Southeast Alaska Sketchbook

Gustavus, part 2

Some Gustavus friends were out in search of a Christmas tree and found instead this beautiful shed antler... 

Gustavus willow

I just got back from a great two weeks in Gustavus, where I was working with students and teachers at the school.The school is wonderful; there are just over 50 students, grades K-12.  And Gustavus is a fascinating place: a broad, flat landscape, formed by outwash from the Glacier Bay glaciers over many centuries. The combination of flat land, lush meadows and wetlands, wandering rivers, and pine/spruce/cottonwood forest are an unusual mix in Southeast Alaska.I saw swans and herons, listened to a wolf moan under the stars, and got thrilled (even a little over-thrilled) by moose.

I'll post a series of Gustavus sketches next, starting with an iconic plant: willow.

What the Jays Showed Us

Was on a walk with my friend Jill this afternoon, when we noticed about six Steller's jays hollering at something in a cluster of spruce and alder. After craning around a bit, we spotted a small, round-eared animal, the first wild marten I've ever seen. On the way home, I tried to hold the spring-steel body, rounded ears, downy fur in mind until I could get to my sketchbook. This page of memory sketches is the result.

Latest Project: Whales!

I've been working on text and illustrations for a new children's picture book about humpback whales--and not doing much nature drawing--so I thought I'd post an image from the book. My illustration pace has been glacially slow, but I'm hoping the book will be printed by the end of the year... or at the very least by next spring, in time for the whales' return to our Southeast Alaskan waters...

Island Naturalists, Part 2

...And here's the second page of sketches commemorating the July naturalist kayak jaunt. This time: the view from sea level.