"MY PENNSYLVANIA ROOTS" I At Cook Forest, a virgin forest in Penn's Woods [aka Pennsylvania], there is an art school. I was asked to teach a charcoal drawing course, but first I had to give them a sample drawing. One spring day, I packed up my equipment and went to the forest to draw. In a shady spot I found the most unusual tree; it was clearly growing out of a boulder that was about 5' high and about 8' long. Wrapped all around it were the roots of a giant tree. I purched myself on a nearby fallen log and spend a couple of hours staring at and drawing those roots. The most amazing thing happened; I felt as if I had become one with that boulder and the roots. Art's peculiar spell had been cast upon me as I became absorbed in the creative process. I decided to do a series of drawings that I would call "My PA Roots." I'm not a native of PA, but the title was catching. This drawing is the first in the series completed in Cooks Forest. Incidentally, it is more likely the rock grew up from the ground under the tree. :>) Copyright 2007 Dell Belew