Tree of Life

2024

Acrylic on canvas, 67 x 90cm

Me the blossom tree

by MARIE

A beautiful tree started to grow from a tiny little seed
lots of love, protection and care helped it that’s all it really needs.
Parts of the tree grew quickly it blossomed so pretty and bright
Attracted many other trees who wanted some of her light.
Parts of the tree grew quickly, it broke in an electrifying storm
It took time to realise the impact that this blossom tree was torn,
Just like the coldness of winter the tree became vulnerable and bare,
Many times, it felt like dying and that no one would really care.
as you see with the seasons this blossom tree grew strong again,
It’s allowed to be bare and vulnerable, to ask for help from the sun and the rain,
To show off all it’s beauty but also show its pain.
To regrow off into one direction, while other parts might have stopped growing at all.
To still show the carved scars like the blossoms be proud of your tree and stand tall.
this tree will never stop trying to grow the best that it can,
maybe some branches will break, maybe blossoms as they do fall to the floor.
But that’s ok because it could lead the tree to becoming an open door.

Andy’s artwork for Marie was created after they had talked of all the challenges she had faced and overcome through her life. Andy wanted the tree to represent her continued growth and newfound love of nature. Marie’s journey of self-discovery is ongoing:

As Marie says: It is depicting my life through Art I love it! All the traumas and pain but magical moments in my life too.

Those Traumas will always be there, but I’ve done so many things to help me heal and recover. The dark tree part of the rings represent the period in Marie’s life when she was controlled, told what to wear, eat, do, and abused before she got away from that and started to regrow again.

She was able to “Find out who I was, what are my values and beliefs. I didn’t know what I liked to eat, what colour do I want my hair to be. (currently purple!) My daughter picked out for me as she’s not allowed to dye her hair in high school.”

Marie’s journey of self-discovery is ongoing:

“I’m learning to try and pace and slow down not blurting things out or interrupting conversations and finishing people’s sentences. I’m taking steps to take better care of myself, like adding vitamin D and K2 to my routine, drinking more water, eating better, cutting down on junk food and takeaways! Getting outside more and walking in woodlands and nature reserves. That’s helped”