Three Trees c. 1935 - 1940

Rhys Caparn made this drawing of "Three Trees" using graphite on paper. It's all about the process, isn't it? You can almost feel Caparn's hand moving across the page, searching for the essence of these trees. Look at the way the graphite is layered, creating a sense of depth and texture. The trunks are solid, but then the leaves are just scribbled, like a memory of foliage. I love the raw, almost clumsy way she captures the branches. It's not about perfection, it's about feeling the weight and the reach of these living things. Notice that area where the bark seems to peel away, revealing the inner layers. It's a metaphor for life, for growth, for the constant change that happens in nature and in ourselves. Caparn's work reminds me of Agnes Martin, another artist who found beauty in simplicity and repetition. Like Martin, Caparn invites us to slow down, to look closely, and to find the extraordinary in the ordinary.