trying to remove a shape from inside of a clipping mask

[Christopher5EDF]

Hi, I am fairly new to illustrator. I need to remove or make transparent some abstract shapes from within a clipping mask that I've created. I cannot figure out how to do this. Can anyone assist? Thanks! 

[Jacob Bugge]

Christopher,

As I (mis)understand it, it looks more like a Photoshop job.

Which abstract shapes (the space between trunk and branches, and between twigs and leaves, or)?

[Christopher5EDF]

yes, the spaced between trunk and branches are the ones I'm trying to eliminate. Is this a job I need photoshop for? 

Thanks

[Jacob Bugge]

I believe so, Christopher, for a managable effort, because to me it looks like a tree made as a raster image. In that case it is quite simple in PS, and unadvisable in AI.

But as Kurt says, it would be good to know.

[Kurt Gold]

Is that tree vector artwork or raster artwork?

Can you share a screenshot that shows it while being selected in Illustrator?

Also, which version of Illustrator are you using?