This card celebrates the resourceful, creative spirit of island life. When fisherman friends suggested that a certain graceful dead birch tree was becoming a bit of an eyesore from the water, the response was simple: decorate it.
Using old, weathered buoys found scattered in the woods by previous owners—and happily accepting contributions from neighbors—the silver branches were transformed. One ladder and a few nails later, the tree became a vibrant collection of floating history. Now, everyone is happy.
Capturing the whimsical spirit of Swan’s Island, this greeting card is a tribute to the colorful objects that define our coastal landscape and the playful ways we make the Maine coast our own.
Buoy Tree is a reproduction of an acrylic on paper painting by Gretchen Chauncey, 2017.
Blank inside for your personal message
Available Sizes: 4.25"x 5.5"
Purchase as individual cards or in packs of 5 or 10.
Envelopes are included
Printed on high quality card stock
Packed in cellophane sleeves
All greeting cards are printed upon order. Average delivery time is 8-12 days.
About the Artwork
Buoy Tree
The story of the "Buoy Tree" began with a bit of a challenge. My fisherman friend, who also happens to be my arborist, pointed out that my silver birch was the only dead tree left on the entire coastline. In his professional opinion, it was an eyesore. I saw it differently; I thought the tree still held a certain skeletal beauty, and I wasn't ready to let it go.
To prove it could be improved without being cut down, I decided to decorate it. My mother and sister watched from the deck as I lugged a heavy ladder and an armload of weathered buoys down to the shore. A neighbor, seeing the project in motion, even wandered over with a few more colorful buoys to add to the collection.
The result was (in my mind) a vibrant, fantastic sculptural masterpiece that improved our view. Every year, the winter winds would claim a few of the buoys, making the re-hanging a rite of spring. Sadly, the historic storms of January 2024 finally brought the tree down, but luckily this greeting card remains.
Additional Details
Artist Origin: Maine
Art Style: Vibrant Acrylic Landscape
Aesthetic: Maine Coast Chic, Breezy
Subject: Colorful Lobster Buoys, Swan's Island: Scenes Of Island Life
Occasions: Birthday, Thinking Of You, Vacation Greeting
Best For: Maine & Coastal Enthusiasts, Sailors & Boaters, Neighbors
Family owned. Original images by Chauncey Art Collective.
