This may be one of the shortest texts I need to write for a post, given this is really a visual essay. While visiting my daughter in Denmark this past winter (and saying hi to Jesper Ejsing while in Copenhagen too!), I starting taking photos fascinated by the diversity of what ‘tree’ could be.
I wasn’t trying too hard, just taking wonderfully opportunistic shots when I remembered to add to this collection as we walked/hiked around. All I had to do was open my eyes and see, and within a short handful of days I had dozens of examples challenging that inner vision of the idealized ‘tree’. I am sure Jesper may know some of these friends already!
I love to capture resources like this and let them trigger possibilities in future projects. What is truly amazing, is this just barely scratches the surface of what tree can be!
Love this, thanks Donato.
Often times in fantasy art, I’ll see artists paint incredible forest scenes with trees loaded with pruning scars. They look cool, but those donut shaped knots you see on trees are actually protective calluses produced by the tree after it has had branches removed. Usually to control it’s growth for whatever reason – around power lines, walkways/paths, etc. Scars produced by trees that have had branches fall off naturally look very different than a properly trimmed tree branch callus.
How interesting, I never would have thought of that detail. Thanks for sharing.
And of course, thank you, Donato for this fantastic catalog of trees.