Madrona (after madrono, the Spanish name for a Mediterranean “strawberry tree”) is the name admirers in Washington state give this beautiful tree, while those in California and Oregon call it madrone or Pacific madrone. British Columbians use the Latin name, Arbutus.
I’ve always found the beautiful Pacific Madrona an irresistable subject for painting. The sinewy limbs and fleshy tones are very expressive and exciting to paint, much like figurative work. This image is from our own Chuckanut shore, Clayton beach to be specific, one of my favourite local spots. It is a great place to walk the beach at low tide where you can look up on the cliff tops to see scenes like this. This painting will hang in Chuckanut Bay Gallery in January along with another new piece pictured below.
These big paintings are dramatic when finished but are all consuming in the process, they can be quite exhausting and many hours are spent getting everything to work. I always strive to create atmospheric perspective in my landscapes, as well as good composition, color harmony, etc. I’m working at building a current body of new work for an upcoming exhibition at Jansen Art Center in Lynden this September 2026, in the mean time new paintings will be displayed at Chuckanut Bay Gallery.
Inhabit your creative and breathe in nature, the best way to survive these chaotic idiotic days, looking forward to brighter days ahead.
