In Early April, just a haze of color was visible over the meadow. Walking through it was like stepping on a sponge, soft and very wet after the recent rains. Even the rocks were soft, covered with a plush carpet of moss. I am chronicling the tremendous variety of botanical riches in this rare and […]
Wildflowers and a Gray Card in the Wallowas
September 1, 2018 by · 8 Comments
I recently spent a week in what is locally called “the Wallowas”, a pristine mountainous region in the uppermost northeast corner of Oregon far from any population centers, traffic and noise. Because of the high elevation, wildflowers peak in mid-summer when the weather is sunny and mild rather than during our rainy, cold spring here […]
My Sketching Kit
May 22, 2014 by · 4 Comments
My sketching kit is constantly evolving but I’ve hit upon a system recently that works better than anything I’ve tried yet so I wanted to tell you about it. Actually its an adjustment of a system I learned at a Richard Scott Sketching on Location workshop several years ago. For too long, I have had […]
Columbia River Gorge Wildflowers, Assignment 10
July 26, 2012 by · 10 Comments
I spent three weekends doing a field study of the Catherine Creek area of the Columbia River Gorge, and these are the four wildflowers and one grass that I chose to represent this beautiful area. Of course, this is just a very small sampling of the many wildflowers that can be found there. The graphite […]
Field Study: Manroot and Coronaria, SBA Sketchbook
June 22, 2012 by · 7 Comments
I was looking for a comfortable spot to sketch, so was happy to see this vine with its interesting gourd nestled under a tree where I could sit protected from the mid-day sun and strong winds. This is part of a field study I am doing of the habitat of Catherine Creek in the Columbia […]
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).