My Fascination with Trees

I have always loved nature since I was a child.  I can still remember my "nature walks" in the country woods with my cousins, looking for any wildlife we could find.  I was always thrilled when my Ranger Rick magazine came in the mail! 

That passion for the outdoors has never left me, even though I moved from the country back east to sunny CA.  I still find a ton of inspiration on my local trails, at the beach, and in wine country but one thing that is constant no matter where I am is my love of trees.  My latest series of paintings I've been working on focuses on these wonderful living giants, with a twist.  Though I will paint more full trees in future paintings, the current series gets up close and personal with the intricate bark and gorgeous colors which can be found in some species. 

I always make sure I have a camera on me when I'm out and about on the weekends.  You never know when the perfect tree inspiration will strike!  Some of the blues, purples, and golden colors I've seen in the eucalyptus trees are just breathtaking.  I look for unique patterns in the bark for even more drama.  I usually bump up the colors...mainly because I love color! 

I can't wait to do more of these to add to my collection!  Below is a photo I took of a tree and the finished piece beside it.