The Story Behind The Paintings
Expressing ‘Where the Trees Dance’ in words...
I am used to expressing myself with paint. This time, however, I felt compelled to do the same in written form.
My poem below attempts to put into succinct words what landscape and nature means to me. To convey some of the feelings and emotions that I pour into my art.
Where The Trees Dance
A lone tree clings to a stony slope
Buffeted by a tormenting wind
Standing proud
An endless reach for the sweeping sky
Wild beauty beneath swirling clouds
In a vast and desolate glen
Dramatic in solitude
I breathe and feel alive
Where the trees dance
A huddle of trees entwine their branches
Observing atop a rolling hill
Standing together
Bathed in light by the admiring sun
Rhythmic swaying and whispering leaves
In a warm and gentle breeze
Comfort in familiarity
I smile and feel at peace
Where the trees dance
Words by Jayne Leighton Herd
WHY TREESCAPES?
My previous series of landscape paintings have mainly focused on the land and sky. British scenery is so close to my heart. Mountains and hills, glens and moors, and big dramatic skies. Rivers, lochs and rugged coastlines. Britain's scenery will never stop being a source of inspiration and joy to me. And I go into our landscapes as often as possible to soak up more inspiration and to recharge my creative batteries.
A few years ago, my husband and I had been seriously looking at moving to Scotland. But a turbulent few years of grief, the Covid Pandemic, and other s**t that life throws at you, led us to re-evaluate the life we have in the south of England. And it gave us a desire, a need and a push to do a lot more walking and exploring much closer to home. In Berkshire, where we live, as well as the surrounding counties of Hampshire and Oxfordshire in particular. The discovery of amazing walks and lovely hidden gems of scenery resulted in a greater appreciation for the wealth of nature and landscape that is local to me. And I take as many trips as possible around Britain to experience our diverse and stunning scenery.
Then I found myself paying particular attention to trees again. A reawakened delight of forms and textures, the play of light, the sounds… How the trees stand in relation to the landscape around them. And the way they make me feel. A comforting and enduring presence. Stability and beauty amidst continuous turmoil and confusion. Sentinels of time.
Trees started to appear frequently in my landscape sketches and even my daydream scribbles. So I started working on some paintings of 'treescapes': landscapes featuring trees. And I quickly noticed that some of my paintings continued to be full of influence from my love of Scottish landscapes. And those of Wales, Yorkshire, Northumbria, Cumbria and the Pennines. Where my trees often appear in wild landscapes, for example, buffeted by the wind under a stormy sky. Treescapes which are dramatic and full of energy and passion. Whereas the paintings I make after walking in my local countryside are more gentle and serene, with lighter, softer colour palettes. Paintings which express my utter joy at being able to experience beautiful local nature to clear my mind and feed my creative soul.
The new series of work marked a turning point for me after several emotionally and mentally difficult years. It means a lot to me that my paintings express the love and emotions I have for the landscapes of Great Britain.
I am super excited by this stage in my artistic journey. I hope that you will enjoy it with me.
The process of getting started
Anyone that goes for a walk with me has to get used to stopping [um, often 🤣] while I take photos of trees and landscape. And not just in the distance. But also close-ups of tree trunks, broken branches and the insides of cut or fallen tree trunks. I also love looking upwards into a tree’s branches. Trees are a world of endlessly fascinating formations, textures, patterns and colours.
Sometimes I will look at my photos when working in my sketchbook in my studio, or to inspire initial thoughts for paintings. But I don't use photos during my painting process. The landscape and the trees in my painting evolve naturally, instinctively, intuitively.
My paintings are not about expressing landscapes or trees realistically, as I am sure you have noticed. They are an emotional response to the landscapes I love. I paint from my mind’s eye, my imagination, memories and emotions. And I enjoy and live the journey that each painting takes me on.
