"Tree Trek" sneak peek 2: The cover painting

An actual tree in the park where my memoir's events take place inspired the cover art for Tree Trek: A Daughter's Walk Through Grief. This is a hackberry tree, and it is a huge, mature tree that is well-known and beloved in the community. It is one of the tagged trees on the Como Park Self-guided tree trek map. Last year it lost one limb to a windstorm but is still going strong thanks to St. Paul Forestry. 

This particular tree was my dad's favorite tree in the park. It grows right along the pedestrian path near the lake. Because it was his favorite, it was very important to me to incorporate this particular tree into the painting representing the book. I bring in the colors and textures that convey the mood and feel I was looking for to portray in the painting. The path draws you in along with me as I invite you to join me as a reader on my walk through grief and trees. Thanks for coming along!

This is not explained in the book, so here today you have a behind-the-scenes look at my process. 

Watercolor, 13" x 22" on 300# cold pressed watercolor painting, 2024.

Each chapter of my new book is headed with the name of a tree, accompanied by a pencil drawing and explanation of where that tree's genus is found in North America. These two features give the reader a nice informational overview for the upcoming chapter. 

I'm grateful for also being this book's visual artist. During the first few months of last year, I created the pencil drawings for each chapter, and also the watercolor painting that comprises the cover.

Appropriate for beginnings, here is my drawing for the Introduction showing the new sprout of an American basswood.