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The ancient cliche "a picture is worth a thousand words" says something about how we see and translate the world around us...and inside us. Temple Grandin (well known autistic author) called her first book "Thinking In Pictures". The first books our parents read to us are full of pictures we can understand before we understand the cryptic symbols called words. Animation studios like Disney, Dreamworks, Pixar and Ghibli bring us stories told primarily with moving pictures. Photographers capture thousands of words in one fantastic image. And modelers and toy makers make it nearly real.

here are the stories: (click pic)

tradigital illustration
(mixed media)

I didn't invent this term, but I've had fun with it: combining my photography with traditional media (watercolor, Prismacolor pencil) and painting directly on Photoshop.

environmental education

I've wrangled barfing vultures, biting otters and participated in the Great Emu Roundup (they're designed to shed lariats) as a volunteer for wildlife rehabbers, and a local county park. Here are a few examples of murals, educational posters, coloring book art and other works designed to connect people, especially kids, with the natural world. 

murals

Is your basement boring? Has your realtor painted your walls one of the forty-two shades between white and cream? Add a whale, or a herd of elephants, or perhaps, some manic chipmunks or sandcastle building salamanders. 

faerie houses

Reduce, reuse, recycle. Turn those random things in your recycling bin into faerie houses, supersecret superhero headquarters for your action figures, or other goodies.

adventures: 

​photography shot over the bow of my sea kayak, various tall ships, dogsleds and other fun things

playing with water
(watercolor)

I like to play on and in the water (scuba, snorkeling, kayaking, mermaiding, occasionally hitching a ride on something larger with a wooden hull, canvas sails and cannons). For years I've played with the simplest, and most complex of art media: watercolor. Here's a look...

animal portraiture

art class

So you flunked art class. Not to worry, here's a few helpful hints, how-tos and pages of ideas for kids and adults.

play with your toys

Don't let your collection sit on a shelf. Take it out and play... with a camera and some props, you can tell your own stories, make memes, create comics. Or just show off that classic R2D2 action figure on facebook.

sea treasures

What to do with the buckets of sand, round waterworn stones, and shells that come back in the hold of my kayak each time...

Fill bowls and bowls and jars...?!?!?

Or make stuff.

earth life foundation

It spells ELF, that should be a clue. This is the center of my story cycle, illustrations and webcomic. Superpowers, superheroes, fantasy and the natural world combine with kids caught up in the adventure.