#2646 "Singleton Sugar Maple Matriarch"

#2646 "Singleton Sugar Maple Matriarch"
11x14 inches oils

I have painted this mighty sugar maple before in #2454 "Singleton Sugar Maple" and #2471 "Pioneer Sugar Maple". This is the first time that I painted the southern side. This maple was on its last decade or so. The wood peckers were opening up some holes in search of the bugs that were certainly invading the tree. The chunks of wood were littered around the base. The one very large tree limb lays on the ground where it fell possibly as a result of the 1998 Ice Storm and as I painted previously. This Singleton Sugar Maple was likely at least a good sized tree for the War of 1812. Size is not always related to age though. 

The ground all around this great tree is covered with tiny maple seedlings. This fact explains the title as it is surely the parent for most of these other trees that have are having a hard time growing due to the dense foliage of the forest canopy. The word "matriarch" actually comes from the Greek patria for "family." Patriarch has come to mean the male head of a family or clan, while matriarch is used if the head of a family or clan is female. 

The grain of this monarch maple turns cyclonically upward - at least if the thumb of your Coriolis hand is pointing in the direction of growth and the sky. The woodpeckers which I assume to be pileated, follow this seam in the skin of the tree. The knurls and twists in the bark add to the character of this tree. If only it could tell its story. I am making all of this up. 

The sounds of spring were in the forest. All of the characters were about and busy. At least a pair of barred owls were having an intense conversation. The one owl voice was definitely smaller in tone and volume. I also heard some snorting and turned to see the tails of white tailed deer. The group of three did not go far before they turned to watch me paint. The nature of the Singleton Forest, knows me well. 

A look at the weather forecast and map would have suggested that I just head straight into the Studio but the radar revealed otherwise. I had a two hour window to be out in the forest surrounded by my friends and that is where I went. 

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