Blame The Trees

“Blame the Trees” by Peter Bogdanov – Live Painting Series
Acrylic on Canvas | One-of-a-Kind | Available Exclusively from Bogdanov Studio
Deep in the hush of the old-growth forest, stories don’t die—they root.
“Blame the Trees” is a spellbinding entry in Peter Bogdanov’s acclaimed Live Painting Series, each piece born in a single, high-pressure session before a live audience. Painted in under an hour, this haunting acrylic work merges raw energy with mythic storytelling, capturing the stillness that comes just after a truth no one wants to admit.
The painting reveals a ghostly, humanoid figure standing in partial shadow, emerging from the blur of trunks and fog. Its form is tall, indistinct, and eerily watchful—evoking the essence of Bigfoot not as a creature of the wild, but as a spirit of forgotten memory. Unlike cartoonish interpretations, this being doesn’t lunge or roar—it looms in quiet accusation. It doesn’t ask to be seen, but it’s always there. And if you didn’t see it? Blame the trees.
Bogdanov conjures this legend with subtle mastery: long vertical strokes mimic trunks and rising mist, while muted tones of green, brown, and ash gray blend the figure into its surroundings. The result is a visual question—Is it a creature, or a trick of light and bark? Has it always been there? Did we choose not to see it?
The title, “Blame the Trees,” comes from an old mountain folk tale whispered across generations: that Bigfoot isn’t hiding—we just stopped listening. That the forest, ancient and complicit, chooses what it reveals. And sometimes, it hides us from ourselves.
As with all of Bogdanov’s live works, the performance is etched into the paint itself. What you see is what was seen—no rehearsals, no edits, only instinct and presence.
For lovers of folklore, cryptid lore, and art that leans into mystery and meaning, this piece is a powerful addition to any serious collection.