Prints of the Treehouse Studio available in the JNFA PRINT SHOP!
WATCH the ‘Inspiration in the Trees’ to see stunning views of the Treehouse Studio!
Treehouse Studio visits are welcome, and available upon request!
It was 17 years ago that the journey into the treetops began.
Painting in nature must become a way of life. I was driven to capture the essence of the unfolding of creation in nature, the way changing light illuminates the landscape, the continuously changing, free-flowing skies, the intricate structure of the forest, essentially visualizing all that nature has to offer.
I set out to find a way to work in nature while of course having to consider the elements. How to overcome changing weather, the practical aspects of working on a canvas, managing materials, etc. After some research and sketching design ideas, the Treehouse Studio became more than a notion.
Starting with a computer based 3D model, I was looking to create a design that was open so light could govern, large enough to be able to visually comprehend large pieces, and practical where I could store materials and work year round, day and night.
5 months later, the Treehouse Studio was born.
Since that time, my painting days typically consist of venturing up before sunrise, in winter, starting up the pellet stove to warm the oft freezing interior, and then typically a dozen hours of painting ensues. With a panoramic view, facing west across the field, sunsets are typically spectacular and the entire experience of being 30 feet high offers a vantage point where you merge with nature. You’re living with the forest creatures, watching the wildlife venture across the wild fields while overlooking the NJ mountains off in the distance.
Morning light is intensely colored orange breaking way to mid-day bright light which rolls into the deep pink hues of dusk followed by deep blue evenings. As the light changes, so does the host. The tree feels different every day and seasons become more than the punctuation of spring, summer, autumn and winter. The gradually changing continuum of nature becomes apparent on a micro level with each day drawing a bit closer to what comes in the next. There are so many elements that contribute to the overall experience that the ambience is nothing short of magical.
These experiences have altered my palette, caused me to reconsider the format of a painting and how it is experienced, and helps me capture more than a point in time, more of a flow of nature, a dynamic neo-naturalism.