This work has two overriding motifs. One is composing detailed images with basic forms. The other is somewhat personified and gestural trees. My intent is for the viewer to establish a rapport with, and therefore, a respect for nature. While this type of imagery doesn’t require an extraordinary degree of technical drawing skill, it requires overcoming some unique challenges. Many drawings use the paper color for negative space. Preventing smudges and removing oil pastel flakes and pastel dust while drawing each form two to four times to establish saturation is a bit tricky and time consuming. Special layering and fixative processes are necessary to maintain delicate soft pastel and pastel pencil while having enough coverage to draw back into oil pastels pieces.