Forest Spirits

This is my interpretation of a Wendigo, a forest spirit told about by the Native American tribes along the Great Lakes. I heard a story about it from a story-teller when I was little and it's always stayed with me and terrified me! He said sometimes you'll be walking though the forest and hear something moving behind you, but when you turn around there will be nothing there but a rock or a tree because the Wendigo is a shape shifter. It can even become a swarm of insects. If you think you are being followed by one you better run because he wants to eat you! (I think my interpretation is pretty different than the literature on the subject by the way. I was going to write about it in more detail, but I'm having a hard time putting it into words. Probably why I am an artist not a writer!)

I finally feel like it is really summer! I had such a nice weekend with friends, visiting gardens, lighting sparklers, having picnics, and going to a beautiful lake in the mountains. I somehow fit some work in there somewhere as well.

Also, I wanted to remind you that today is the kick off of the My Love For You Is A Stampede of Horses Healthy Gulf Fundraiser!. ML4U's Big Cartel Shop opens at 12pm PST (3 pm EST), so please stop by, get some amazing art, and help the gulf!

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Lord Bergamot

I made myself a budget and stuck to it. For exactly one week. But lets not talk about that, lets talk about these lovely things that I got recently; I was eyeing that hand pin at Cargo a while back and decided that it has been rainy and cold and sad, and it would be okay to buy a treat. Something similar happened with the Smith Tea. I was having Earl Grey blahs, probably due to drinking it too often, they all started to taste the same. I loove the packaging design of this tea, which is what drew me to it, but the taste really is something a little different so my love is revived! It's nice that it is mixed here in Portland too.


I like this picture my Ma took of black raspberries growing back home. I'll be heading there for a few weeks in late July and I'm very excited! It's finally warm an sunny here today, so maybe summer is starting? but there is nothing quite like summer deep in the Midwest countryside.

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More ways to help the Gulf

Meighan From My Love For You Is A Stampede of Horses has been wonderfully organizing an amazing fundraiser to benefit The Gulf Restoration Network. A Ton of my favorite artists are taking part and I'm really happy to be able to contribute as well. 100% of the proceeds will go to the The Gulf Restoration Network! Meighan put up the first preview of the work today, and the Big Cartel shop will be open on June 28th, at 12 pm PST (3 pm EST)
I'll remind you again when it's open!

I wasn't even thinking about oil when I did this little sketch but it seems appropriate

Also, don't forget the print in my shop to benefit the Audubon Society's clean up in the Gulf. $330 raised so far!

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Rainforest

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A collection

This is probably my favorite drawing I've done in a while!

In progress...

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Raindrops

A sketch..

and my rooftop garden. My garden is loving the almost constant rain but a few things are starting to get tired of having their feet wet.


I have been drawing and reading a lot the past few days. I have to share with you this recipe; A friend served me this simple salad of this amazing dressing over shredded purple cabbage, I have been eating it all this past week and finding that it is the only thing I feel like eating lately!
1/2 cup walnuts, toasted
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 medium clove garlic, peeled
2 tablespoons mellow white miso paste
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon honey
2 big pinches salt (or to taste)
1/4 cup+ warm water
use a food processor, blender or hand blender to puree the walnuts, olive oil, garlic, miso paste, vinegar, and honey. Add the warm water a bit at a time until the dressing is the consistency of a heavy cream. Taste and add salt if you think it needs it.
The recipe is from here

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A few bits and pieces

(Photo by Sarah)

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A Few Openings

These are from the two openings I was in last week; Diorama Drama, at Pony Club Gallery, and my work with Valerie Pensworth at Tolivar. (To see a few more pictures please visit my FB page)
I also recently had the pleasure to go to the kick off/fundraiser for the project of some of my friends from Together Gallery, The Free Life Center. And to drop in at Emily Martin's show at Land. And Valerie has another show opening this week! It's so wonderful living in a place where so much great art happens!

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Oil Spill Print

I've been sad and disgusted by the situation ever since the oil spill in the gulf happened, but I got so upset the other night after seeing the new horrible images of oil covered birds I decided I had to do something, even if I feel pretty powerless. The one thing I feel like I can do is raise some money and donate to the the clean up. With that in mind I've put this new print in my shop and I've decided to donate 100% proceeds from sales of this print to the Audubon Society's oil spill clean up effort.

I know I'm not the only one who is feeling upset about this, please help!

(Because my mom asked: Why this scary demon print? It's the most favorited image in my Flickr that isn't already a print!)

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