By C. F. Lawrenson
Several of my paintings feature the root systems of trees exposed by weathering or erosion. Their abstract sculptural quality fascinate me and I love exploring them in a pencil drawing. This scene of the roots of a white birch caught my eye because of the way in which these light colored roots split up the space and contrasted against their dark earthy background. I chose to include a nuthatch because I have seen so many of them along this stream, crawling head first down the trees and toward the roots which seem to spread out like tentacles in search of food and water.