I was inspired to enter this painting after reading about the Pontiac Rotary Club celebrating its hundredth anniversary this past spring by planting 100 trees in Pontiac over Earth Day week. Urban reforesting projects are important to our communities. Trees bring us improved benefits to not only to our environment and pride in our community but also to our mental health. In this oil painting (24 inches x 48 inches) I used pallet knives and the impasto technique to create and enhance the many textures of the tree and snow. My inspiration for the composition came while snowshoeing this past winter in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.