I was startled by the seemingly sentient sensibilities of this saguaro that I stumbled upon while hiking in the Sonoran Desert. I knew I would paint its portrait one day, if only I could discover what story this old saguaro had to tell. The emotions we project on this cactus seem prescient; when yet another natural disaster strikes, the plants cannot flee. It is my hope that if we can identify with the plight of this saguaro, with its strikingly human-like appearance, we can come one step closer to bringing the world back into harmony with nature.

This painting has been chosen to be included in the 2023 AFC Annual Exhibit.