There are far bigger old arbutus trees on the Island but this one is special because of its high forest setting at our beloved Notch Hill. I am fascinated by the tree's struggle to survive, by its twists and turns, its timeless beauty and amazing colors. The view never stops to amaze me when hiking this particular spot hence I sketch it often. Lighting conditions change every hour and the best time to experience the "Notch Oldie" is in the early morning when the tree is lit against the dark forest behind it. I shall continue painting this fascinating tree as the dead branches keep falling down to the ground quite rapidly an it will be lost forever very soon. My most recent tree portraits leave out, or blur, the surrounding environment just like our eye instinctively concentrates on objects we observe. After eight years mastering all mediums I now simply use them all as inspired by the view in front of me, what’s in the bag I carry, and how much time my busy life allows me.