Of Trees and Clouds

We have run away to see the gorgeous land of trees and clouds and hills in western North Carolina. This place is rich in gorgeous views and complicated history. Before I share more, I want to welcome newcomers to this blog and share it’s purpose!

Small Spaces Special Places

Each year, I select a theme for my weekly paintings. This year’s is “Small Spaces Special Places.” Why? I have been surprised, even delighted, with the small spaces in our house that have captured my eye.

Also, there are the special places I see on my daily dog walks. Each morning, rain or shine, I love getting outdoors and looking for things to paint. Sometimes, we venture on the road and I share paintings of special places from these trips, too.

If you or someone you know will enjoy a weekly dose of color, sign up here for this weekly blog. Let’s get to this week’s topic of trees and clouds and more, shall we? Here’s a larger version of this week’s gouache painting I did from our campsite here in Franklin, North Carolina.

Joyce Kilmer Forest

As you may know, I have been studying, painting and drawing trees and landscapes of late. And, after several months of frequent socializing on social media, I decided to take a break and look with my eyes, pencil/brush and camera. So far, it has been so wonderful to get away from technology and just LOOK!

Well, OK, we’re also hiking and camping (in addition to looking!) One of the highlights of this week has been visiting one of the few remaining old growth forests east of the Mississippi, Joyce Kilmer Forest. Named after WW1 veteran and poet, Joyce Kilmer, the forest is a mighty testament to nature’s beauty. The forest floor is covered in lush ferns and native plants. The birds are ever present and singing. And, the mighty tulip poplars present here are magnificent and awe-inspiring. This one, in front of which we are standing, is over 350 years old!

Trees and Clouds and Hills

Our next hike took us to higher ground and closer to the clouds. We drove to Wayah Bald and walked to the Tower honoring another casualty of World War 1, John Bernard Byrne. He was a young, enthusiastic forest ranger in the 1930s. After three short years in the forest service, he succumbed to lung disease after exposure to poisonous gas during his service in World War 1.

The tower with a plaque commemorating him and his life has a magnificent view. The hike around the tower includes oak trees towering overhead and the tiniest of bluets and ferns by your feet. Seeing the hills and mountains in the distance from this vantage point conjures up all kinds of wonderment and joy.

Star Place

As we returned to our campsite we visited Franklin, NC. There’s a paved trail in the town that follows the Little Tennessee River. Across from the park entrance to the trail is a kiosk honoring a sacred dome and land that once belonged to the Cherokee Nation. Na’ha or Rebecca Morris, is one of Star Place’s revered citizens. You can read more about her accomplishments in the image below. I am so grateful to have learned about this wonderful woman and place. And, the thought of a Women’s History Trail? Wow! Here’s more information about it and a sculpture yet to be erected near the kiosk we visited.

Hope and Rejuvenation

There’s so much more I could say about the tragedies of war and conflict. But I think you can easily see that connection here. It’s incredible that the people who made sacrifices have left such beautiful and lasting legacies for us to enjoy here in western NC. Spending time outdoors helps me “press the reset” button so much! I always com back from camping, hiking and time in the forest with so much hope and feeling rejuvenated. Here’s hoping this translates into some new and interesting artistic adventures to share with you in the months and year ahead! How about you, gentle reader, what do you do to rejuvenate? Have you had a chance to do that lately? If not, are you scheming and dreaming of doing so? If so, please share in the comments below and thank you for reading here today!