On a typically drizzly, bleak Oregon winter day, we sat in a warm, comfortable studio and painted brightly colored, exotic orchids under the tutelage of Heeyoung Kim. She had asked us each to create a drawing before the workshop of a deep pink or purple orchid with relatively few markings or a similar blossom. We […]
Brushed Out of My Comfort Zone
November 15, 2014 by · 16 Comments
I find that more often than not, I learn the most when I am under duress…or at least under pressure of some sort. That happened recently with a commission I got for seven illustrations of wildflowers to be finished in just over 2 weeks, the rough drawings to be submitted in one week. Overall the […]
Ants & Elaiosomes
October 18, 2014 by · 4 Comments
Dropping crumbs onto the ant trail became our entertainment during picnics last summer, my granddaughter and I. We were entranced by the suspense of seeing whether the ant would be able to lift the massive (in ant terms) crumb by itself or would it go recruit helpers? How would the ant team deal with getting […]
Grades of Graphite
September 6, 2014 by · 10 Comments
Using only one grade of pencil in a drawing is akin to using only one color when painting. You can create a beautiful piece with one grade but it is easier to get results, and more fun besides, with a spectrum of grades. I stick to one grade for sketching, but for a botanical study…when […]
Sketching Tiny
July 26, 2014 by · 2 Comments
Travel is for fun, right? At least my kind of traveling is…so one of my favorite things to do on the road is to make these tiny pencil sketches in my journal. They are not at all demanding to do and give me a quick result before I rush off to the next sight. All […]
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).