"Smoke and Roots"

This traditional illustration captures a serene yet powerful moment of a Black woman smoking a blunt, her head tilted back as she exhales a steady stream of smoke. The smoke spirals upward, gradually transforming into the shape of a tree, its branches reaching out in various directions, like the spreading of thoughts or paths. The tree’s intricate branches stretch into the air, each one branching out further, symbolizing growth, freedom, and connection. The woman’s expression is calm and introspective, her relaxed pose adding to the peaceful yet meditative energy of the scene. Set against a blank background, the focus is on her and the tree formed from the smoke, emphasizing the surreal and symbolic connection between nature, self, and the flow of time and thought.