Magic happens when watercolor is dropped from a brush onto wet paper. The colors blend beautifully together. Make a shape: wait a minute... the shape has changed into something you could not create if you tried. Watercolor, for me, is about letting the watercolor do what it wants, but balancing it with what you have visualized for the painting. I love the challenge and mystery of watercolor. Transparent colors layered over each other create a glow, earthy colors create rock formations and mountains.

Living in Mendocino County it is easy to find inspiration when surrounded by oaks, redwoods and wildflowers. We have a view to the coast from our Tudor-Victorian home, and I love to wander around with my sketchbook and paint the beauty I see.
As an herbalist, I am blessed to be able to wildcraft many of the herbs to make my salves and potions for the face and body. The lavender and roses in our garden become fragrant potpourri and sachets.
Our property is home to many animals and birds. We love watching the birds on our lilac trees: Dark eyed Junkos, Robins, and Scrub Jays. The California Quail move quickly in a line on our garden paths, looking for tasty morsels of food.

I have painted many of our local animals, birds, plants and trees in watercolor. In 2012, Secrets of the Oak Woodlands was published, by my friend, Kate Marianchild, and is now in it's fifth printing. It was up for an Indie book award last year. I did over 35 illustrations for the book in watercolor, and pen and ink. As I became more familiar with the birds and animals I was drawing and painting, I began to see their personalities, and endeavored to communicate that in my illustrations. I now offer many of the book illustrations as Giclee prints, and they are available in the rich colors I used to paint them.

Thank you so much for visiting my site and for supporting my art through the years.