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There's a funny paradox at the center of this painting for me. The composition is utterly simple, (a stick), while the subject of the painting is quite complicated. One could even say it's "crazy complicated." My inclination in painting is to surrender as best I can to the nature of the subject and "the way that it is," and this was an experience of being willing to just go along with the complexity that is there. It was quite peaceful and a joy, and so I was willing to hang out with this tree for 3 and a half summers. It changed some, and I changed some too. Trees are complicated, and beautiful. Life is complicated, but beautiful. The underlying inspiration of this piece was to say: "Thank You" to the Author of Life for all that is.