Trees and Tall Tales - Stories of the Redwood Empire

How to portray the magnificence of the giant redwoods? I paint the interiors of them, Coast and Sequoia: their shapes, negative and positive, their colors, and their incredible beauty. The history of their aging is there in the wood—it is marred, burned and charred, graffiti-laden, smooth, textured or curly. Within the old redwoods not cut, there are visual graphics to be read of climate change and human intervention. The trees show the changes created by human-produced climate and population forces and are the symbols of longevity, resilience within strife, and nature in all its glory. I photograph, sketch, and record the interiors of these trees and then, back in the studio, I print images of them as source material for my watercolors and large oils. Hopefully, my artworks will create dialogue and inquiry as to where these trees are located and what their status is. I want to spark interest in visiting them, acknowledge their value and help in preserving them.