The Paintings

With this series of paintings of tree branches, formally I am working with line, rhythm, and depth. On an emotiional level, I am concerned with death, uncertainty, and cycles.

The peach tree I am painting was dying when I moved to this house five years ago. I’ve worked to restore it back to health. After two years, it finally produced several peaches. But last Summer, it abruptly lost all of my its leaves. I don't know if the tree will come back again next Spring, but it's surprised me before. So, I’m painting dead branches or ones that will one day again bear fruit.

In this period of my life, I need to re-connect with previous teachers. I've named this series Winter Branch in homage to the choreographer Merce Cunningham who made a dance called Winterbranch in 1964. His teaching and dances profoundly shaped my life when I was a modern dancer many years ago.

I am returning to rhythm and movement with my current paintings.

 

The Drawings

The horizon line - where the Earth touches the sky. But it's not as it seems.

 

02.07