I came across these fallen trees on Lookout Mountain on a bright sunny day, which inspired me to paint “Fallen Tree.” Bleached white by the sun and wind at 6,000 feet, they seemed like a unique slice of nature. These big bare trees reflected the deep blues of the sky in a wonderful array of blues from across the spectrum.

This was a good challenge to paint because of the subtleties between the different blues balanced against the white limbs spread all akimbo through the scene. I also liked the textural effects on the wood itself, so this view had several key elements to attract the eye.