Totem

Totem finds a single blackened trunk standing upright among a dense grove of living aspens at Kebler Pass, its charred bark and stripped branches in stark contrast to the white, papery trunks surrounding it. Where the living aspens lean and sway in loose, natural rhythm, this one stands rigid and vertical — dark, weathered, marked by fire, and still standing long after whatever burned it has passed.

The composition leans into scale and repetition: dozens of pale trunks rising into a canopy of green against a saturated blue sky, with the charred totem planted almost dead-center, refusing to blend in. It's less a record of damage than a study in persistence — proof that something can be marked, hollowed, and blackened, and still hold its ground among the living.

Design & Styling

With its vivid blue sky and bold vertical rhythm, Totem works well as a statement piece in modern living spaces, mountain retreats, or offices looking for color and structure together. Its scale and contrast also suit larger wall placements where the repetition of trunks can read at full size.

Curated Pairings

For direct subject harmony, pair with Aspen Curtain, another vertical study of aspen trunks, here rendered through motion and color rather than stillness and contrast.

For monochrome counterpoint, complement with Reaching Sky Monochrome, treating the same aspen canopy in black and white with a different sense of scale.

For thematic echo, pair with The Last Sentinel, extending the idea of a single standing marker holding its ground within a larger landscape.

Fine Art Presentation

Available as a signed fine art print in metal, acrylic, framed paper, canvas, and wood presentation formats. Metal or acrylic is recommended to hold the saturation of the blue sky against the charred trunk's deep blacks.

Note: Custom and oversized photographic prints are available. Please contact the studio directly to discuss custom framing, matting, or specialized museum glass options.