This fantasia is an artistic meditation on the nature of trees and forests using a variety of styles and techniques. Among my many influences are Kandinsky, Klimpt, the Fauves, the Canadian Group of Seven, Pollock, Brancusi, and many others.

All my life I have been passionate about art as well as science. With my science background, I am always aware of the natural forces that shape the universe. I see not only the lyrical beauty of landscapes and skyscapes, but also the beauty of the mathematics of nature that a scientist experiences. I try to convey that beauty in my works.

I have spent a great deal of my life walking through various forests. Years ago, I built log home on a hilltop in the woods. I have lived there ever since.

Why bubbles? Because the sphere is the ubiquitous geometry of the universe, from stars down to elementary particles, I often create pieces that are filled with circles to represent these spheres. I call these works my bubblescapes. I sometimes get mesmerized as I work and don’t know when to stop adding my circles. I also feel that the circles present an attractive design element in my works.

Why trees? For me, trees illustrate a fundamental aspect of the mathematical beauty of nature, chaos theory. An oak, elm, maple, etc. is easily identifiable by its morphology. The branching algorithms are quite simple, but each tree is individually sculpted by its environment, resulting in a unique shape. Even the kiss of a butterfly’s wing can greatly change the shape of a growing tree over time. Every tree has a story.

All of Nature is ruled by simple algorithms and yet can generate limitless complexity. Small variations grow exponentially with time. No two snowflakes are alike, no two galaxies are alike.