Conversations with a Tree Series

This series was inspired from studying a tree’s shadows that projected onto my bathroom wall. The tree shadows reminded me of Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” where the people chained to the wall believed that the shadows of the people they saw were reality because they did not know otherwise. I found myself fascinated with the tree’s shadows and wondered what if these shadows, not the tree, was in fact the reality? 

From June to December of 2016 I photographed the tree’s shadow as it grew taller and fuller with leaves until it once again found itself barren. I digitally manipulated the tree shadow photographs to created complex patterns of lines and colors from the shadows, my found patterns. I transferred the lines derived from the shadows onto the watercolor paper and began the process of painting.  This process allows me to reduce the tree into a form that is completed divorced from its recognizable reality. It is a way for me to express the complex world we live in and remove all the dimensionality so that I can reveal what the eye does not.   I want my gouache paintings to abstractly depict the energy of the tree’s growth through line and color. I want to show people that once all the recognizable, separate pieces are removed we can see everything is still connected.
The Following photographs are the finished paintings in this work in progress series.  There are more paintings in progress and pictures will be added upon completion. 
***Note: once higher quality images are taken these will be replaced with those. 
NOT YET TITLED, 24in x 48in, Gouache on watercolor paper, $1050
NOT YET TITLED, 24in x 48in, Gouache on watercolor paper, $1050
NOT YET TITLED, 30in x 40in, gouache on watercolor paper, $800
NOT YET TITLED, 30in x 40in, gouache on watercolor paper, $800
NOT YET TITLES, 36in x 48in, Gouache on Watercolor paper, $950
NOT YET TITLES, 36in x 48in, Gouache on Watercolor paper, $950
What Keeps My Heart Awake is Colorful Silence, 40in x 16in, Gouache on watercolor paper, 2018, $1000
What Keeps My Heart Awake is Colorful Silence, 40in x 16in, Gouache on watercolor paper, 2018, $1000
The Earth Shattered But Did Not Break, 48in x 24in, Gouache and acrylic on watercolor paper, 2020, $1250
The Earth Shattered But Did Not Break, 48in x 24in, Gouache and acrylic on watercolor paper, 2020, $1250
In Between a Cracked Euphoria, 12in x 12in, Gouache on watercolor paper, 2020, commission
In Between a Cracked Euphoria, 12in x 12in, Gouache on watercolor paper, 2020, commission
 It's Better Not To Know Too Many Details About the End Destination, 48in x 30in, Gouache and acrylic on watercolor paper, $1100 
 It's Better Not To Know Too Many Details About the End Destination, 48in x 30in, Gouache and acrylic on watercolor paper, $1100 
(NOT YET PICTURED) 6.  In Between a Fractured Euphoria, 36in x 36in, Gouache and acrylic on watercolor paper, 2019, $800
(NOT YET PICTURED)   8. NOT YET TITLED, 48in x 24in, Gouache on watercolor paper, WIP


The Following Photos are the "In Progress" pictures of this current series....more progress pictures to come as this series continues.....
#8, Not Yet Titled, Close Up Of Outlines
#8, Not Yet Titled, Close Up Of Outlines
#8, Not Yet Titled, Close Up Of Outlines
#8, Not Yet Titled, Close Up Of Outlines
Details: The Earth Shattered but Did Not Break
Details: The Earth Shattered but Did Not Break
Details: The Earth Shattered but Did Not Break
Details: The Earth Shattered but Did Not Break
Early Details: The Earth Shattered but Did Not Break
Early Details: The Earth Shattered but Did Not Break
Up Close Details: It's Better Not To Know Too Many Details About the End Destination
Up Close Details: It's Better Not To Know Too Many Details About the End Destination
Details: It's Better Not To Know Too Many Details About the End Destination
Details: It's Better Not To Know Too Many Details About the End Destination
Early Details: It's Better Not To Know Too Many Details About the End Destination
Early Details: It's Better Not To Know Too Many Details About the End Destination
Early Details: It's Better Not To Know Too Many Details About the End Destination
Early Details: It's Better Not To Know Too Many Details About the End Destination
Early Details: It's Better Not To Know Too Many Details About the End Destination
Early Details: It's Better Not To Know Too Many Details About the End Destination
Close Up Details: InBetween a Cracked Euphoria
Close Up Details: InBetween a Cracked Euphoria
Details: InBetween a Cracked Euphoria
Details: InBetween a Cracked Euphoria
Close Up Details: InBetween a Cracked Euphoria
Close Up Details: InBetween a Cracked Euphoria
The Beginnings: InBetween a Cracked Euphoria
The Beginnings: InBetween a Cracked Euphoria
Outlines: InBetween a Cracked Euphoria Sitting on Top of #8
Outlines: InBetween a Cracked Euphoria Sitting on Top of #8
Painting the Outlines: InBetween a Cracked Euphoria
Painting the Outlines: InBetween a Cracked Euphoria
Up Close Details:  In Between a Fractured Euphoria
Up Close Details: In Between a Fractured Euphoria
Up Close Details:  In Between a Fractured Euphoria
Up Close Details: In Between a Fractured Euphoria
Early Up Close Details:  In Between a Fractured Euphoria
Early Up Close Details: In Between a Fractured Euphoria
Early Details:  In Between a Fractured Euphoria
Early Details: In Between a Fractured Euphoria
Early Details:  In Between a Fractured Euphoria
Early Details: In Between a Fractured Euphoria
Early Details:  In Between a Fractured Euphoria
Early Details: In Between a Fractured Euphoria
Early Details:  In Between a Fractured Euphoria
Early Details: In Between a Fractured Euphoria
Outlines:  In Between a Fractured Euphoria
Outlines: In Between a Fractured Euphoria
Beginning the Outlines:  In Between a Fractured Euphoria
Beginning the Outlines: In Between a Fractured Euphoria
Early Details:  In Between a Fractured Euphoria
Early Details: In Between a Fractured Euphoria
Early Details of "The Earth Shattered but Did Not Break"
Early Details of "The Earth Shattered but Did Not Break"
Early Details:  The Earth Shattered but Did Not Break
Early Details: The Earth Shattered but Did Not Break
Early Details: The Earth Shattered but Did Not Break
Early Details: The Earth Shattered but Did Not Break
Early Details: The Earth Shattered but Did Not Break
Early Details: The Earth Shattered but Did Not Break
The 1st fill color:  The Earth Shattered but Did Not Break
The 1st fill color: The Earth Shattered but Did Not Break
Outlines for "The Earth Shattered but Did Not Break"
Outlines for "The Earth Shattered but Did Not Break"
All the many colors in the end:  What Keeps My Heart Awake Is Colorful silence
All the many colors in the end: What Keeps My Heart Awake Is Colorful silence
Up Close Detail:  What Keeps My Heart Awake Is Colorful Silence
Up Close Detail: What Keeps My Heart Awake Is Colorful Silence
Painting in the Outlines: What Keeps My Heart Awake Is Colorful silence
Painting in the Outlines: What Keeps My Heart Awake Is Colorful silence
Finishing it up: What Keeps My Heart Awake Is Colorful silence
Finishing it up: What Keeps My Heart Awake Is Colorful silence
Early Details: What Keeps My Heart Awake Is Colorful Silence
Early Details: What Keeps My Heart Awake Is Colorful Silence
Painting in the Outlines: What Keeps My Heart Awake Is Colorful silence
Painting in the Outlines: What Keeps My Heart Awake Is Colorful silence
Painting in the Outlines: What Keeps My Heart Awake Is Colorful silence
Painting in the Outlines: What Keeps My Heart Awake Is Colorful silence
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