Interpretations of the Landscape Vol. 1 – A Vermonter’s Trees

The natural landscape around us has inspired impassioned artists for centuries. And each artist enriches the world with their own artistic interpretation of the landscape. And each person viewing the artist’s work enriches their own mind and others with their own interpretation of the artist’s work. So, dear reader, here’s my own interpretation of an artist’s interpretation of the landscape.   

The thing I love most about Peter Joslin’s trees is how they bring a storybook-like presence to a space. The beauty and charm of Joslin’s pieces come from the illustrative nature of his lines and detailing, such that immersing oneself in each piece almost feels like stepping into a new and beautiful, magical, hand-painted world. 

In Sycamore (2019), the detailing of the sycamore’s bark is, dare I say, iconic, and makes the tree immediately recognizable as a sycamore. This set against an obscured and almost abstracted lush green backdrop of foliage with a bright blue sky peeking through makes me feel like I’m about to step into a fairy tale land of yore. What’s more, to add to this this fairy tale narrative, the beautiful arching curves of the trunk and limbs anthropomorphize the tree in a way – I’m picturing the sycamore as an ancient, highly respected tribal elder, stretching her time-battered limbs towards the sky in search of answers to all of life’s questions.

Long Shadows, our newest piece from Joslin, tells me the story with which many New Englanders are familiar – an afternoon mid-winter walk in the woods, shortly after a fresh snowfall. Everything around you has been made soft by the snow – the jagged, organic lines of the forest’s tree limbs and rocks are now blanketed in a pillowy layer of fluff, and everything is quiet save the crunching of your boots into the fresh snow. Joslin’s soft lines, muted color palette and focus on light & form turn this sweet winter scene into a warm and inviting piece, rather than a cold and bleak one. I’m venturing to say it’s even downright cozy.

Felled Sycamore, our second newest piece from Joslin, keeps our attention focused on the detailing in the water – both in the reflections on the water’s surface and the pebbly riverbed. The illustrative tree limbs and leaves set against the backdrop of a glassy pool of water with intimate detailing in the reflections and shadows tells the story of a quiet afternoon spent soaking in the sun and humid air on the river.

Now you try – what stories do these trees by Joslin tell you?  

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