Where Leaves Ignite

About this piece

Seen from below, overlapping leaves glow yellow-green beneath clusters of pink and cream flowers. The tree trunk anchors the composition, while blue sky opens between the foliage; dark spots and worn edges remain visible in the luminous leaves.

The story

I looked up into a tangle of leaves and found the light passing straight through them. Against the blue sky, each blade held a different shade of green, with small scars and dark markings interrupting the glow. The flowers rose on slender stems, their pale tips bright above deep pink centers. I framed the trunk along the edge, letting the foliage fill the view and the sky give it room.