I did this painting while attending an online class comparing Eastern and Western art at the Woodmere Museum, back in March 2022. One of the characteristics of Asian art we discussed involved the use of an element in the foreground, very large, with the other parts of the scene arrayed behind it.
I have used this technique often in the past, but usually for me it involved placing a figure in this position. This time I tried it out with a tree.
“Sycamore”, 3/22, 20″ x 16″” on Masonite.
Claudia McGill and Her Art World 
This is stunning. I love your tree!
Thank you. It came out better than I had expected. I like the starkness of the tree, as I really love the sycamores we have here and when their bark peels and shows their pale skin.
Always different. Always distinctly yours. This one is particularly gorgeous.
Thank you. I was not sure how this might work out but I figured I would try the principle we talked about in class but hopefully explore a new way to go about it, for me (I mean rather than using people, trying something else). I like it and feel it gave me an insight on how to compose things in a way I don’t always think of.