Arbutus

This bold unique tree grows only on the West Coast of North America, and happens to be a personal favourite. Its exfoliating bark patterns are found abstract paintings. I rove from grove to grove, limb to limb to find green and russet combinations in all their permutations of: gold, orange, sienna, alizarin, violet, mauve, mint, turquoise, olive and umber, for capturing in paint. I angle down low and close, camera in hand, waiting for messages. “Oh beauty”, I ask, “what do you say of your precarious life, exposing your red skin, raking the sky?” This shedding of old skin seems a risky process. Dare I attempt new patterns, as I shed skin no longer needed?