Southern Magnolia
Watercolor/Colored Pencil

Southern Magnolia trees (Magnolia grandiflora) were one of the earliest flowering plants, evolving millions of years ago when the most basic pollinators such as beetles and flies were available to assist in pollination. Eventually bees, moths, butterflies and wasps evolved to pollinate its lush blossom. The magnolia flower emerges from a furry husk that expands and cracks open to expose a green bud. The tough, leathery petals splay out into a 8-12" wide blossom with a colorful gynoecium at the center, which is made up of curled carpals and tightly-packed stamen. The flowers open during the day and close up at night. They only lasting for 2-3 days, at which time the stamen drop into the lower petals, and eventually to the ground. The brightly-colored fruit swells to 4 times the size and eventually dries into a brown, furry seedpod. The life cycle concludes when the follicles pop open to reveal 1-2 bright red seeds suspended from silky threads. These seeds are high in fat and become essential sustenance for migrating songbirds.

Echium candicans

Dissection study of the Pride of Madeira shrub, native to South Africa but dazzles the coastline of the Monterey Bay Peninsula.

Rupicola peruvianus
Watercolor/Digital

The Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola peruvianus) frequents the cloud forests of the Andes Mountains, and is the national bird of Peru. The male bird displays brilliant orange plumage with a distinctive domed crest, and a loud, melodic call that rings through the mist. The female is a more subtle burgundy/brown color with a bright, blue eye, and from personal observation, displays rather bossy tendencies.

Many hummingbird species have adapted to live at high altitudes in the tropical and subtropical montane forests of the Andes Mountains of South America. Genetic mutations include evolved hemoglobin with enhanced oxygen-binding properties allow them to keep up their intense pace even in habitats that lack oxygen. According to ornithologist, Christopher Witt, hovering hummingbirds 10x more energy than a human athlete in their prime. The Andes range are home to more than 300 species of hummingbirds.

Information adapted from article titled, “How do hummingbirds thrive in the Andes?” The Guardian

Haematopus bachmani
Medium: Colored pencil on film

Black oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani) are large shorebirds that frequent rocky shorelines along the Pacific coast. They are often seen traveling in pairs, and tend to stay within a particular territory for feeding and nesting from one year to the next. In winter, they will leave this territory to form large flocks within areas that have lots of mussel beds. Both the male and female have a black head and chest, with gray, brown feathers on their back and abdomen. They are easy to spot with their bright red bill, thick, pink legs, and yellow eyes with a red orbital ring. You will often hear the oyster catcher couples before you see them, as they chatter loudly to each other while flying from rock to rock foraging for molluscs, mussels and limpets.

Enhydra lutris
Scratchboard

Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are an essential part of maintaining a healthy marine ecosystem. Giant Sea Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) of the California coastline relies on these mustelids' steady diet of sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) and other invertebrates that feast on the kelp. Urchins will gnaw on the kelp's stipe, separating it from the holdfast that anchors it to the rock.  Sea urchins can decimate a kelp forest and harm the diverse species that rely on this fragile habitat. Sea otters help keep the sea urchin population in check. Rafts of otters can often be found tangling themselves in the kelp to prevent them from drifting out to sea while they are sleeping.

I observed and sketched the otters in the field, and took hundreds of reference photos. I created the environment by visiting the kelp forest exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I then combined several sketches and photos in Photoshop to create the ideal composition, transferred the image and started scratching! I enjoy the high contrast of scratchboard, as well as the additive and subtractive processes it allows.

Castilleja integra & Selasphorus platycercus
Watercolor pencil

Indian paintbrush (Castilleja integra) and its polliinator, the Broad-tailed hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus) reside in the high country of Colorado. This botanical specimen was collected at 7,800' above sea level. This piece was created for the Royal Horticultural Society's Botanical Art Show as part of a group submission of faculty members from the Denver Botanic Gardens School of Botanical Art & Illustration. The group was awarded a Gold Medal for their submission.

Anemone coronaria 'De Caen'
Medium: Watercolor/Colored Pencil

The brightly-colored poppy anemone is one of the first signs of spring. The long-lasting perennial has been cultivated to display an array of colors and a steady supply of blooms. The flowers of the 'De Caen' group pictured here consist of 5-8 tepals that form a cup shape around a dark seed head of tightly-packed pistils. This center mound is surrounded by a ring of stamens that form a crown shape, giving the species its name coronaria. The arrangement of blooms is accented by groupings of parsley-like leaves.

This illustration was created to describe the threats faced by the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) described in Jennifer Leman’s article “A Revered Raptor’s Return.” Bald eagle populations were diminishing due to the rampant use of DDT softening the shell of their eggs. Bald eagles stand on their eggs during incubation, so they were crushed before the babies were able to hatch. The plane shown here is spraying DDT, illustrated by the chemical symbol painted on the wings. Current threats faced by this bird include wildlife photographers disturbing the nesting sites. The photographer here is keeping a safe distance, but often times wildlife enthusiasts are not aware that they should stay at least 330 feet from a nest during breeding season.

