I had no idea that the US Botanic Garden was located on the Washington DC Mall, right across the street from the Capitol, until I visited it last week for the opening of the America’s Flora botanical art show. The 200-year old garden’s stated goal is to demonstrate “the aesthetic, cultural, economic, therapeutic and ecological […]
Sketchbook Exchange–Accordion Style
April 12, 2018 by · 12 Comments
Sketchbook exchanges can be a source of inspiration, encouragement and sharing ideas, in other words, building artistic community. At least that is the experience of a group I belong to, Oregon Botanical Artists, an Artists Circle under the auspices of the American Society of Botanical Artists. We are on our third sketchbook exchange, and […]
A Wild Rose, Rosa nutkana
August 8, 2017 by · 12 Comments
Something catches your eye and you just have to take your chances with it…that’s how it was on a bleak winter day when I was walking across a field of dried grasses. The dense cloud cover made everything look even greyer than it would have otherwise appeared. But I noticed something glowing red in the […]
Bristly-stemmed Checker Mallow
May 7, 2017 by · 14 Comments
The hike along Cascade Head is one of the most spectacular on the Oregon coast. If you can tear your eyes away from the distant views of rugged coastline and crashing waves to look down at your feet, you will see an beautiful array of wildflowers blooming in the windswept meadows in spring. The conditions […]
Lupine Commission Finished
November 25, 2016 by · Leave a Comment
Someone will be surprised this Christmas! (Don’t worry I have permission to share about it online.) This painting started with an inquiry last winter about a commissioned painting featuring Lupine. The client wanted the painting for the following Christmas and gave me artistic license in choosing the variety of Lupine and the composition of the […]
This blog is about my journey as a botanical artist--what I am learning, what inspires me and what I am currently drawing or painting. My desire is to continually hone my skills to better express my wonder and gratitude for the beauty of the creation around me in the Pacific Northwest (USA).