Old Man of the Mountain
Bristlecone Pine Tree
graphite, graphitint and colored pencils on Fabriano hot press paper
22″h x 30″ wide
I found this bristlecone pine tree while climbing Mt. Evans in Colorado – by car! They are an amazing species. The oldest Bristlecone Pine is in California and is over 3,000 years old. The oldest Bristlecones on Mount Evans are approximately 1,700 years old. I can’t even fathom that. Think of all that has happened in this world during the lifetime of this venerable tree. I was absolutely infatuated with the growth patterns of them, and this particular specimen was a work of art all by itself. I don’t think any work of art comes close to what this tree means to history and the natural world, but I hope my portrait celebrates it in my own small way.