chance to hit the trail. The conditions were perfect for a nature walk; not too hot, not too cold, and the cerulean blue sky was adorned with picturesque puffy clouds. 

Apparently, we were not the only ones who thought this was the perfect day to get out and get some exercise. Everybody and their dog had set out to soak up the warm rays of the spring sun on the hill that day. Two lanes of foot traffic formed on the path, one going up the little mountain, and one coming down. Folks cordially exchanged nods and “hi, how are yous” as they passed one another on the trail. Bright, beaming smiles shone on everyone’s faces (people and dogs alike). It was quite the sight to behold. One little girl proudly marched in-front of her family, toting a cooler bag, and gleefully announced that she and her mommy “got to have a picnic!” The sky, the lake, the joy in people’s hearts, everything was just beautiful. 

Gorgeous Lake Coeur d’Alene was an obvious showstopper. Every turn in the path seemed to reveal a new view of the clear lake, each more breathtaking than the last. However, that day I found inspiration in a most unusual place - a dead tree. The gnarled pine stood immediately at the side of the trail with a commanding presence and I was absolutely captivated by it. Its weathered branches twisted, and curled, back and fourth, weaving in and out of one another, until it was hard to tell where any one branch stopped or started.

The rhyme and reason for these twists and turns were secret from my mind but the puzzle they formed had a strange beauty all its own. In classic artist fashion I proceeded to take a plethora of photos. I found the best vantage point to be from beneath, looking up through the wonderfully tangled mess. How odd I must have seemed to my fellow hikers - climbing around on my knees, my camera pointed at a dead tree, and my back to the pristine lake. Have I mentioned that Todd is a good sport?

I knew rendering this subject was going to be a challenge unlike any other I had painted before. At the same time, I was excited! This was the perfect opportunity to break out my new mondo tubes of Winsor and Newton oil paint that I received for Christmas! I was also intrigued and energized by questions like: what would the finished piece look like? Which paintbrush makes crazy branches? And perhaps my biggest question, can I actually even do this?! 

Spoiler alert - with God ALL things are possible. From the first big, deep, breath, God was with me. He calmly spoke to my heart, “first, just paint the sky blue. Now, start at the top, one branch at a time. If you get turned around, don’t panic, just lift your brush and step back. When you feel yourself getting lost in the minutia, step back and look at the big picture. If you still can’t figure out where you are going (or even where you are coming from) it’s ok. Take a break. You can always try to work on another area for a bit. And if you never figure it out, that’s ok too. You don’t need to find all the branches, you don’t need to have all the answers.”

As I stood back and admired the finished piece and I couldn’t help but smile. God had led me through the maze and to victory! The piece turned out more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. I’m not going to lie, there were times my painting sessions left me feeling a bit crosseyed. Initially, I had worried that even if I put in the hours and the energy my efforts would only result in a pile of “spaghetti.” God did not let that happen. When I got lost (and I did) He didn’t leave me stranded. In the end, on the other side of all the twists, and the turns, and all the searching was something beautiful.