I have long been fascinated by the historic uses of plants, particularly the native plants of the region where I live in the Pacific Northwest. In fact, most of the native plants I have illustrated so far were used by native peoples as food or medicine. I feel I know these plants well by the […]
A Portrait of Asarum
November 30, 2014 by · 13 Comments
What are the essential things to know about Wild Ginger (Asarum caudatum), and how to present them in a simple yet artful way? That was what I asked myself when planning this plant portrait. I edited my initial drawings until they were stripped of anything I thought extraneous. First, it’s a low, ground cover that […]
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 […]
Palmengarten Exhibition
October 25, 2014 by · 5 Comments
I am grateful to the Society of Botanical Artists for the opportunity to exhibit my work along with other members and associate members at the lovely Palmengarten Botanical Garden in Frankfurt Germany. The theme of the exhibit is Medicinal and Poisonous Plants. The exhibit opens the 24th of October and extends through the 23rd of […]
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 […]
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).