I love the many faces of Japanese maples – from their fernlike foliage that changes color throughout the season to their strong arms that bend in graceful dance.

Here I’ve composited their feathery foliage with lines and cracks from an old, weathered building to create hints of Asian calligraphy nestled in a meditative garden.

The warm, textured background of rich yellow and ochre contrasts with the deep black lines and shapes. The brush-like strokes are a combination of thick and thin, perhaps reminiscent of East Asian ink brush art.

And I realize that this is my favorite part – the uneven, ink-like strokes, in both strong verticals and meandering squiggles. Can you imagine black ink dripping onto a silken surface?