Small Red Aspen Leaf #1

I am currently working on a series of pieces inspired by nature; more specifically, the leaves of trees. "Leaf peepers" enjoy the sight of hundreds or thousands of trees spreading vivid colors across the landscape, but how many people take the time to look at individual leaves? Each leaf can be its own masterpiece, a microcosm of color, shape, and pattern.

I take photos of leaves, then play with them, paint over them digitally, and enlarge them to hundreds of times their original sizes. I have the images printed and baked onto sheets of aluminum, then cut out the leaves using a scroll saw, so that their organic shapes aren't bound in artificial rectangular shapes, making them more a part of their environment than a framed picture.

Each piece is as unique as the leaves themselves. Once printed, the digital file is deleted and only the one print remains.

An additional bonus of this process is that the images are impervious to ultraviolet light and waterproof, providing a medium that should have a longevity far surpassing most traditional painting mediums.