Flourished Trees

2018
a Series
I'm always looking to combine lettering with illustrations. This series of natural trees with the flowing poetic quotes was the perfect chance to play with the rustic, matte texture of gouache with a refined, glossy gold.

Thrive in Style

When I think of thriving and not just surviving, my mind goes to the cypresses growing along the cliff sides along the California coast. They are wind blown and look like they will fall into the ocean at any moment. But instead they grow and thrive!


My client wanted this Maya Angelou quote combined with a plant illustration? But she left the rest to me. The golden words of wisdom play off this rustic tree to give a perfectly imperfect art piece

• Keep Close to Nature's Heart

  Just before leaving on a camping trip in the summer, it was all I could think about. I just wanted to be among the redwoods. John Muir felt the same way when he fought to found the national parks in California. With this one, I envisioned what Muir may have seen while standing in the woods writing his book.

  

• Wash Your Spirit Clean

  I posted the left Muir quote with several trees. A friend saw it and had to have a similar one for her best friend’s birthday. We decided to keep it simple with just one tree. I absolutely adore how this one turned out. It just draws you eyes up to the top canopy of the redwood tree.

  

Keep close to Nature’s heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.
—John Muir

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