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The Secret Life of Trees

Trees as Characters in a Story: Paint Trees in a Relationship

Not all characters are people. In fact, some of our most cherished story heroes are animals, robots or inanimate objects that show us best of all what it means to be human. Trees, with their majestic heights, deep roots and peaceful natures, seem particularly suited to this task. Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree teaches us the true meaning of unconditional love. And who can forget the soul-preserving force of the Tree of Souls in Avatar?

In this chapter, I’ll lead you through a painting that uses trees as characters to illustrate the very human emotion of romantic love. This is a fun project because it will get you out of the house and walking in the woods. If you listen, the trees may just share their wisdom and give you other stories to tell.