The Lone Tree: A Symbol of Resilience in Art

The Lone Tree

Oil pastels on paper, 45 × 35 cm
Signed, varnished, and sold framed
By Laura Bernardeschi Nelson

While walking through the open fields of Northumberland, I came across a tree standing alone — weathered by the wind, rooted deeply in the earth, yet reaching fearlessly toward the sky. There was something profoundly moving about its presence: solitary but unyielding, fragile and strong at once. From that moment, The Lone Tree began to take shape in my mind, not only as a landscape, but as a reflection of resilience — my own and nature’s alike.

Working in oil pastels, I built the image through layered applications of pigment, blending and softening transitions between colors to evoke movement and atmosphere. The paper’s natural texture allowed the pastels to catch the light, creating a delicate surface vibrancy. I used a limited palette of earthy greens, warm ochres, and sky blues, applying them in successive layers to capture both the strength of the trunk and the transparency of the air around it.

Once the composition was complete, I applied a light varnish to protect the pastel and intensify the color depth. The piece is mounted and framed, enhancing its luminosity while keeping the tactile surface visible.

For me, this tree became a metaphor for inner endurance — a symbol of my own struggle to remain grounded while facing the unpredictable elements of life and mental health. Through its twisting lines and glowing colors, I sought to express not despair, but quiet courage: the will to stand, to continue, and to find beauty even in solitude.

The Lone Tree is a piece about standing one’s ground — about the silent dialogue between strength and vulnerability that defines both art and being alive.