Juniperus virginiana "Ocracoke"

Last November I spent a few nights camping alone on Ocracoke island, and the days on the beach and in the center of the island among the beautiful old cedar trees. It was an important trip for me, like a retreat.

This image came to me much later. One of the things I love about those old junipers is the way they are gnarly and old and broken on the bottom half, and so alive and green and young looking on the top. Eternal youthfulness out of old wisdom. Like the “beginner’s mind” of zen tradition.

19 x 19 inches - mixed media on Arches watercolor paper