I’m interested in wild plants that have adapted to live in urban environments. This is a Texas mountain laurel, and it’s actually the second time I’ve painted this plant. The first was from a wild preserve, where it had space to grow large and produce many blooms.

In contrast, this painting is based on a plant in my neighborhood. It’s regularly trimmed into a rounded shape, and this spring I was waiting for it to bloom, but I couldn’t see any flowers at first. Then I realized the flowers were growing inside the rounded shape of the tree. This branch came from there.

The plant, likely under stress, had adapted by blooming inward. The flowers are fewer and less vibrant. I found this adaptation fascinating and felt it was important to make a portrait of this version of the plant.

Sophora secundiflora. Texas mountain laurel. 16 in * 20 in 2025 | Watercolor on paper,