I was in Whistler, a town north of Vancouver in British Columbia, when I spotted them. They were standing at the edge of a forest, close to a winding path beside a stream, which lapped gently in perfect harmony with the birdsong. They were imposing in comparison to their fellow trees, the enormous diameter of their trunks reflecting the signs of time. But above all, there were two of them. Two trees growing in unison, in perfect harmony with nature.

Occasionally, I like to give the trees I paint a human personality. In this case, I felt the scene was remarkably appropriate; these two paired trees formed a superb duo, like a pair of lovers. These two conifers seemed united at the base, as if they had grown up together for most of their lives. At the foot of their trunks, a delicate moss covered their bark, like a soft blanket uniting them, providing comfort and protection in inclement weather.

Through this painting, my aim was to represent the concept of growing old together, of going through the different stages of life with someone you love. It's through multiple experiences, adventures and trials that we evolve as human beings, gradually changing our personalities and outlooks over the years.

Like us, this pair of trees will have gone through many stages in their lives, all of which will undoubtedly have altered their appearance and way of being. Whether it's the bark marked by the vestiges of time or the growth of branches directly guided by light, the appearance of these trees is inescapably influenced by their environment. Together, over the years, they will have evolved in full awareness of each other; they will have shared the same resources, they will have grown up respecting each other's space, they will have leaned on each other in times of bad weather or weakness... They will continue to grow old together, witnessing the same jolts in the forest, until one day, one of them will no longer have the energy or ability to carry on. The latter will then return to the land, watching over his loved one... until he finds him again one day.