The palm tree: graceful, elegant, strong. Emblematic of Southern California. I’ve been seeing a lot more of them, as I’ve finally returned to my home after twenty years of living around the US. Lately, palm trees have brought a new word to mind: resilience. Think of how it moves in the wind; how it weathers the many storms California has been facing. In this painting, I wanted to capture the resiliency of both the palm tree and the heart of the California that I love. - Francene Christianson