Underground Tree

Oil on canvas, 8 x 12 inch

This piece is an abstract depiction of my friend George sitting on the tube, carrying home a dying tree we rescued in central London. I took a somewhat literal approach with this painting, abstracting the memory slightly less than usual, which can be seen in the figure of George sitting in the foreground.
The etching into the top layer of paint revealing more vivid ultramarine and umber shades underneath represents the new life we gave to the tree when I replanted it in our garden. I scribbled the etchings very sharply, inspired by the speed of the train.