I love looking at trees, they are gorgeous in so many ways. There is a story to each tree, a growth journey that started as a seed and grew for so many years or centuries. What happened among those trees? How many animals found rest and shelter in its branches, what caused the interesting scars and growths on the bark? Trees are mysterious, beautiful towers of strength that we would do well to learn from.

Each of us has a story as well, growth and stretching, branches of our lives that reach far beyond where we started, scars that are showing, some hidden. We have learned to weather strong storms and become fortified even if we lost a branch or two. Perhaps this is why I love trees so much! They remind me of the strength of the human spirit and how much we all accomplish as humans.

Another good reminder that trees show us is to take strong root in those we love, in our relationship with God our loving Father and creator and in our place in this world. You and I are not here by accident at this time and place. We have a purpose to help shelter, inspire, strengthen and hold one another together. Like trees, the more roots we have, the more connected we are to others. Right now, connection to others and to God is vitally important as we support and love each other through this global pandemic. We do not need to fear, for there is strength in our roots!

Today I wanted to show you how to draw trees. I know many of us are at home and need some creative ways to see. I hope this little video helps you! By the way, I did not try to sound Bob Rossish at all but it reminds me of the way he used to do paintings of those “happy little trees”! I loved watching him as a kid and his quiet and peaceful ways of teaching.

It is possible to create a tree from your imagination, but looking at a live tree in front of you and learning to observe it and the way the tree grows and branches out, will benefit you also. I encourage you to go outside for this drawing time and chose a tree to draw. It doesn’t have to be the whole tree either even just the bark or a few branches will suffice.

Take a pencil and an eraser with you. Watch the video I have downloaded in the link below. Enjoy and please post what you created in the comments! Happy drawing! You could also write down how this particular tree inspired you and what was it that drew you to it.