Blazing Tree in Prospect Park

Prospect Park in Brooklyn, when the color ignites in fall…

I painted this tree after Sandy hit NYC as part of a body of work about the trees after the storm. Prospect Park lost over 500 trees in that storm. Many of these trees were magnificent and their absence was immediately felt. The storm changed the park forever.

This particular tree stood out while walking through the park in the immediate aftermath of the storm. It felt like a defiant survivor amidst the
devastated park. I included it in the series as a sign of hope.

The series was painted with acrylic paint on paper, an approach that I don't use often. I wanted to capture a bit of the struggle and emotional tenor of the storm and it's impact. Acrylic dries so quickly that you have to work in a different fashion than when you use oil.

This piece, along with the rest of the series, was exhibited in London, England in 2014.