The awe-inspiring landscapes of New Zealand served as my muse for a painting that holds special meaning to me. While living there in 2004-2005, I was immersed in the world of character animation for Peter Jackson's King Kong movie, spending long hours behind a computer screen at the studio. To find solace from the demanding work, I sought refuge in the Wellington Botanic Gardens during my free time. The magnificent trees that graced the gardens intrigued me, and I captured their beauty through my photography. Years later, in Los Angeles, I revisited those memories and decided to bring that scene to life on canvas, drawing inspiration from my photographs.

While many of my artworks explore metaphysical concepts, this painting embraced a simpler purpose- celebrating beauty for beauty's sake. Creating a sense of depth became my goal, achieved through carefully layered brushstrokes, building the composition from the background to the foreground. The distant trees took on a hazy appearance, painted in loose wet-in-wet brushstrokes, contrasting with the sharper details of the main objects in the foreground. Although I relied on my photography as a reference, I made deliberate choices, selecting what to include, add, or remove to enhance the final effect.

Ultimately, my intent was to capture the enchanting essence of that specific location. With every brushstroke, I endeavored to convey the magical atmosphere that enveloped me in the Wellington Botanic Gardens. After completing the painting, I felt a sense of satisfaction, knowing that I had successfully translated the intangible beauty of that place onto the canvas.