If you know me very well, you know my obsession with patterns. My abstract art, I believe, definately reflects that fascination. Patterns are one of the facets that draw me to gardens.

I was very fortunate in 2004 to be able to visit some friends in Atlanta in August. The reason for visiting at the time was to indulge in four days of DragonCon with a chance to meet some of the cast of Farscape. Which happened, and I was kissed by Scorpy, after dinner. But that’s another story.

While I was in Atlanta, a friend of Melissa’s (the friend I was visiting) wanted to see the Dale Chihuly exhibit at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. I had no idea who Chihuly was, but I’m a nut for gardens and was more than delighted to go.

It’s a beautiful place and as interesting as Chihuly’s work was, it didn’t grab me as much as the trees, flowers, and plants did. Most of my photos were close-ups. That way I can “grab” the patterns that exist in nature to inspire my own abstract work. A few folk have scratched their heads as they look at the tree trunk photo above; wondering why I love it. To them, it’s ugly and diseased looking.

As a matter of fact, the tree was in a very shady area of the garden and its trunk was recently wet. There was green moss in the cracks and moist leaf and pine debris at its roots. The roots were dark with moisture and new, bright green growth clung to the side of the tree. I think it’s gorgeous.

Out of all flora that I enjoy photographing, trees are my favorite. Whether they are slim and delicate like the brush strokes from a Chinese painting, or they’re giant Redwoods towering over humanity like a Tyrannosaurus Rex; they have beautiful patterns.

Tags: Photography

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 5th, 2006 at 3:55 pm and is filed under About Me, Artwork. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.