Faith, discoveries, and lots and lots of happy trees :)

Tuesday...

"Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth. They do not preach learning and precepts, they preach, undeterred by particulars, the ancient law of life."   - Hermann Hesse, Bäume. Betrachtungen und Gedichte

Faith...

I want to really thank Tara and her lovely blog Faith In Every Single Day for featuring my guest post on my own faith.  You can read about my relationship to Judaism and spiritual in this article that just went up today - thanks Tara!

Read my guest post here!!!

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I think Tara's idea of featuring a reflection on a different faith each week is so wonderful.  All I need to do is take a deep breath and look around me to feel that spiritual awakening - that "something" - whatever it is - is lurking beneath every canopy of leaves, inside of every moist drizzly raindrop.  I love learning about different faiths - that universal awe-filled feeling, the wonder of being alive -that's what spirituality means to me.

Faith and spirituality is how I can still feel connected to my grandparents...

 Without faith and hope, it's hard to get through tough times that feel shaky and uncertain.  When doctors didn't know when or if I'd ever eat or drink again, I made myself look for faith because there really wasn't any other option.

And to my delight, I found messages everywhere - the trees, in the eyes of my loving family, and in the strength I didn't know I had.  And when I created - whether it be art, writing, a song, or just a heart-to-heart honest conversation with a loved one - it added a bit more fire to my faith, a fire that would last be a few more days...

In the Studio...

So I officially finished my second year of college And it was a wonderful year!  I learned so much in my Abstract Painting course – my professor was very keen on getting me to simplify my paintings a bit more…you can see a muchearlier post from the beginning of the school year I did on “minimalism”…

So I had done these two canvases for him early on in the semester…

But now that I’m DONE – I can add my happy trees back in – woohoo!!!

 Don't get me wrong - I completely value the tools I learned in my course.  It's important to know how to scale down a painting so you always have the option - but I'd rather not!

I never know exactly what my two trees in love will act next...

But I love experimenting with thei dancing trunks and swaying leaves in the wind...

"A tree says: A kernel is hidden in me, a spark, a thought, I am life from eternal life. The attempt and the risk that the eternal mother took with me is unique, unique the form and veins of my skin, unique the smallest play of leaves in my branches and the smallest scar on my bark. I was made to form and reveal the eternal in my smallest special detail." 
- Herman Hesse

"A tree says: My strength is trust. I know nothing about my fathers, I know nothing about the thousand children that every year spring out of me. I live out the secret of my seed to the very end, and I care for nothing else. I trust that God is in me. I trust that my labor is holy. Out of this trust I live." 

- Herman Hesse

"Whoever has learned how to listen to trees no longer wants to be a tree. He wants to be nothing except what he is. That is home. That is happiness.” 

― Hermann Hesse, Bäume. Betrachtungen und Gedichte

Next Art Show!
I went to check out the Discovery Museum yesterday - I can't wait to get my art in that gallery - stay tuned for a reception over the summer :)

It's a gorgeous museum and it brings back a bunch of wonderful childhood memories - should be a wonderful place for my art - especially with all those trees in the window...

Before I go...

It's Cinco De Mayo today!  I love Amy Kritzer's blog What Jew Wanna Eat - and here's a really fun twist that's quite festive - Mexican Chocolate Latkes with Cinnamon Whipped Cream - yum!

Then watch an adorable 5 year old help his dad propose...

And yesterday was the inventor of the piano's birthday!  Listen to 36 beautiful piano songs to celebrate its inventor's birthday.

Or you can just check out this great band I saw on my food tour this weekend!

Have a great Tuesday everyone!