Portraits Of A Forest
reclaimed aluminum, nails, and ink on wood, 2023 ︎︎
This series is a snapshot of the evergreen trees found in the forests of the Yampa Valley. I am enamored by the subtle details that appear when you explore the personalities of trees and am intrigued by the patterns that reoccur across different organisms in nature. I believe that coming to know the living beings around us intimately will allow us to care for them more intentionally. Additionally, I give a nod to the traditional portraiture practice of the rich and powerful, aiming to recognize our trees as richly intelligent leaders that can guide our world into abundant balance.
In the Yampa Valley, our forests range from Pine, Spruce-Fir, Aspen, and Oakland Shrubs. The Lodgepole Pine, Engelmann Spruce, and Subalpine Firs are most widely occurring, with Ponderosa Pines, Blue Spruce, and Douglas Firs mixed in. Focusing on each tree’s bark, I aim to learn the evolved personality of shapes to identify these trees, educate on the makeup of our forests, and bring appreciation to the beauty of barks. From left to right, I chose the intricately layered bark of the Ponderosa Pine, the contrasting bumps and smooth skin of the Subalpine Fir, and the thickly textured Engelmann Spruce.
These tree portraits were created from repurposed aluminum cans found along the Yampa River. The aluminum was then cut, shaped and placed on found wood blocks to be given new life.
The Engelmann Spruce
The Ponderosa Pine
Bark sketches, subalpine fir reference photos, and aluminum forms.