---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I paint a tree - I think of how the roots…"
description: "\"I paint a tree - I think of how the roots go deep, deep into the earth. How the tree grows year by year toward the sky. How it stands with the winds.\" ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/douglas-lockwood-63328_artist_i-paint-a-tree-i-think-of-how-the-roots_2785433.jpg"
---

#  I paint a tree - I think of how the roots go deep, deep…

![“I paint a tree - I think of how the roots go deep, deep into the earth. How the tree grows year by year toward the sky. How it stands with the winds.” quote by Douglas Lockwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/douglas-lockwood-63328_artist_i-paint-a-tree-i-think-of-how-the-roots_2785433.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/douglas-lockwood-63328_artist_i-paint-a-tree-i-think-of-how-the-roots_2785433.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/douglas-lockwood-63328_artist_i-paint-a-tree-i-think-of-how-the-roots_2785433.jpg)

> “I paint a tree - I think of how the roots go deep, deep into the earth. How the tree grows year by year toward the sky. How it stands with the winds.”

[Douglas Lockwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-lockwood/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Deep roots and steady growth enable resilience against life's storms.

**In simple terms:** Roots deep, tree strong.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate strong foundations for growth.

Themes

nature resilience growth

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

poetic inspirational

When to use this quote

- gardening
- career planning
- mental health
- education

Key Concepts

ecology personal development

Questions to Reflect On

- What foundations support your growth?
- How do you weather adversity?

A Different Perspective

Focusing only on height may neglect root health.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) [Trees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trees/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/)

## Related quotes

> [If you know the differences between an oak and a poplar, a spruce and a pine, down to the needles... you are able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-allen-lawson/if-you-know-the-differences-between-an-oak-and-a-poplar-a-spruce-and/)

[T. Allen Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-allen-lawson/)

> [When you draw or paint a tree, you do not imitate the tree; you do not copy it exactly as it is, which would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/when-you-draw-or-paint-a-tree-you-do-not-imitate-the-tree-you-do-not/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [“I don't want to be the river anymore. I want to be the earth that the tree roots in. And I believe that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-jeffries/i-don-t-want-to-be-the-river-anymore-i-want-to-be-the-earth-that-the/)

[Sabrina Jeffries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-jeffries/)

> [Not even for a million dollars would I paint a tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/not-even-for-a-million-dollars-would-i-paint-a-tree/)

[Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/)

> [Sometimes it's about less is more. It's about the seed. Thinking about this gigantic tree that you think is so beautiful but it started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/sometimes-it-s-about-less-is-more-it-s-about-the-seed-thinking-about/)

[Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/)

> [So for anyone who is stumped by how to decorate their tree; Think of your own theme and see what inspiration you come up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-farr/so-for-anyone-who-is-stumped-by-how-to-decorate-their-tree-think-of/)

[Hilary Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-farr/)

> [“Someone who is said to have a big ego is thought to be full of themselves, to lack the ability to listen, to always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyalwa-dokhampa/someone-who-is-said-to-have-a-big-ego-is-thought-to-be-full-of/)

[Gyalwa Dokhampa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyalwa-dokhampa/)

> [“It is true that our everyday view of the world is not quite naively realistic, but that is what it would like to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-true-that-our-everyday-view-of-the-world-is-not-quite-naively/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You know, when people look at a tree, they look at the leaves; they don't look at the spaces between the leaves. They're focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-jarrett/you-know-when-people-look-at-a-tree-they-look-at-the-leaves-they-don/)

[Keith Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-jarrett/)

> [You have to be open to change. I never stop making sure that what I say is the best of what could be said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stewart/you-have-to-be-open-to-change-i-never-stop-making-sure-that-what-i/)

[Martha Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stewart/)

> [When I paint a picture of a house, that goes back to my roots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/when-i-paint-a-picture-of-a-house-that-goes-back-to-my-roots/)

[Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/)

> [Night is a curious child, wandering Between earth and sky, creeping In windows and doors, daubing The entire neighborhood With purple paint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-marshall-davis/night-is-a-curious-child-wandering-between-earth-and-sky-creeping-in/)

Frank Marshall Davis

> [“The sky is a canvas, so paint your own life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jada-berglund/the-sky-is-a-canvas-so-paint-your-own-life/)

Jada Berglund

> [Darkness, air, water, and sky will come together... and shake the forest to its roots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hunter/darkness-air-water-and-sky-will-come-together-and-shake-the-forest-to/)

[Erin Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hunter/)

> [A little too abstract, a little too wise, It is time for us to kiss the earth again, It is time to let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinson-jeffers/a-little-too-abstract-a-little-too-wise-it-is-time-for-us-to-kiss-the/)

[Robinson Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinson-jeffers/)

## More by Douglas Lockwood

> [I paint the fog - I think of its fresh moistness - its stillness - its mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-lockwood/i-paint-the-fog-i-think-of-its-fresh-moistness-its-stillness-its/)

[Douglas Lockwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-lockwood/)

> [I paint the ocean - I think of its vastness - its power - its wetness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-lockwood/i-paint-the-ocean-i-think-of-its-vastness-its-power-its-wetness/)

[Douglas Lockwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-lockwood/)

> [I paint a mountain - I think of its age - the strata formations or what grows on the mountain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-lockwood/i-paint-a-mountain-i-think-of-its-age-the-strata-formations-or-what/)

[Douglas Lockwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-lockwood/)

> [I am the thing that I am painting at the time of painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-lockwood/i-am-the-thing-that-i-am-painting-at-the-time-of-painting/)

[Douglas Lockwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-lockwood/)

[Explore all 5 Douglas Lockwood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-lockwood/)

## More Artist quotes

> [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/)

[Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/)

> [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/)

[Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/)

> [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/)

[Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/)

> [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/)

[Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/)

> [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/)

[Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/)

> [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/)

Taf Teh

> [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/)

[St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/)

> [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/)

[G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/)

> [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/)

[Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/)

> [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/)

[Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/)

> [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/)

[Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/)

> [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/)

[Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/)

> [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/)

[Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/)

> [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/)

[Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/)

[Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I paint a tree - I think of how the roots go deep, deep into the earth. How the tree grows year by year toward the sky. How it stands with the winds.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Douglas Lockwood"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-lockwood/i-paint-a-tree-i-think-of-how-the-roots-go-deep-deep-into-the-earth/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Artist"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-lockwood/i-paint-a-tree-i-think-of-how-the-roots-go-deep-deep-into-the-earth/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/douglas-lockwood-63328_artist_i-paint-a-tree-i-think-of-how-the-roots_2785433.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/douglas-lockwood-63328_artist_i-paint-a-tree-i-think-of-how-the-roots_2785433.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/douglas-lockwood-63328_artist_i-paint-a-tree-i-think-of-how-the-roots_2785433.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I paint a tree - I think of how the roots go deep, deep into the earth. How the tree grows year by year…” — Douglas Lockwood",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Douglas Lockwood",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-lockwood/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I paint a tree - I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-lockwood/i-paint-a-tree-i-think-of-how-the-roots-go-deep-deep-into-the-earth/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-lockwood/i-paint-a-tree-i-think-of-how-the-roots-go-deep-deep-into-the-earth/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
