“Ed” is based on a raven I met in Muir Woods—he was perched on a wooden log, calm and still, like he was studying me too. I named him Ed, and that moment stuck with me.

This painting is about those quiet encounters in nature that feel meaningful without needing words. Ed felt like a guardian of the woods, or maybe just a curious presence that reminded me to slow down and pay attention.

Through this piece, I wanted to capture the mystery and connection that can come from a single shared moment in the forest.