Birch bark trees have become an iconic symbol for my of my place of home in Canada.  I've yet to meet a Canadian that doesn't love birch bark trees, perhaps in part because they stand out from the crowd of greens, reds and yellows. As I gazed out my studio window pondering how I would paint the 3D effect of the scrolls of bark hanging from the tree, I had the "Aha" moment of creating a mixed media piece where live birch bark was actually incorporated into the painting itself, completely encased in acrylic. It's a part of my home, harvested from my trees that I share with the viewer.