Nicolas Party's exploration into tree paintings showcases his profound connection to the natural world and a deep reverence for its endless visual and symbolic possibilities. Through a series of watercolor paintings titled "Trees," created during his quarantine in upstate New York in 2020, Party shifted his gaze upwards to the treetops, celebrating the expansiveness of light and air found in these natural canopies. This collection, embodying the fluidity and intimate qualities of watercolor, serves as an homage to the trees that play a pivotal role in countless stories, legends, and cultural narratives (Creative Boom).
Party's work is deeply influenced by his art historical knowledge and personal childhood experiences in Switzerland's outdoors, instilling in him a profound appreciation for nature's diverse colors, patterns, and forms. His distinctive vision of the natural world is as much a dialogue with the art historical canon as it is an original exploration of color and shape, moving away from faithful representations of nature towards a phantasmagorical rendition. In his artworks, trees are not merely botanical subjects but symbolic entities that reflect human culture's most important elements and our contemporary environmental anxieties (Index) (Ocula).
The "Trees" series is part of a broader thematic exploration by Party, who previously delved into the dense atmospheres of forest floors with his "Sottobosco" collection. His works often challenge and celebrate traditional art genres by incorporating surreal compositions and a colorful palette, reinventing landscape, portraiture, and still life through his unique lens (Creative Boom). Party's approach to tree paintings encapsulates his broader artistic journey, demonstrating his skill in merging historical influences with his imaginative perspective to create compelling, contemporary artworks.