ALONG THE FOREST PATHS

I often jog through Fish Creek Park, finding my way deep into the forest trails. Surrounded by towering trees and running on soft dirt paths, I feel grounded, steady, and at ease.

For years I have admired the majestic trees along the dirt trails behind the Ever Creek Bluffs. I encounter this tree along my path and in September 2024, this tree inspired 3 new paintings, all because I became fascinated with its root system. The roots often resemble a staircase, guiding me upward along a path of nature and beauty.

This tree stands strong and proud, its roots extending endlessly beneath the surface. As I traced their path, I realized they were supporting the cliff itself, anchoring the land around it. It was then I began to understand the quiet, unseen power of trees.

These paintings are especially meaningful to me. For the first time, I incorporated real tree bark, allowing it to rise from the canvas and exist as part of the tree itself.

I pushed the root system to an extreme, shaping it almost like a many-armed deity.

• Twigs and branches form the structure, painted and layered with chopped pine needles and leaves.

• Crushed leaves—used here for the first time—are painted over to create intricate, root-like patterns that add texture and depth.

The work unfolds slowly, as forest materials are added in stages—painting, carving, cutting, and shaping—allowing the piece to grow organically over time.

Artist Perspective

These visual paintings depict a pathway up a hill, seen from near ground level, looking upward. From this vantage, the tree roots are revealed, cutting through the mountainside and grounding the landscape.

The art brings fallen parts of the trees back to life, like a time capsule buried within the canvas—a fragment of the forest preserved to exist forever.

Philosophically, these works reflect the quiet power of trees. What we see above the ground is only half their story. Beneath the surface, roots stretch, connect, and support life on the planet.

For me, this perspective inspires a deep respect for these giants that surround my daily life. I am often struck by their beauty, as if they possess my soul—silent companions, standing with me, speaking in a language of stillness and friendship.