ReTree
ReTree
Artwork, volunteering, and finding your unique contribution
In 2015, my family and I volunteered to plant trees with Yampa Valley Sustainability Council (YVSC) along the Yampa River just outside Steamboat Springs, Colorado. My daughter was only 2 at the time, but we brought her a little shovel and bucket. Together she and I did a variety of things that were hopefully helpful, and ate snacks, and rested. Meanwhile my husband, Matt worked extra hard actually planting trees.
The following year, I contacted YVSC and asked about designing artwork for ReTree’s t-shirts and advertising. They said yes, and I was very excited to participate as an artist in addition to using my hands to plant trees. I’m an illustrator at heart, meaning I am motivated by the story or the meaning behind the artwork. An illustrator takes a concept or text and adds a complimentary visual layer. Because I’m a self-taught artist, I don’t have training as an illustrator, and I’ve definitely gotten better over time and with more experience. Here is a collection of the artwork I’ve made for ReTree since 2016.
In my community, especially since 2019, ReTree has been focused on planting and maintaining trees along the Yampa River, like the native narrowleaf cottonwood. Read here to learn to learn about the benefits of more trees along the river. The Yampa gets very warm some summer months when the water level is low after spring snowmelt has finished. This causes fish to struggle, partly because warm water holds less oxygen. Low water and warm temperatures trigger closure of the river to protect habitat, which impacts the local economy. Locals and visitors here love to be out on the water in boats, inner tubes, fishing, and enjoying the summertime river in so many ways. Shade provided by cottonwoods and willows helps cool the river, and increases habitat for many species by providing a healthy corridor, called the riparian zone, along the river.
Tree planting for ReTree with YVSC happens during the fall, usually the end of September and beginning of October. And there are additional volunteering opportunities to help with restoration projects throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Sign up here if you are in Northwest Colorado and would like to participate. Here is a nice article from The Yampa Valley Bugle about plantings from last year.
If you do participate in ReTree with YVSC, you also get a t-shirt with my artwork! I’ve finished the image for 2024, the 15th Anniversary of the program, and want to share the process.
I am a printmaker, and my regular practice includes carving the image into a piece of artist linoleum. This is called the ‘block,’ even though it’s not mounted on a block. This is the same concept as making a woodblock print or a rubber stamp. Here is a short time-lapse video of me carving the artwork for ReTree 2024. Don’t get dizzy watching!
As you can see, the image is carved backwards. When paper is laid over the top of the inked block and transferred, the image on paper is facing the right direction. The block and final print on paper are mirror images of each other.
Once the image is printed, I can paint it with watercolor. The t-shirts are printed as silkscreens with a single color, but I enjoy adding more color to the art used for promotion. So here’s the reveal of the final ReTree 2024 artwork!
What to do if you are interested in planting trees or habitat restoration work but you live elsewhere? Search for organizations in your own area that do this type of work and volunteer. If you’ve connected with a group you really like, take it one step further. Offer your own individual skillset and talents to help the organization. National organizations are probably fully staffed, but with local groups there may be a chance for you to participate using your abilities, knowledge, or network in new and exciting ways. In my case, I feel like I’ve helped promote ReTree through my artwork. But that’s not all, doing illustrations for the program also increased my reach as an artist, which helped grow my business.
I always look forward to both making the art, and helping plant trees with YVSC. I’ve recently interviewed Carolina Manriquez with the Colorado State Forest Service about planting trees and forest health. I am working on an article, to be out soonish. As Carolina said, “We are planting trees because we need them for the future. Trees grow so slowly, that anything we can do now will benefit our kids, future generations, and wildlife.”
