Digging Deep: Tangled Healthy Connection Abstract Painting Series
A few weeks ago, with the start of summer here in the UK, I began my usual summer gardening routine. That day, kneeling in my son’s garden, I found myself not just battling stubborn weeds but having my perspective shifted entirely.
As I pulled the greenery out by the roots, I paused. What lay beneath the surface – this wild tangle roots caught my imagination in a way that the tidy leaves above never could. It struck me that this chaotic underground network was actually a masterpiece of connection and survival.
It really gave me the idea for creating another abstract painting series I called “Tangled Healthy Connections” – a nature-inspired art collection.
I’m excited to share these images: real roots pulled from the soil and the paintings they inspired. Both tell a story of complexity, connection and the magic beneath life’s messiness. Perhaps you could also look for those hidden harmonies in nature and yourself.
The Beauty of Nature’s Underground Networks
Here’s the photo I took that day that kept me thinking about this concept and sparked my new abstract painting series. It’s fascinating how art ideas come to mind at unexpected times or perhaps my mind is constantly translating different experiences into creative concepts.
I honestly don’t know which it is!
You can see how these roots are so tangled and twisted, appearing small and fragile, yet they’re incredibly powerful. Together, they can withstand the strongest winds and heaviest rains. At first glance, this mass seems like pure chaos.
But look more closely and there’s a quiet purpose – a perfect system working together to sustain life despite all the challenges.
Think about the ancient oak trees that have survived centuries of storms. Their secret isn’t in their visible trunk or branches, but the vast, invisible root system spreading three times wider underground than the canopy above. Each tiny root hair plays its part in the grand network of survival.
How Underground Networks Mirror Our Daily Lives
As I examined those roots, it struck me: our lives – filled with rushing about, responsibilities, challenges and noise routines – often appear just as tangled. Yet beneath the surface chaos, our days are held together by networks of support that we rarely pause to acknowledge.
Consider your typical morning routine. You wake up in a house built by countless hands, switch on electricity generated by workers you’ll never meet, drink water purified by systems maintained by others and perhaps send a quick text to a friend who brightens your day. Before you’ve even left the house, you’ve been surprised by an invisible network of human connections.
Really amazing when you think about it, isn’t it?
When our neighbour pops round with homemade biscuits during a particularly stressful week or when my brother rings just as I’m feeling overwhelmed and somehow knows exactly what to say, these small acts create the underground root system that keeps me anchored. Like plant roots, these connections aren’t always visible, but they’re what allow us to weather life’s storms.
The beauty isn’t in having a perfectly organised life, but in resilience and authentic connection. Just as the messy root system below ground allows plants to survive and flourish, our seemingly chaotic networks provide the strength we need to grow.
From Garden Inspiration to Studio Creation
That pivotal garden moment led me straight into my studio, where I set out to capture not just the appearance, but the energy and movement of those underground networks. This organic abstract painting approach uses acrylics with both brush and feather, creating a series directly inspired by those weed roots.
Working with my less dominant left hand – particularly when aiming for unpredictable movements and organic shapes – I let the tools guide me toward something more intuitive than planned.
Sometimes the most authentic connections happen when we stop trying to control everything.
The Complete Abstract Painting Series: Finding Harmony in Chaos
Here they are in full view: four abstract acrylic paintings on archival paper cards measuring 60 x 80 cm (approximately 24 x 31 inches). Using a small brush and feather, I created sweeping lines, overlapping short and long strokes and lots of interwoven shapes.
I aimed to recreate that sense of organised chaos you see in root systems – the way they reach out, turn back, sometimes collide, but ultimately create something greater than the sum of their parts.
Each painting reflects different aspects of connection, resembling the various busy, chaotic environments that may seem entangled in our daily lives.
For example, personal relationships with their emotional ups and downs. Friendships that weave in and out of our routines. Family dynamics with their complex histories and expectations. Work situations where we navigate professional boundaries whilst building genuine connections.
