Rooted I, May 2009. 61x50cms Acrylic on Canvas
Such Olive trees abound where I live in the Balearics. I sense a powerful life energy, amazing vitality near these old trees, which are always twisted into impressive images and take on gnarled shapes and forms. I sense a more masculine energy in an old Olive tree, but of course yin and yang are always in perfect harmony, a dynamic equilibrium exists, therefore where is the feminine? I feel the yin energy still pervades but is more subtle. It can be perceived in some of the forms and certainly for me, in the tiny delicate leaves.

"Rooted I" is the first of a study to show "fugurative" forms that I have depicted within these twisted trunks without straying too much from the original forms and shape of the tree (the photographs or cards I use for each painting in the "Rooted" series is attached to the back of the canvas.)
Portraying the figures symbolises the feeling of "being trapped in the physical".
It is not my personl feeling about life, and I did not intend to portray any phobia here, although looking at some images reminds me of a sort of purgatory...! Not inherently unattractive, however because of they are part of the trunk: I think they might appear unattractive to someone who feels trapped!
The works in "My Love of Trees" series more closely depict how I feel which is not trapped at all, but rather celebrates this experience of life.
Thank you for taking the time to read, and visiting my "Gallery"
Peace, love and light.
Lizzy Forrester
(aka Deborah McNeill )