Trees have always been where my art begins and circles back to and surely finally ends. There are certain ones I revisit season after season and year after year in my work. My first muse was a tree on my grandparents' farm, but there is a gorgeous, bulbous, curvy tree in Overton Park that has become my most drawn/painted/carved tree of all time. She's been failing for some time. In England they would have lowered her crown and built some props around her and let her age, but the city department, or even the park conservancy, do not have that level of resource or skill, so today they began to cut her down. The process will last into tomorrow. The whole trunk is still standing, and I'm so glad I was able to get over, bear witness, and sit with her a bit.

The conservancy nicely let me know it was happening today and posted about “Martha's tree” with one of my prints as well as their own photos. That all meant a lot. And the city workers were great. They saw me sketching and wanted to see. When they broke for lunch I asked if I could look for a few pieces, knowing several woodworkers and hoping for mementos. They went above and beyond, cut me a bowl blank, and even carried it to my car. People are kind.

I went back later in the day and did a second and third sketch. If I can I'll make it back tomorrow too. The dip pen with Inferno ink (almost black but with a little purple and some variation) was really perfect, though I tried a watercolor too. I'm going to miss her inspiration, beauty, shade, and sanctuary.