This painting began with an abstract underpainting, the background. Then I began to “see” an arbutus tree in the reddish areas. I found one of my photographs of an arbutus and began to develop the “volume” or solidness of the tree shape. I left the white splotch as it was, for a pop of contrast. see below for the underpainting.
This painting is 12×24 inches on stretched canvas.

