Oil painting on Linen 1050x750mm The tree in the Australian landscape plays a populating and almost human role in this ancient land. In global terms our country is very under populated, and much of our landscape still untaimed. thank goodness. It is a chaotic non organised landscape. For me trees are the population and very much embody the spirit of this country. Thus my Figure in landscape series are set up as portraits. Close and central - like the Mona Lisa. As landscape I break all the design rules and apply portrait forms to it. Close cropped not taking in the whole figure but focusing on the character of the body before me. The sculptural form of the trunks are important as is the rootedness or connection to the land. "Look at the fig tree" - is an apocalyptic reference - look to nature - see the signs, open your eyes. By the way this tree is actually only the root system the main trunk starts on top of the eight metre rock this tree has climbed so it can find the light.