As a landscape artist, I purposefully choose not to sanitize my scenes. The ravine depicted is more than a landscape; it is a wild space, and I am drawn to its imperfection. A fallen tree, jumbled rocks, and a large boulder appear as obstacles, yet the water continues to flow gently. The rock created a commotion when it fell; yet, it settled quietly, becoming part of the scene. A tree balancing and bending on the edge of the ravine crashed to the bottom, forming a horizontal bridge connecting the sides. Over time, the needles dropped, bark wore away, leaving a sunbaked exterior. This exposure is the essence of the tree. It will decay and return to the earth. No longer a functioning vertical tree after its freefall, it becomes a bridge over water, a reminder to steady ourselves over movement until we are ready to merge in the flow.

This painting is inspired by calm after fierce shifts; I could have removed these disorderly features for a cleaner portrayal. However, the obstacles serve as symbols of resilience in the wild spaces and mirror the lessons of life’s chaotic periods. I accept the obstacles as challenges and the growth or pathways they create.

“Lead the Way” asks us to look past the imperfections of life to explore the meaning in our existence.