A fall Carolina forest scene with golden hued leaves.

There is something about being in a forest is just good for the soul. I've loved just BEING in a forest since I was a kid. It can make you feel grounded and yet part of the greater universe all at the same time. The Japanese even have a term for it: Shinrin-yoku means "taking in the forest atmosphere" or "forest bathing." It was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine supported by a robust body of scientific literature on the health benefits of spending time under the canopy of a living forest. It just feels good.

The scene in this piece reminds me of that.

Original oil on 11x14 stretched canvas.