And perhaps most challenging of all, finding that elusive life-work balance where all these networks somehow need to coexist.
Some days our personal relationships feel wonderfully supportive, whilst work feels overwhelming. Other times, family demands pull us in one direction just as friendships require attention in another.
Like roots competing for space and nutrients in the soil, the different areas of connection sometimes seem to tangle and conflict. Yet when we step back, we can see how each sphere actually strengthens the others.
The confidence we gain from a supportive friendship helps us navigate workplace challenges, whilst professional accomplishments give us something meaningful to share.
The colour palette deliberately echoes the endless possibilities found in soil: earthy browns and ochres mixed with unexpected flashes of green and blue, representing growth and flow.
Water-based techniques add harmony and balance to the overall dynamic environment, just as patience and understanding soothe the rough edges in our relationships.
This series represents my most familiar style of abstract painting. Though these root system art pieces may appear busy and chaotic at first glance, I always incorporate my signature element – white paint – which holds deep meaning for me.
White represents light at the end of the tunnel, breathing space amidst complexity and the promise of new beginnings. Even in the most tangled moments of our lives, there are always pockets of hope and possibility waiting to emerge.
The Intricate Details of Connection
Zooming in reveals how both brush and feather work together. Soft, fine textures sit beside bold marks, delicate alongside powerful. These details echo what I observed in the root photograph. The hair-like filaments that do the daily work of absorption, the sturdy anchor points that provide stability and those magical moments where separate systems intersect and strengthen each other.
By allowing the feather to move freely, I welcome those “accidental” lines that, like nature itself, often lead somewhere unexpectedly beautiful. It reminds me of how the best friendships sometimes develop, not through careful planning, but through staying open and serendipitous moments.
Finding Your Own Root System
Looking at the photograph of the weed roots alongside these paintings, I hope you’ll begin to see how much meaning hides within apparent disorder.
We live in a culture obsessed with surface appearances – perfectly curated social media feeds, tidy homes, organised schedules. But real strength comes from embracing the beautiful mess of authentic connection.
Think about your own support network. Who are the people who text you just to check in? Who remembers how you take your tea? Who celebrates your small victories and sits with you through disappointments?
These relationships might seem ordinary, even tangled at times, but they form the root system that keeps you grounded.
The next time you’re in your garden or out for a walk, take a moment to observe those messy underground networks. Notice how they mirror the connections in your own life. Ask yourself: What keeps me anchored? Which relationships support me in ways I might take for granted?
Celebrating Beautiful Imperfection
We don’t need to strive for perfection or complete order all the time. Perhaps we can learn to celebrate the systems and relationships, those busy roots beneath our surface, that make us resilient and help us flourish.
Just as those weedy roots I pulled from the soil taught me about hidden strength and interconnection, I hope this abstract painting series might encourage you to appreciate the beautiful tangle of your own life’s connections.
In a world that often feels fragmented, there’s profound comfort in remembering that we’re all part of something larger – a vast, invisible network of care that sustains us even when we can’t see it.
What hidden connections are supporting you today?
Leave your comments in the section below.
10 September 2025 @ 3:58 pm
Another great read, Suhail! As I read, I found it interesting that so many things in life seem to spark new art within both of us. I suppose that is the same for all, or most, artists – after all, we are all humans on the same planet. Experiences in life are bound to overlap, of course with our own separate journeys, which makes them unique to us, if that makes sense.
It is great how inspiration sparks the creative process. I appreciate how the roots of the plants did this for you. As I read this part I remembered, just this fall, how I learned that all those silky threads at the top of a cob of corn have a purpose, that there is one that leads to each kernel on the cob and is how each kernel is pollinated. The ingenuity of mother nature is astounding!
When reading the section on How Underground Networks Mirror Our Daily Lives, I smiled again at the similar thoughts I had about interdependence, which I wrote about last week in a blog post that is queued for September 22. I really like how you talked about family and friends as the roots of our life’s personal system. I like too, what came to mind as I was reading here about how each of us is that oak tree (or however one wants to look at it), how those numerous roots are our ancestors and all the others in life that help to sustain us, and above the ground is our offspring and all the other things we bring to the world.
