Dry Autumn

This painting was inspired by the exposed root system of a large hemlock. The seasonal rise and fall of the water eroded so much soil away from it over the years that this big evergreen began to sink into the creek until the bottom came to rest precariously on a large rock, like a horseman on a saddle. Of course, as the tree sunk, more of the root system was pulled up and out of the stream bank. The intricate configuration fascinated me, and in some places, the smaller, sun bleached roots reminded me of the antlers on the white tail buck that roam this area.