Project Background:

For this image for Alternatives Journal, based in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, I was asked to illustrate the Northern Boreal Forest (Taiga) biome.  It is a northern latitude forest characterized by coniferous trees, mostly pines, spruces and larches.  The goal of the image is to show that in a healthy ecosystem, all facets of biodiversity are healthy and in balance.

Illustration Process:

I took the time to research each tree species and to paint each one accurately, but with an eye for an artistic, painterly effect.