This ancient pine tree is definitely “Out of Place” in this high mountainous part of the Carpathian Mountains on the border between Poland and Slovakia that I was hiking in when I took this photo. I then painted it in my studio from reference materials. I have painted this old tree in a way that shows the stress that it has endured in this mountain top location. The painting shows strokes that describe the twist of the trunk and colours that convey the perspective of the valley below. This old tree is the focus of my painting with rock as it’s base. The foliage shows that it is surviving this rugged location and has done so for many years despite being “out of Place” for a tree. Biography I have been a painting artist for many years and have painted outdoors as well as in my studio. The need I have to express my thoughts and concerns on canvas has been part of me for most of my life. I am an outdoors loving person. Most of my artistic interest lies in painting shorelines of Ontario. This is the part of the outdoors where a good deal of “life” resides. Rocky, reedy, sandy, mucky and full of life shorelines. My impressionistic oil paintings are colourful, warm and cool hues found in nature and influenced by light and shadow, wind and water as well as Canadian seasonal change.