I was in a trance when I made this painting. I made it in the midst of working on a bigger piece. There was a small canvas in the corner of my studio with an incomplete sketch of a very technical painting that had been sitting there for months.

About halfway through the bigger painting, I was left with a palette of blues and purples. I coagulated them without mixing the colors completely, then took a wide brush and went over the half-done painting in circular strokes. The original painting was yellow, so the blues interacted with it and gave everything a greenish tonality.

Because the blues and purples weren't fully mixed, each time I angled my brush differently, it produced a different shade. I used the darker sections to create the trees and the lighter sections toward the center.

While making it, I found myself reminiscing about a camping trip I took a few summers ago with my best friends. I remember sitting amongst the trees, staring at the campfire after everyone had gone to bed. Painting has a way of acting as a portal for me; it brings up memories I didn't know I had.

I often think about how the linearity of time dissolves when you're deeply involved in a creative task. Time passes quickly, but memories simmer and boil over. Working with your hands lets the mind wander and process.