Tree Paintings

When I moved back to the Upper Peninsula I responded to the beautiful trees everywhere in the forests, now grown back after being logged since the early 1900's.  Birch trees especially became a symbol for nature's ability to survive; the spaces between them as important as the trees.

These paintings are also about our connections to what is around us and how we leave our marks on everything we relate to.  

The recent drawings and paintings are about healing.


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oil on linen  40x40'  
I painted this painting when I first moved back to the North Woods.  It feels to me like some of the mystical underpinnings of this whole magic place.

private collection
Three Birches
oil on linen 40x40'
I painted this painting when I first moved back to the North Woods. It feels to me like some of the mystical underpinnings of this whole magic place.

private collection
2023 acrylic on panel 12x12"
Study in gray and green
2023 acrylic on panel 12x12"
6x6 3gg tempera
Tree with Stripes
6x6 3gg tempera
6x6"  egg tempera
Tree with Patches
6x6" egg tempera
watercolor, color pencil, casein
15x15'
2 Trees Yellow and Gray
watercolor, color pencil, casein
15x15'

oil on linen 2015
38x26''

This painting is in my home/studio.
patchwork birch
oil on linen 2015
38x26''

This painting is in my home/studio.
40x40 oil on canvas

Collection of Gail DeMeyere
Pink Tree
40x40 oil on canvas

Collection of Gail DeMeyere

oil on linen 2015
40x50'

Collection of Gail DeMeyere
spirit trees
oil on linen 2015
40x50'

Collection of Gail DeMeyere
acrylic on panel 20x20''

Owned  by Deb Karppinen
2 old birches
acrylic on panel 20x20''

Owned by Deb Karppinen

40x50 oil on canvas

This painting is in the American Embassy in Helsinki, Finland.
6 Gold Birches
40x50 oil on canvas

This painting is in the American Embassy in Helsinki, Finland.




oil on canvas  40x42''

in the collection of Adam Johnson, photographer at Brockit.com
Birches with Stitches
oil on canvas 40x42''

in the collection of Adam Johnson, photographer at Brockit.com
oil on canvas  40x40''

in the collection of Kathy Halvorsen
Owl and Birches
oil on canvas 40x40''

in the collection of Kathy Halvorsen

mixed media on paper 20x23In the collection of Frank and Ann Koskimaki
Quiet Birches
mixed media on paper 20x23In the collection of Frank and Ann Koskimaki
oil on linen 40''x30''
Painted at the beginning of the Iraq war., but symbolic of the sufferings caused by all war.

In the collection of Kathy Carlson.
Birch for Baghdad
oil on linen 40''x30''
Painted at the beginning of the Iraq war., but symbolic of the sufferings caused by all war.

In the collection of Kathy Carlson.
Oil on panel, about 24x36''

collection of Kenyon Hansen
Owl and Two Birches
Oil on panel, about 24x36''

collection of Kenyon Hansen
oil on panel  36x24''

Part of the permanent collection in the American Embassy in Helsinki, Finland.
Patchwork Birches
oil on panel 36x24''

Part of the permanent collection in the American Embassy in Helsinki, Finland.
40x30" oil on linen

This is now part of the collection of the Hospital in Wassau, Wisconsin
Autumn Birches
40x30" oil on linen

This is now part of the collection of the Hospital in Wassau, Wisconsin
oil on linen 30''x40''This painting is the last of a series of birch trees done very quickly, in response to the rhythms the trees make in relation to each other.

This painting is a part of the collection of Finlandia University.
Birches and Sunset
oil on linen 30''x40''This painting is the last of a series of birch trees done very quickly, in response to the rhythms the trees make in relation to each other.

This painting is a part of the collection of Finlandia University.
oil on canvas  36x36''

This is a new work which is part of my current attempts to combine imagery and abstract patterns.

Part of the collection of David Koskenmaki.
5 Tied Yellow Birches
oil on canvas 36x36''

This is a new work which is part of my current attempts to combine imagery and abstract patterns.

Part of the collection of David Koskenmaki.
ink on paper about 12x9''

In the collection of Phyllis Fredendall in Hancock.
Forest Clothesline
ink on paper about 12x9''

In the collection of Phyllis Fredendall in Hancock.
oil on panel 12x16''

in the collection of Anna Gawboy and Roman Holowinski
Birch Tree
oil on panel 12x16''

in the collection of Anna Gawboy and Roman Holowinski