Tree of Life Painting in process – Week 1

I’m one week into what I estimate will be a 3-week painting journey.

Here are a few images along the way during the first week:

May 10:

May 12:

May 13:

May 14:

May 15:

The elements in this Tree of Life painting, originally created as a series of forty 5″x7″ watercolor paintings, is work commissioned by a project with Nourishing Vocation with Children at St. Olaf College, a program funded through Lilly Endowment’s Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative.

The forty elements in the Wonders of Worship (WOW) series represent different parts of the liturgy:

Gathering	Nest with Eggs
Prelude	Robin
Invocation/Sign of the Cross	Two Branches Crossing
Procession	Orioles
Greeting	Woodpecker
Prayer of the Day	Acorn
Word	Balm of Gilead Green Leaves
Thanksgiving for Baptism	Shell with Ginkgo Leaves
Advent	Blue Dragonfly with Indigo Plant
Kyrie	Mourning Dove
First Reading	Oak Leaf
Psalm	Bluebird
Second Reading	Maple Leaf
Gospel Acclamation	European Goldfinch
Gospel	Blue Spruce Sprig
Christmas	Spider on Rose of Sharon
Epiphany	Honeybee on Sunflower
Sermon	Pinecone with Seeds Dispersing
Hymn of the Day	Cardinals
Creed	Mushroom
Prayers of Intercession	Praying Mantis and Maple Seed
Peace	Olive Branch
Meal	Wheat & Grapes over Lichen
Offering	Hazelnut
Dialogue and Preface	Hummingbirds
Lent	Caterpillar on Lenten Rose
Confession & Forgiveness	Lily of the Valley
Holy, Holy, Holy	Song Sparrows
Thanksgiving at the Table	Snail over Moss
Lord’s Prayer	Pomegranates
Communion	Baby Birds with Open Mouths
Easter	Luna Moth
Canticle of Praise	Chickadees
Post-Communion Blessing & Prayer	Vine and Figs
Sending	Homing Pigeon
Blessing	Unfurling Fern
Sending Song	Starlings
Dismissal	Dandelion with Seeds on Wind
Pentecost	Firefly near Red Flame Lily
Time after Pentecost/Ordinary	Green Inchworm with Trillium