Mushrooms on White Birch

Hiking on the trial system behind our cottage in Muskoka gives me the opportunity to see many forms of inspiration for my artwork. The White Birch with its peeling bark & mushrooms growing on the truck inspired me to create this piece. The tree was first drawn with its detail then watercolour washes added to the trunk. Washes added to the peeling bark as well as washes for the mushrooms. I added lite blue washes on both sides of the trunk for a simple sky background. Pen & Ink contour line work was added to bring shape & texture to the bark & heavy ink work to show decayed parts of the tree.