The Allure of the Aspen Tree October 18 2024, 0 Comments

By Kimberly Nicoletti

The aspen trees in Summit County and the Vail Valley are past their peak now, with glorious golden hues having swept across the mountainsides over the past few weeks. The brilliant display only lasts a few weeks — and that’s where art comes in. A number of our artists depict aspen trees throughout all of the seasons, so adding their paintings to your home can connect you to nature all year-round.

“I truly believe that when we step into nature, we become our truest selves. It connects us to the core of our being,” says artist Rolinda Stotts, one of the artists we represent. “It reminds us of our own humanness and that we are alive. That’s what we’re all trying to feel, is alive.”

Gazing upon paintings of aspens allows us to recall the feelings of walking through green aspens in the summertime, coming upon a golden grove in the fall or snowshoeing, skiing or riding among the barren but brilliant white trunks, with their black eyes seemingly peering at us, in the winter.

Aspens hold a special allure because they represent connection. Every tree in an aspen stand is connected to a single root system, so one tree is part of a larger organism. As a result, they’re considered one of the largest organisms on Earth.

“The big, overarching story of aspens is the relationship of community. In today’s world, with climate change and global (conflicts), we need to remember we are all connected,” Stotts says. “We are planted in a specific place with our own purpose, but underneath, we are all the same. I don’t ever have to say that in my aspen paintings — we all instinctually know it.”

"Kisses and Hugs" by Rolinda Stotts

Stotts creates her “liquid trees” using a palette knife to scrape and move paint around, blending colors.

“It almost becomes their own little energetic playground,” she says. “It feels like a dance. It feels like I become partners with this paint and this expression and identity of an aspen tree.”

The titles of her aspen paintings are very playful — like “Tutti Frutti,” “Playing Red,” “Disco Darlings,” “Opening Night,” “Liquid Daze” and “Wind Chimes.”

She layers paint so that if you look closely, underneath the white barks you can see different colors and notice that what looks like black is really a combination of blue and brown.

Kate McCavitt also loves hidden or partially revealed things in her paintings. She wants people to connect with her work — even touch it — and then find their own magic within it. Her unique mixed-media techniques employ fluid acrylics to enhance, exaggerate and embellish the beauty of her muse: Nature.

"The Curtain Call" by Kate McCavitt

Kristof Kosmowski takes a bit more of an abstract approach, but his aspens are still recognizable. “Van Gogh’s Grove” presents a more warped perception, while “Among the Aspens” conveys a more realistic winter view. His works combine oils and Venetian plaster on his hand-built wood panels for a captivating take on aspens.

"Van Gogh's Grove" by Kristof Kosmowski

Robert Moore has passed on his passion and knowledge of painting to his son, Robbie Moore, and now, both create inspiring aspen paintings. Robert Moore is the top impressionist painter in the western half of the United States, and Moore himself bets that his son will ultimately exceed his talent. Robert Moore’s use of color and the various tools and techniques he uses (including painting with both hands), make his vibrant aspens immediately recognizable. Meanwhile, as Robbie Moore hones his skills, he currently tries to replicate what he sees before he leaps into interpretation. 

Thane Gorek is captures the mystery of a landscape. He does this by beginning with a black-and-white underpainting using gouache and then adding color with glazed oil paints, which reveal the small details of the underpainting. His aspens often convey a rich, cool and very captivating mood.

"Watering Hole" by Thane Gorek

We hope you got to spend some time soaking in the golden hues of the changing aspens this fall. Either way, know that you always can immerse yourself in the wonder of aspens — in all seasons — at our galleries.