For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a fascination with sumac trees…beautiful bunches of spindly plants that can steal your gaze.

From a distance, and in the fall, a large stand of sumacs is a glorious, dense patch of intense red-coloured leaves. As you approach, however, all this changes, and you start to get a sense of scale and see a confusing array of spindly branches and red leaves. Something has been lost by moving in close…or has it? Standing near, or right in the middle of a stand of sumac trees on a clear sunny day, the colour of the leaves against the blue sky can be magical!

I have been making photographs of sumacs for many years and, although I’ve been somewhat satisfied with the resulting images, I felt I could only capture their true beauty through making paintings working digitally. I simplified my compositions to focus on textures, colour and light with the hope of creating a sense of their ethereal beauty.

These digital paintings are available in an archival pigment print limited edition series of three. All prints are numbered, signed and come with a certificate of authenticity. Only one edition of prints will be made of these images.

Individual works priced at $750 CAD unless otherwise noted.

Michael Christidis