Opening Reception Friday August 7, 7-9pm

This collection began with many walks through my local community forest. I started being drawn to study the individual trees of the forest more closely. As I started painting them, I began to notice more and more. I began to notice how moss clings to the big leaf maples in huge chunks, and how the bark of a Douglas fir is so much more rugged and pock-marked than the smooth lines of cedar bark. I found that each tree needed a slightly different handling; from expressive and thick brushstrokes for thick bark and moss, to smooth flowing lines that portray the interconnectedness of nature. I use bright colours to portray the way that I feel in nature; vibrant and alive. In many of these paintings I focus on one tree, but you will notice it is never alone. Many of them grow from the remains of the ones who came before them. Roots intertwine both above and below ground. In the chaos and disconnection of the current world, I think we can learn from these relationships. I want to portray the individual as well as the community that supports it. My hope is that interacting with these pieces will foster a sense of camaraderie with a fellow living thing that is not so dissimilar to yourself. What you love is what you will care to protect.