Most of us can barely recall the years we spent viewing the world as a fluid realm of endless possibility, inviting us to explore, to imagine, and to dream. There is something timeless about these simple tents that bring to mind the little teepee that was my personal fort and fortress during my youth. Like all the best forts, it was a canvas for my imagination. I miss this magical thinking, but children do have a special way of guiding us back to it—even within the confines of our adult minds—as we view the world through their eyes.
Incredibly, this image is not invented, but a relatively accurate depiction of a scene witnessed by my fellow art lover and friend, Tim Newton, who has my gratitude for sharing the photos that sparked both memory and imagination. One day, I’ll continue work on A New Light I, a much, much larger version of the full landscape that does require a great deal of invention. For the moment, it remains a study.