How sweet it is . . .

My first solo show, now through October at Fournee Bakery, 2912 Domingo Avenue in Berkeley across the street from the Claremont Hotel tennis courts.

These watercolor and bees wax paintings illustrate the many enjoyable hours I've spent hiking, bird watching, photographing and painting at Tilden Park and Sibley Volcanic Preserve.

When you go, treat yourself to Fournee Bakery's delectable goodies.  Tres bien!

Open Space Series

Tilden Park one

A few of my favorite things: hiking, birdwatching, painting  .  .  .  and painting the areas where I hike.

Began a new series of 6-inch square paintings in watercolor and beeswax.  Mmmm, they smell every so slightly of honey.

California Raptors Class

Learning a lot and having a blast hanging out with other raptor enthusiasts in the Audubon Society's California Raptors Class, led by Eddie Bartley of the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory.

On Sunday's field trip to Rush Ranch and Jepson Prairie near Rio Vista, spotting scopes set up on tripods gave me a great opportunity to sketch from live birds. The most exciting moment was discovering the Great-horned Owl (snoozing with one eye open) above our picnic table lunch at Rush Ranch. He sat there for hours.

Later in the day, saw my first Ferruginous Hawk sitting on the ground in the sunshine and two Burrowing Owls hanging out at, and in, their ground burrow. I sketched in waterproof ink onsite and watercolored later at home at the kitchen table.

UC Botanical Garden

Back in the saddle. . .  it's been awhile since my last post.  Do you ever find that the poorer the paper quality, the less inhibited you are to play with the materials and just have fun?