Olive seashells, mixed media: watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite
Today I demonstrated my favorite mixed-media sketching technique for a group of visitors at my open studio (Art at the Source, Sebastopol, CA). Olive seashells, the perfect example of “the more you look, the more you see”! It was hard to stop. Thanks to everyone for coming.
Presentations in the meadow and chaparral of Pepperwood Preserve; sketch by KAnandakuttan, May 19, 2012
On a sunny day at Pepperwood Preserve in Sonoma County, students– new naturalists– spoke of seed banks and fire cycles in the chapparal, birds’ feet, native bees and flowers that change color, grasses which do and don’t belong here, leaf phenology and birds’ nests. Thanks to the instructor, biologist Shawn Brumbaugh, for inviting me. This was the final day of the California naturalist program offered by Santa Rosa Junior College (it fulfills requirements for the UC Master Naturalist Certificate).
Students have met at Pepperwood over the last couple months to gather data in journals, and learn from experts about botany, invertebrate and vertebrate zoology, ecology– and before that in the fall, geology and hydrology. They have become familiar with the natural history of this part of California, and gained skills they can use to explore anywhere. More and more people, scientists included, are interested in the interdisciplinary study of nature by “citizen scientists.”
I had the opportunity to meet with this group and teach a little of what I know too, introducing biological illustration and field sketching techniques that might be useful to someone keeping a field journal full of notes and data.
The Dwight Center, Pepperwood
Some great resources were mentioned in the course of the presentations:
Re: bees and pollinators: pollinator.org, Xerces.org, Gordon Frankie (UC Berkeley), and nature.berkeley.edu/urbanbeegardens/
and fire: John McPhee’s 1989 book “The Control of Nature”
Pepperwood Preserve’s own website is Pepperwoodpreserve.org
UC California Master Naturalist Program website: www.ucanr.org/sites/uccnp/
Sebastopol’s “Art at the Source” begins May 18 with a preview exhibit at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts , and community showcase exhibits in May. I am thrilled to be opening my studio to the public on the first two weekends in June, the 2 – 3rd, and 9 – 10th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. I will demonstrate different techniques at 2 – 2:30 pm each open studio day.
I will be showing a lot of my work! In my own studio you will find my latest series of mixed media “nature miniatures,” pen and ink science illustrations (from botany to salamanders), mixed media field journals, and panels painted in natural pigments (fresco secco) using an ancient Indian technique. I will join other AATS artists in exhibits at several community locations in Sonoma and Napa counties throughout May:
Sebastopol Center for the Arts, May 18 – June 10, (6780 Depot Street, Sebastopol, CA 95472)
Finley Community Center, Santa Rosa, May 1 – June 11; viewing hours Monday through Friday, 8am-7pm, Saturday 9am-1pm (2060 West College Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95401)
Copperfield’s Books in Healdsburg, May 21 – June 11 (104 Mattheson, Healdsburg, CA 95448, phone (707)433-9070)
Copperfield’s Books in Napa, May 3 – June 14 (3700 A Belaire Plaza, Napa, CA 94558, phone (707) 252-8002)
I will be a sketching and biological illustration instructor for the March 31st class:
