Rule of Three

Details: Acrylic on canvas | 36” H x 36” W | Click image to enlarge.

Inspiration: This piece emerged during what I can only describe as my bleak tree phase. I’d like to say it was winter, but it followed my discovery of Leonardo da Vinci’s “rule of trees” — the idea that the combined thickness of branches should equal the thickness of the trunk from which they spring. Naturally, I decided to test that rule. Or bend it. Rules are meant to be broken — at least that’s my excuse.

Process: I dragged a scraper across quickly drying acrylic to create a ripple effect, then scraped further to reveal earlier layers beneath, forming a subtle bamboo-like texture. These three separate efforts began to feel connected, and since triptych is one of my favorite words to say and spell, well, destined to become one.