Purging of the Cedars- pt. 2 Pastel on paper: Legion Rivers Buff 19” wide x 26” high /A 2021 #pastel #painting #art #artistsoninstagram #artwork #artoftheday #arts_help #new_and_abstract #draw #drawing #andrewnaeger #pastelonpaper #abstract #abstractpainting #abstractart #abstractartist Inspiration: My pastel paintings are often almost completely rendered by my memory and emotions an event or place. Considered this an abstract painting with resemblance to landscape. Watching the smoke billow from cedars burning near edges of the cut pasture ready hills inspired this piece. My neighbors spent a summer reducing cedars to open pasture land and control threat of future wildfire. I can’t help but think of all the carbon releasing into the atmosphere at a time where we are all under threat of a global climate crisis. I visited the burn sites where large cedar trees were piled high. In the remains of the burn wood pieces I took an axe and collected pieces to use in this painting. These charred cedar are block like ashes provided the dark charcoal like pigment used in this pastel painting. There is a lot of history about cedar trees being purged to control grasslands, prevent large wildfire. They have a reputation of not being native to Missouri, but they in fact, are. The Juniperus virginiana (Eastern red cedar) are native to Missouri. Another native is the Ashe's juniper (Juniperus ashei), which are found mostly in the northeastern portion of the state. “The cedar tree is an important habitat for certain animals. Russell says endangered species such as the black-capped vireo and golden-cheeked warbler thrive on the cedar tree as part of their natural habitat. The bottom line is cedar trees can be good for an ecosystem as long as they don’t displace entire species of wildlife, or decrease plant diversity within a pasture. However, the bad far outweighs the good when it comes to cedar trees.” Source: https://www.hpj.com/ag_news/waging-war-on-cedar-trees/article_7b8c7ae8-204d-56db-8d39-24bfd9a5fcf4.html https://www.instagram.com/p/CPVsjuSFUVf/?utm_medium=tumblr