2022 arrived on the heels of a solo show and the burn out that often comes with it. I retreat into nature when I need recharging and decided that was where my studio focus needed to be this spring. When much of the country is still in winter hibernation, Southern California is in blooming abundance and for me nothing shows this quite as much as our citrus trees. The Fullerton Arboretum has a lovely grove that inspired this painting, which is less of a tree, but more of a portrait of a very particular tree. I have visited it many times over the past five months, watching it shift from spring to summer. My process was a little different on this project. Rather than multiple composition sketches and photo references, I dived right into the canvas, working my way from branch and cluster and leaf to leaf, playing with light and color. It requires a few more weeks before I can varnish it, which will really make the color pop, but I couldn't wait to share. So here is "Like Poetry". Oil on canvas. 4' by 3’. #serenapotter #californiapainting #socalarts #orangetree #fullertonarboretum https://www.instagram.com/p/CfAoQHgrVzX/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
