I’ve chosen three maple trees, out of sight of the house, where we’ll build my studio. The floor will be about 10 feet up off the ground. This photo (you can click on the photos to make them bigger) shows sort of where the studio will be, but the real thing will have a more interesting shape than I’ve sketched here.

The first step is cutting through the jungle of thorns. The Pacific Northwest is home to an astounding number of different thorny plants. And every one of them had taken up residence in the woods around my treehouse site. I tackle them day after day, with leather gloves and loppers, like cutting through the enchanted briar tangle around a fairy tale castle.

Here’s a princess to live in the castle. I did this oil paint sketch this afternoon, after resting up a bit from the tussle with the underbrush. She’s a bit fey-looking for my taste, and her neck is too narrow. But I kind of like her mouth.