"Under My Sister's Tree" Framed Art

I have a couple core memories of the sun shining through the leaves. One is looking up at the sky swinging peacefully underneath my sister’s giant tree. Mom duties on hold while she wrangled the kids.

It’s a giant maple. Quite impressive the life it’s lived. Towering over her house and completely unfazed by the kids (and adults) who use her branch to move back and forth. It’s right next to the tree just planted in remembrance of my mom.
I thought about my mom in that moment as the sun shone through the bright green leaves, swaying in the wind like frondy fringe, feeling like it was maybe actually her shining down on me.

My sister checked in to see if I was ok. To which I probably replied yes. Just let me stay here a little longer.

I tried to remember the exact colors in the sky so I could put them on paper later. Comparing each shade to my library of pool scraps in my studio. How I could layer them to recreate what I saw. Did I succeed? No. But I can still see it and feel it here.
 
"Under My Sister's Tree"
Materials: plastic (popped pool floaties), polyester, paper, monofilament
 
Art measures 8" x 10", frame is 9" x 11"
Frame includes hanging hardware and an easel
 
This piece is part of a bigger collection of work inspired by my experience of being a mom- losing my own just as I was becoming one myself, the overwhelming joy (and frustration, love and unqualified-ness) of motherhood all while honoring our place within Mother Nature.

A major part of my process includes repurposing materials that would otherwise be thrown away. Because there's already enough cool stuff in the world and we don't have to start from scratch to make something new.