Branches of the Magnolia Tree

36"x36

Oil, gouache and watercolor on stretched canvas

This piece is the first in a new series titled As Above So Below, where I explore the twists and turns of both old growth and new. The branches of a tree, in a way, mirror the paths we travel and the choices we make. Some choices spur new growth and lead us to unexpected places; others result in dead ends or a symbolic "loss of limb." I invite you to lie beneath an old-growth tree, let its branches stretch out like roads, and consider how it makes you feel. Each tree holds stories—of endurance, adaptation, and quiet wisdom—that echo our own lives.
This painting is an intricate depiction of magnolia tree branches with leaves in various shades of green, achieved through the glazing technique with translucent oil paints. The bold black outlines give the branches a stained-glass effect. Magnolia symbolizes the connection between past and present, embodying a quiet resilience and a sense of hope found in fleeting moments of grace.