Lady in the Tree - Watercolor Painting

"Lady in the Tree," by Angie Quantrell
(Based on a wooden sculpture/carving in the middle of a tree in Old Town Albuquerque, New Mexico)

"Imitation is not inspiration, and inspiration only can give birth
to a work of art. The least of man's original emanation is
better than the best of a borrowed thought."

~ Albert Pinkham Ryder, Quoted in Albert Pinkham Ryder (John Sherman; 1920)

Here I thought imitation was the sincerest form of flattery.

This is a watercolor painting I did that was based on a wooden sculpture/carving that is found in the middle of a burned out tree in Old Town, Albuquerque, New Mexico. I was fascinated by the carving and the paint that was applied after the lady was carved. It sits hidden behind a church in the old part of the city, the oldest Catholic parish in Albuquerque.

The intriguing artwork is called the Cottonwood Madonna - Virgin of the Tree.

One can guess, but I still wonder what inspired the parishioner to carve the lady?


Angie Quantrell enjoys dabbling in watercolor painting when she is not busily typing at the computer. She is fascinated with the look of watercolor paints and dreams of having time to really pursue that hobby.