wish tree
Several things are glued into this painting---a seed packet for sunflowers, a price tag, a bit of string, and four or five pieces of aluminum foil---making this a mixed media piece. This one, like many others, started its life as a different painting altogether---a painting not quite ready to be painted, perhaps. I had the idea of painting a simple tree shape, trunk and branches, and then I started adding the stars [for some reason]. The blue sky was too blue, so I went in strong with white latex house paint which, being of a thinner consistency, began to drip down the painting---this looked fine to me, so I continued to let it drip and dawdle down the painting. I left the bottom part alone until a dark shape near the trunk appeared to me to be a person kneeling (I had already named the painting "Wish Tree", so a person kneeling, making a wish, seemed to fit).
From Wikipedia: "A wish tree is an individual tree, usually distinguished by species, position or appearance, which is used as an object of wishes and offerings. Such trees are identified as possessing a special religious or spiritual value. By tradition, believers make votive offerings in order to gain from that nature spirit, saint or goddess fulfillment of a wish."
Wish Tree, 30x24"