Behind the Art

Bouquet of marigolds, a colored pencil drawing on black paper of a black clay vase with bas-relief floral designs
Dia de los Muertos - Bouquet of Marigolds/Ramo de cempasúchil
Bouquet of Marigolds, or Ramo de cempasúchil, is a colored pencil drawing on black paper featuring a decorated black clay vase filled with cempasúchil, a symbol the enduring love and... Read more...
Las Señoras, a colored pencil drawing of two colorful catrinas with marigolds and a basket of bread
Dia de los Muertos - The Ladies/Las Señoras
Las Señoras is the final piece in the Dia de los Muertos series, depicting two colorful catrinas on a walk and honoring the strength, beauty, and guidance of family matriarchs. Read more...
Dia de los Muertos - Domingo's Guitarra
Dia de los Muertos - Domingo's Guitarra
Domingo’s Guitarra is the second piece in a Dia de los Muertos series, honoring a well-loved family guitar and the stories carried forward through the belongings of those who have... Read more...
Dia de los Muertos ofrenda colored pencil drawing on black paper
Dia de los Muertos - The Offering/La Ofrenda
This Dia de los Muertos colored pencil series, created on black paper, evokes candlelit nights, ofrendas, memory, and the enduring presence of loved ones. Read more...
Black and white drawing of a great blue heron done in graphite
The Great Blue Heron in Graphite: A Study in Contrast and Detail
I recreate birds in graphite to focus on their body shape, feather details and their eyes. Read more...
Original illustration of a quail with a torn paper and bokeh effect done in graphite.
California Dreaming: Recreating a California Quail in Graphite
For California Dreaming - A California Quail in Graphite, I revisited one of my favorite art styles – trompe l’oeil - and explored the possibilities of bokeh, a borrowed Japanese... Read more...
Three Tries, One Barn Owl
Three Tries, One Barn Owl
It took me three tries to create Prudence the Barn Owl.   Read more...
A Mourning Cloak and the Neighbor Lady
A Mourning Cloak and the Neighbor Lady
  There are over 200 species of butterflies in California.  I wanted to draw some of them - some, but not all of them - in color pencil. I chose... Read more...