To close out 2014, an interpretation of an ancient Bristlecone and some words to go along with the sketch.

My initial thought was to work with the natural curves and twisting lines of the tree, but when pencil touched paper something else happened and I just went with it.

Therese and I found this particular Bristlecone up near Carson Pass. There was a large granite boulder near the tree that had a perfect bowl carved into it’s flat surface. This basin appeared to be man made and when standing next to the rock it was at a perfect working height. Perhaps this place, this rock and this tree were somehow important to group of people hundreds of years ago. Regardless, it’s an interesting spot and an incredible tree.