
Nature’s rest, halfway through winter.
Imbolc, the Celtic holiday, celebrates February 1 as the halfway point between spring and winter.

Layered portraits: working with watercolor paper, string and collage
I painted this self portrait of myself layered between two paintings of a Northern California river. I layered them together and then stitched them with kitchen twine.
It’s how I feel when I’m out in nature.
Up a creek without a paddle

Sailing series on a following sea
Once-upon-a-time-long-ago, when I lived a boatish life with a boatish family, I spent a lot of time on or near the ocean. Although I never really learned the actual techniques of sailing, I loved being on the boat, sliding along with the wind. Even the sea-sick ick couldn’t keep me at home.
Sailing seems like such freedom. These memories inspired four small paintings for and art show called “It’s Hip to Be Square” at Art on Main in Murphys California.

Road Trip Summer: California Highway 395 through Death Valley
Stories from a road trip to Death Valley during a heat storm, plus some paintings.

October Sale

Artist Morning Pages
Reclaiming my natural mornings with artists morning pages is a way to combat having my mind fracked by the internet.

Plein Air Painting in Northern California’s Sierra Nevada.

Alpenglow in the High Sierra
What is Alpenglow?

Can you see Yosemite Valley from the Central Valley?
The world amazes me. In January 2024 I saw something I never thought was possible.

Portraits inspired by Nature
One of my favorite things to do is paint portraits that capture the fleeting essence of a person. I look for the spirit, emotion, and humanity within each subject and I love to tell their unique story with paint.

In the Studio: Composition for telling nature stories
See how what I learned in a composition class freed me from tyrrany.

I never set New Year resolutions. Read what I do instead!

Find Beauty in the Darkness of Winter
Real Beauty is so deep you have to move into darkness in order to understand what beauty is— Barry Lopez

Telling our Stories award at Carnegie Arts Center of Turlock

My watercolor portraits were accepted into the Carnegie Arts Center of Turlock!

Five easy ways to celebrate Lughnasa

ADVENTURES ON EARTH: STALKED BY A COYOTE
Being considered prey by a such a beautiful creature is a watery feeling, emotions mixing like salt water and fresh. Part of me was hypnotized by ki’s beauty, thrilled to even be considered part of ki’s world. Part of me was very nervous.

Six tips to learn to sketch in public with no fear
How to conquer the fear of sketching in public and enjoy your one wild artistic life.
The Magic Tree
Waves of light undulated across the tree as if a body flexed and swayed in a glass-beaded dress. As sensual as any human dancer, hypnotic and flowing, something stirred and swayed underneath the curtained chemise of lighted leaves.