Today, in a quiet spot along the waterfront in Red Hook, Brooklyn, I sat in front of a young tree just starting to show its new leaves. The area was strangely empty—just the occasional dog exploring off-leash. From beneath the tree, I drew the view: water stretching quietly outward, the docks and walkway poles holding still against the open sky.
The tree is a little off center deliberately, its new leaves a delicate burst of color against the grey-blue of water and sky. Brush, ink, and watercolor capture the subtle energy and the gentle tension between the growing tree and the landscape behind it. It's a moment of quiet openness, balanced on the edge of spring.
Drawing as Discovery
Part of the Three Paper Project, each piece is completed on-site, in one sitting, with no revisions. This drawing records not just the view, but the feeling of arriving after a three-mile walk—of settling into a peaceful moment shared only with a loved one and a wandering dog or two.
For Spaces that Breathe
Quiet and expansive, this piece suits rooms that welcome contemplation and openness. It's an invitation to pause and feel the calm expansiveness of a nearly empty waterfront in spring.
Details
Size: 11” x 14.5”
Medium: Brush, ink, and watercolor on acid-free fine art paper
Own this peaceful moment from Red Hook, where new leaves frame a quiet view over the water.
