Theresa Ely

As a Nature Child, I grew up playing in our large backyard. I remember laying on the hillside looking up and listening to the cottonwoods talking to me. In the fall, we raked loads of leaves, created piles to jump in, and then had a bonfire with the leaves and other garden detritus. I was fortunate to be able to spend summers at our cabin on the bluffs of the St. Croix River. Life was carefree, and we were able to roam and run free until we heard the dinner bell ring. The Birch trees were prevalent near our cabin and the white paper thin bark was a delight and mystery to me.

This deep seated love of nature is still within me. Now that I’ve lived in Colorado for 30 years and am no longer working, I can really enjoy my forays into the natural world. Aspens are very prevalent in the Rocky Mountain West and their white, gray and tan bark reminds me of the Birch trees of my youth. This piece combines my Nature Child, Engineer and Artist…and oh yes, the Saboteur. These archetypes came to the forefront as I was conceptualizing this design. The Artist and Nature Child were talking to each other initially as I developed the embossed and painted aspen silhouettes. Then, the Engineer came front and center, to figure out spacing and how to attach these silhouettes. Of course, the Saboteur always needed to be talked down so that I would complete this project and not stop in mid-stream.

Hope you enjoy this portrayal of The Many Colors of Winter in an Aspen forest. Coincidentally, my nickname is Tree and I’m drawn toward making landscapes. No surprise there!

The Many Colors of Winter 2022 24.5” x 34.5” Art Quilt 300. ely60stpaul@gmail.com www.theresaely.com