prayer tree

This solid, wonderful tree grows outside the window of our yoga/meditation room, providing a perfect symbol of life and the natural world as a daily reminder. I have often wanted to paint it, and today seemed like a good day. It was so cold outside, and all the starkness of winter was apparent in the twisting branches of all the leafless trees. It was the kind of day with very little color anywhere, just dry, dormant texture. I could not think of a better image to convey this than my favorite everyday tree, whose bare bones are only visible in this season.