Growing with the Trees

In Growing with the Trees, I wanted to visualize how our individual lives are inseparable from the ancestral structures that support us. The figures stand back-to-back at the trunk, merged with a central black pillar that feels like an architectural anchor—a foundation of heritage and identity.

I used thousands of small, hand-painted strokes for the leaves to represent the sheer volume of moments and lives that contribute to a single person’s growth. The turquoise and gold in the foliage suggest a vibrant, living wealth that is passed down through generations. To me, this piece is about the beauty of being rooted; it’s about recognizing that we are the living branches of a very old and magnificent tree, and our only task is to continue reaching toward the light while staying grounded in the strength of those who stood here before us