In ecological terms a snag is a standing dead or dying tree…and they have enormous benefits for wildlife. I have snags on my property and they provide homes and sustenance for all sorts of birds, mammals, insects, and amphibians.

I photographed this snag during an amazing Artist Residency at Wildacres Retreat Center in Little Switzerland North Carolina in 2014 and it became the inspiration for a painting in 2020. Wildacres is nestled along the Blue Ridge Parkway which also provides the backdrop of this scene. I added a few Downy Woodpeckers that are frequent visitors to my birdfeeder and a Gray Tree Frog to keep things interesting. As I painted I imagined all sorts of creatures coming and going to check this place out for a potential meal or homesite.

This is the original painting so there is only one.  It’s painted in acrylic on a 1 1/2” thick gallery wrapped canvas and the scene continues on the edges for a very finished look. No framing is needed, but if you like frames it can also be framed.  The size of this piece is 12” x 12”.