Q. Why do you think tree shapes are so interesting?

A. Because they are essentially geometric shapes that repeat at different scales according to fractal patterns – as are snowflakes, ferns and many other endlessly interesting natural shapes. Researchers have studied abstract painting and found that successful abstractions often follow fractal patterns. This is probably why they seem to make intuitive compositional sense despite the fact that they break all of the normal compositional rules. Variation on repetition is a common intellectual and physical approach to art making. Personally, I don’t think it is necessary to legitimize abstract painting with a scientific explanation. Abstraction was simply the natural progression of painting as an art form.