Forests are essential to our survival. They help us breathe, they capture carbon, make rain, and provide food and habitat. Of all the trees in all the forests, I find that my deepest connection and appreciation is for birch trees. In Celtic folklore, they symbolize purification and renewal, and Indigenous peoples have used their bark to build canoes, teepees, and its paper-like qualities for writing and healing. These trees, in particular, have proven to be a great source of inspiration in my work so far. The birch tree is especially interesting to me because I see the patterns and shapes that have formed on its surface, and the unique, waterproof strength of its bark. In my abstract work, I strive to mimic these patterns, and in doing so, I attempt to challenge the notion of abstraction in nature.