https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristlecone_pine
Bristlecone pines are known for attaining great age. The oldest bristlecone pine in the White Mountains is Methuselah, which has a verified age of 4,857 years. It is located in the White Mountains of Inyo County in Eastern California. However, the specific location of Methuselah is a closely guarded secret.
The other two species, Pinus balfouriana and Pinus aristata, are also long-lived, though not to the extreme extent of P. longaeva; specimens of both have been measured or estimated to be up to 3,000 years old. The longevity of the trees is believed to be related to the proportion of dead wood to live wood. This high ratio reduces respiration and water loss, thereby extending the life of the tree. From Wikipedia
This commissioned painting has pretty much ruled my life over the past 7 weeks. I usually paint what is familiar to me, but when it comes to pre paying customers, you paint what they want. Bristlecone pines are indigenous to the arid southwest and I have never actually seen or sketched these trees in their environment so I was completely reliant on client provided reference. My painting style is realistic but the colour, texture and atmosphere are bumped up for exaggerated visual drama. The season and painting size were physical challenges as I worked on this peice through February into March. There is no central heat in Morgan Block studios. I have one electric heater I can plug in, two will blow the breaker and we can’t leave the heaters on when we’re not there, so my studio was a few degrees warmer than outside. My typical work hours are 10:00 -3:00 so by the time I’m wrapping up for the day, my work space would just be getting tolerable. The expansive canvas was also a challenge as I had to stand on a box to paint the uppermost portion of the painting. I’ll be delivering this painting the week after next but it will remain in my studio for the upcoming Fairhaven 4th Friday artwalk, this Friday, March 27; my studio as well as others in the building will be open from noon until 7:00 so stop on by.
