This triptych, Whispering Shady Trees, takes its title from Van Morrison’s songs, often filled with imagery of autumn leaves. The inspiration, however, came from a walk in Santa Barbara, down a street lined with copper birches, their foliage glowing in the light. The experience became the basis for this semi-abstract work, an all-over tapestry of leafage on a grand scale.

Built with thick layers of oil and wax, with bleeds of turpentine and solvent, the painting is expressive and painterly yet carefully structured. Though full of energy, it was drawn and composed with intention, balancing abstraction with control to capture both the vibrancy of the trees and the rhythm of falling light.