I’ve spent more time near trees than people in the last couple of years. Neighborhood strolls were a ritual. Parks, beaches and tree-lined streets in San Francisco’s Richmond neighborhood provided consolation in a world slowed and stilled.
Close attention to my surroundings—uninterrupted vistas, evocative landscapes, and shimmering sunlight—strengthened my connection to the wonders of nature. Patterns and designs, colors, light and shadows connected me with something larger than myself. Flowers, shrubs and trees became my taproot, a source for growth and development.
All this time with living beings inspired my art and writing in exciting new ways. I abstracted the surrounding beauty, simplified complexity and learned to see the myriad of details in plants, trees and landscapes. My imaginative engagements revealed truths and unspooled memories in joyful and calming ways.