I remember visiting my aunt and uncle in Florida with my parents years ago. I was probably around 8 or 9. It’s the first time I remember getting out of the car and smelling the Florida smells. I’d been to Sarasota before, but this was farther south. It smelled like palm trees and oranges and the light was different. I don’t remember where it was exactly, but I think it was somewhere around Orlando. I also remember, it was the first time I had seen such long, straight, flat roads. It’s one of those memories you can smell and feel.

I guess it must have been a pivotal moment in my life because I thought of this trip often and years later, I went to live with my aunt and uncle and I still live in Florida today, although farther south. I can’t imagine living anywhere that you can’t walk outside and see palm trees and hear the breeze blowing through the palm fronds. That’s my favorite part….sitting on my lounge chair on my back patio for my morning meditation, hearing the unmistakable breeze through the trees.

So peaceful.

I’m learning that those memories surface in my creative evolution. I paint palm trees a lot. It’s fun to look at the first ones and compare them to the ones I’m painting now. The first ones are thin and flat. Now, they are fuller and have depth.

I love mixing and blending colors so much, especially sunrise/sunset and ocean colors, that sometimes I don’t want to place a subject over a soft, blended background. I think palm trees are the exception for me. They create a beautiful silhouette in front of any background.

I noticed a few things yesterday from my back patio as I took my afternoon meditation break. First, I identified the type of palm tree I usually paint. Then, I noticed what I believe to be a fox tail palm. I’m not sure, but the fronds look like fox tails to me. This tree that I can see from my lounge chair is full and a bit more rounded than the ones I’m used to painting. I’ll have to try a few sketches and see if I can get used to different types of palms.

I don’t remember if the palm trees brought me to Florida or if I fell in love with them after I moved here. I think a bit of both because it just keeps getting better. So, I think it’s safe to say there will be many more palm trees in my future art. I’m excited to see how they evolve.

Ok, they are calling. I must go paint.