The Art of Presence — and a Tree That Surprised Me

Out of Nothing

Life of Your Time

If you've followed my work for a while, you know how much I love texture. It’s more than just a visual element — for me, it’s a way of expressing life’s layers, unpredictability, and richness.

So imagine my surprise when texture found me in the most unexpected way.

On a recent morning walk, I decided to take a slightly different route — something simple, spontaneous. I had a vague plan to stop by the coffee shop, maybe get breakfast, and continue home. But what really changed the course of my morning was a tree.

More specifically, its bark.

I must’ve passed this tree dozens of times, yet that day, its bark stopped me in my tracks. The grooves were so deep and pronounced it almost gave me the heebie-jeebies. But it was also beautiful — so textured, layered, alive. I took a few pictures. Then I started noticing the other trees, comparing their bark, wondering… could I identify a tree not just by its leaves, but by its skin?

That single moment shifted something in me — a new avenue of curiosity opened. And it reminded me of something I’ve been re-learning through the teachings of Leonard Jacobson: the power of presence.

He says, yes, plan your day, but stay aware of the journey itself. That’s where life — and inspiration — shows up.

This, to me, is how a creative life is lived. Not by forcing it, but by being here when the spark arrives. Not lost in yesterday. Not worried about tomorrow. Just right here, now.

That tree — that bark — could’ve stayed invisible if I hadn’t been paying attention. But it didn’t. And now it’s part of my process, part of my story, maybe even part of a new body of work.

So here’s a gentle nudge: Take a walk. Look around. Let the texture of life surprise you.

Have you ever had a moment like this —when something ordinary suddenly came alive because you were fully present? Hit reply and tell me — I’d love to hear your story.   And if you’re curious about what these textures are sparking in the studio, come follow along on Instagram @shaywalkerart where I’ll be sharing photos, sketches, and updates as this inspiration unfolds.

Here is the tree bark. I've done some sluthing and I believe this is the bark of a flowering Dogwood tree. If you check out my instagram page, you'll see photos of other tree barks from this morning walk. @shaywalkerart