Whenever on holidays in a Mediterranean country, I love searching for old olive trees in order to study them, cherish their intricacy (what a treat for the eyes!) and, as a wildlife artist, to draw them.
Did you know that the oldest olive tree in the world might be even 3,000 years old? It is located on the Greek island of Crete and is known as the Olive Tree of Vouves. This tree is one of seven olive trees in the Mediterranean, believed to be at least 2,000 to 3,000 years old.
How amazing!
And what about olives? Do you like them?
From salads to Martinis, olives gel with a wide variety of dishes.
Olive oils have revolutionised the way people look at healthy eating and have become a chef-recommended ingredient by many fitness experts and chefs.
But it’s not just the modern health benefits – olives have played an influential role in shaping our history.
Olea europaea is the tree beloved by ancient Greeks and Romans, and whose fruit has been popularised in the modern age by Italians, Greeks, and Spaniards.
Olives grow on trees that can grow up to 25-30 ft, spreading just as wide. With oblong silverish leaves on branches emanating from a gnarled, twisted trunk, olive trees for sure look like nature’s wonder – and here's the reason to make even more not just olive oil but also olive tree art!
One of the original drawings presented here is available to buy from my online store.
If you like these trees drawings and are a fan of tree art, please have also a look at my other project – Trees of Marlay Park.