Trees and other plants Taking pictures of trees is a way for me to take time to notice the grace and rhythm of nature. I am not looking for specific species and often don't identify the varieties of trees. I am looking for movement and pattern, stops and starts, reactions and resilience in these life forms that often outlive us by two or three times, or more. I am not looking for perfect examples of anything, a perfect pear tree, a perfect oak. But a birch that is struggling to keep growing will get my attention. There was one such mammoth white birch near where I live, which finally collapsed after a very harsh winter. It was a sad event and sadder still to see it cut up and taken away. White birches usually have short lives but this one was old. After I look at the pictures I see what I can accomplish through drawing and burning an associated image into plywood, often maple or birch veneer, because these hardwoods hold a good line. The fact that I am using a highly processed wood on which to draw an image of a tree that has seen many years of hardship and still continued to grow is not accidental.
Brett S. Poza threadeater@gmail.com @theboneartist