I was curious while I read, if your son’s garden is in one of the neighborhood plots that I have seen in many British TV shows I have watched. Over the years, those neighborhood garden plots have become more and more common here in Saskatoon. People seem to love getting their hands dirty, as that saying goes.
It was interesting to read how you used your non-dominant hand to lay down the strokes. I can see how that might be just the right thing for a more chaotic look.
Pockets of white, pockets of hope – very nice!
There’s so much wisdom in this blog post, Suhail. Thanks for sharing it all in your very readable format.
I liked the paintings too!
11 September 2025 @ 11:51 am
Thanks, Don, for your kind words. I really liked what you said about “so many things in life seem to spark new art” – I think that might be what sets artists apart, in a way.
About those neighbourhood plots you mentioned, if I’ve got it right, we call them “allotments” over here. They’re basically bits of land that people can rent from the local council, private owners or community groups to grow all sorts of fruit and veg.
Allotments are brilliant for people who don’t have their own gardens. They get to enjoy gardening whilst building a real sense of community. It’s a lovely way for people to come together over a shared hobby.
The main point of allotments is to give people (especially those without proper gardens) somewhere to grow their own food and flowers. They help build community spirit, keep people active and connect them with nature.
Allotments are good for health because they get people moving and eating fresh produce. They’re also a cheap way to get food and teach kids where their meals actually come from. Plus, they’re proper community meeting spots that help local wildlife by providing habitats.
My son lives in an ordinary house with a small front garden and a slightly bigger back garden. I’ve been busy working on both gardens since May. (I’ve mentioned this before in other comments.)
As you know, gardening never stops and one job that’s always there is pulling up weeds. I managed to replace half of the back garden, which was a play area left by the previous owners and put in a complete lawn, from seeds, instead. So now the back garden is all grass and I’ve started planting some annual plants and flowers.
I’ll put more plants around the edges next spring and summer. My gardening season is nearly over now as the weather’s turning autumnal. I don’t do any gardening from October through to April.
I think I’ve gone and changed the topic from art to gardening! 😊
11 September 2025 @ 3:54 pm
Yes, Allotments is the word that escaped me. What you said about them, benefits wise, is so true. I’m not a gardener myself, but I know many people who enjoy it.
Gardening is a good topic! I can see many parallels to life and the human condition. For instance, when you mentioned “one job that’s always there is pulling up weeds,” I thought that it is like the job of recovery and chipping away at one’s defects of character. Just now as I wrote this, I thought about all the “jobs” we must do in life, like laundry, keeping the house clean, and so forth. I remember reading how Buddhists call this “sweeping the temple,” and how reframing that makes it sacred, or nearer to sacred.
3 December 2025 @ 9:00 pm
Wonderful post. Would make a great chapter in your future book! Have you considered assembling your posts as chapters?
4 December 2025 @ 10:29 am
Thank you so much, Thea, for your comment. I really appreciate it.
I’ve often thought about gathering many of my blog posts into a book one day. The idea lingers in the back of my mind, especially how to link each post so it flows smoothly into the next, turning a collection of thoughts into a continuous read.
Each post was written at a different time and mood, so bringing them together feels a bit like piecing together a personal journey.
It’s definitely an exciting idea…
By the way, I’ve just sent you an email and I hope it made it to your inbox this time.
Thanks again for your thoughtful words, they really mean a lot.
4 December 2025 @ 2:17 pm
thank you for sharing your process, and your self. your writing always provides much food for thought…..
and wishing you a holiday season filled with beautiful shapes and colors…
and Love..
Judy
Los Angeles
4 December 2025 @ 3:55 pm
Hi Judy
Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful message. I’m really glad you enjoyed the newsletter and the blog, and that my writing offers something meaningful to you.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season as well, filled with colour, creativity and peace.