While in Wilsonia, the private cabin community in Kings Canyon National Park, I visited the General Grant Tree. It is about a mile from Wilsonia in a spectacular grove of giant sequoias (sequoia gigantea not to be confused with California redwoods called sequoia sempervirens). Of course, what grove of Big Trees wouldn’t be considered spectacular? I […]
Productive and Pathetic in Wilsonia
I spent a very productive week at a cabin in Wilsonia, a private community within Kings Canyon National Park. The idea was to talk to lots of people, to learn and write down their stories, impressions, memories and thoughts on cabin life there. I was fairly certain that I had all the photos I needed […]
How I Write a Blog Post
Usually I begin a blog post with a relevant photo. There must be a reason it seems relevant, so I ponder why you might want to see it. The thoughts begin flowing, and boy of boy, I LOVE to type because the words can keep up with my thoughts. I type fast, I make mistakes, […]
A California Artist Goes to Washington, part two
In Washington, this California artist took her first yoga class. Being a get-‘er-dun sort of chick, I think we could have skipped the nap at the end, and possibly some of the soothing talk about erasing our minds at the beginning. (And how in the world is one supposed to “breathe with your spine”? I […]
Eight Reasons this California Artist Chose Pencil
My last post ended with this question: if I am so taken with color, a “color junkie”, then why did I choose graphite as my medium? Simple – I love to draw. Oh come on, there must be more to it than that! Okay, yes there is. 1. It is easy to find pencil and […]
Product or Process
In knitting, there are regular discussions about whether one is a product knitter or a process knitter. This is in reference to one’s motivation – is it the journey that you enjoy, or is it the destination? When it comes to drawing, I am both a process and a product artist. The pencil feels like […]
3 Little Known Factors that Could Affect Your Ability to Draw
Pencil drawing from the upcoming book The Cabins of Wilsonia I have a theory about people who draw. It is based on teaching people how to draw since 1994. In addition to teaching people how to draw, I draw myself. (Oh? You didn’t know that about me?) I have also spoken to many people who […]
Peculiar Sight
One recent afternoon my husband called me into the living room to see something. I could tell from the sound of his voice that I should hurry and bring a camera. (25 years of marriage teach all sorts of non-verbal communication.) Outside our living room we have a ladder leading up to the roof. I […]
Self-Interviewing again
pencil drawing of Wilsonia cabin for the book The Cabins of Wilsonia Hey California Artist, are you still working on that book, that cabin book of drawings? So glad you asked that question! Yes I am, and the completed drawings are stacking up. How many have you finished now? 48 at last count. How many […]
Book Report
This is an update on the The Cabins of Wilsonia, not a report of books I’m reading. Sometimes I put 2 drawings on a single sheet of paper because it is just that much less to handle. (read “lose”) And I am frugal with paper. (read “lots of things”) This is my Wilsonia stack of […]