free

As shorthand for the blue tree project, the inspired natural craggy branches of a Garry Oak provides the canvas for a river-like sky painting.  Drawing attention through blueness, branches blow in the breeze, scattering seeds that germinate and grow into new trees.  A singular iconic blue tree celebrates this free-flowing cycle of life. 

The tree I have in mind is adjacent the parking lot near the entry to the trailhead that leads to the quarry.  It will capture attention and draw park users southward into wilder terrain.  Other blue trees strategically located at each park trailhead entry could provide natural wayfinders for users as well. 

In my research on painting trees, I wanted to avoid anything that didn’t allow the tree to respirate, so I eliminated any oil-based paints.  The flip side was avoiding materials that would wash off immediately, so that eliminated tempura paint as a possibility. 

What I finally landed on was an approach based on the common practice of painting juvenile trees to protect their lower trunks from insects and tampering.  In these situations an application of diluted latex paint protects while allowing the tree to breathe.  Using a Genie man-lift and an HVLP sprayer to apply the paint onto a dormant tree (after leaves have fallen) will allow a clear view of the tree canopy and a complete coating of trunk and branches.