Verano de Quenepas

Quenepas are a little green fruit popular throughout Latin America, with a sweet and tangy center. I've been going to the Dominican Republic once or twice a year for the past seven years, and this summer, quenepas made their way into my camera roll an outrageous number of times. I'd never seen the trees so full of them, so painting them felt like the perfect way to commemorate my summer '26 trip. What really stuck with me wasn't just the fruit, it's the generosity I've come to adore about Dominican culture. There's something about how naturally people share what they have, whether it's their stories, their meals, their time, or a literal tree full of fruit. I could exchange a couple of pleasant sentences with someone, and the next thing I know, they're climbing a tree and cutting down branches absolutely chock full of quenepas for me. And somehow, that's not even out of the norm. Between the beauty of the summer, the fruit, the people, and my never-ending desire to capture it all and keep it forever, this vibrant botanical was formed. It somehow manages to wrap me in joy, peace, and nostalgia all at once, every time I look at it, and I hope it gets to do the same for someone else.