Douglas Fir trees have formed the backdrop of much of my life. Just look at snapshots of the houses I’ve lived in, schools I’ve attended and places I’ve gone hiking and camping, and there you will likely see a Douglas Fir somewhere in the distance. I’ve mostly taken them for granted until recently when I […]

Garry Oak Update
I wrote in August about my delight in finally finding tiny baby acorns nestled in the low branches of a native oak tree that grows near my house. Since then I have often stopped to examine the little nuts with their neat caps as they slowly grew more plump on the branch. Finally in late […]

2013 American Society of Botanical Artists Conference
In September, I attended my first American Society of Botanical Artists conference, which was held in Pittsburgh. It was a remarkable experience, seeing so much beautiful botanical art at the Hunt Institute and meeting many like-minded people. One of my favorite events was portfolio sharing which was held on the first day. Artists from all […]
Preliminary Drawing of Camassia
This is a portion of the line drawing that I will use as a basis for a painting of Camassia. I like using drawing paper with a smooth but tough surface, like Bristol Vellum, for the initial line drawing so I can erase to my heart’s content while I adjust the drawing and composition. Next […]
Thankful on Mother’s Day
Today, on Mother’s Day, I have thinking about how thankful I am for our children and granddaughter. Now our granddaughter is two and a half, and what fun we have had watching her grow and her personality develop. This is a little drawing I did of her as a newborn for a book I am […]







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).