Our Lady of the Barren Tree

Oil on canvas
50" x 36"
2009

These paintings are a metaphor for the struggle of my own experience to know Christ and seek to become more like his mother Mary.

The tree, the vine, the branches—these images evoke the memory of our mother Eve, whose disobedience was redeemed in the act of Mary's obedient "May it be to me as you have said." Through Mary's "yes," the shriveled tree of humanity bears fruit again, and through Christ is able to blossom into life and love again.

Michelle Arnold Paine received a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Painting at University of New Hampshire and a B.A. from Gordon College in Art and English. Michelle's paintings, drawings, and prints are heavily influenced by the several years she spent living and working in Orvieto, Italy. She also studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and for several summers with the New York Studio School. Michelle currently resides in Massachusetts.

More of her work can be seen at www.michellepaine.com.

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