Phoebastria immutabilis
Colored Pencil & gouache on toned paper

The Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) is built to soar. With its 77-80” wing span, this smaller species of albatross uses both dynamic and slope soaring techniques to skillfully ride the eddies of air that occur just above the waves. This method allows the bird to cover over 600 miles a day with minimal muscular or metabolic expenditure. These birds are often out to sea for months at a time. Their musculature is not suited to sustained flapping, so the albatross will rest on the water’s surface when winds are calm rather than wasting energy. The wings include a sesamoid bone, or spreader bone and patagial fan that connects the ligaments from shoulder to wrist, and supports the propatagium. This system of tendons locks the extended wing to minimize muscular effort. The patagium creates a curve in the rigid wing, and this extra surface area helps streamline flight. The bird has an extended forearm to support the secondary feathers, which are especially important in soaring.

The Brown Pelican
Pelecanus Occidentalis
Colored Pencil/Digital

The Brown Pelican (Pelecanus Occidentalis) can spot fish from as high as 65’ above the water. Pelicans eat small fish that gather in schools near the surface. Herring (Clupea harengus) are among their favorite food, but they will also eat menhaden, mullet, anchovies and sailfin mollies. Once the prey has been spotted, the pelican will spiral to the left to protect its esophagus and trachea, which are located on the right side of the body. The graceful bird then tucks into a streamline position, and plunges head-first towards the water. Upon impact, its 18” long bill stuns the fish. Air sacs below the skin of the chest provide buoyancy. The pelican’s lower jaw spreads laterally and the gular pouch expands like a fishing net to scoop up its meal. This pouch can hold 2.6 gallons of water. The hungry bird then lifts its head slowly to drain the water out of the pouch, then snaps his head back to allow the fish to slide down its throat.

Alligator mississippiensis
Colored Pencil on Film/Digital Media

The American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) Alligator jaw muscles exert great force (about 300 pounds per square inch) when clamping down on unsuspecting prey. Surprisingly, the alligators have very little strength when opening their mouth. Like all members of the crocodilian family, the alligator's jaw muscles are inside of the skull, exposed when the mouth is fully open. They also have a second joint in their jaw that allows the rapid and fierce bite force. A large, adult alligator may only eat once or twice a week, but they make it count when they do eat.

Every spring, the Sea fig (Carpobrotus chilensis) causes the coastline of the Monterey Peninsula to erupt in a vibrant, violet carpet of blossoms. Not only is it beautiful, but it has a unique structure that allows it to endure the ever-changing conditions by the shore. This trompe l’oeil study shows my favorite past time, dissecting and analyzing nature and telling its stories through art.

Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata & Buphagus erythrorhynchus
Colored Pencil on Film

The reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) share a symbiotic relationship with the Red-billed oxpeckers (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) and Yellow-billed oxpeckers (Buphagus africanus). The oxpeckers, also known as tickbirds eats ticks and parasites off the giraffe and are dependent on their host for much of their food. In return, the giraffe is relieved of blood-sucking, disease-carrying parasites. The birds prefer mature female ticks swollen with blood, but will also comb through the host’s hair looking for more hidden insects. The oxpeckers are perching birds with feet that are built for grasping the thick hide of the giraffe, allowing them to ride and eat while the giraffe is in motion. The hitchhiking birds make a hissing sound when they sense danger. It is debatable whether or not this actually benefits the giraffe, whose keen eyesight and stature allows it to be the first to spot predators, establishing them as the “Watchdogs of the Savanna.” The birds can also be seen cleaning the giraffe’s teeth with their pointed bill, and bedding down under the giraffe’s armpits for the night.

Mareca americana

The American Wigeon is also known as a baldplate due to the white stripe that resembles a bald man’s head. You can hear these ducks coming with their distinctive whistle. They cluster in great flocks during the autumn and winter months, often mixing with geese.

Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata
Colored Pencil on Film/Digital

This poster studies the anatomy and musculature/skeletal structure of the long neck of the reticulated giraffe. The giraffe actually has the same number of vertebrae as a human, each one is just elongated. They have surprisingly long tongues to reach the high leaves of the acacia trees. They share a symbiotic relationship with the Red-billed oxpeckers (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) and Yellow-billed oxpeckers (Buphagus africanus). The oxpeckers, also known as tickbirds eats ticks and parasites off the giraffe and are dependent on their host for much of their food. In return, the giraffe is relieved of blood-sucking, disease-carrying parasites. The hitchhiking birds make a hissing sound when they sense danger. It is debatable whether or not this actually benefits the giraffe, whose keen eyesight and stature allows it to be the first to spot predators, establishing them as the “Watchdogs of the Savanna.” The birds can also be seen cleaning the giraffe’s teeth with their pointed bill, and bedding down under the giraffe’s armpits for the night.

Morpho Peleides
Watercolor Pencil/Gouache

With a 5-8" wing span, the Blue Morpho is one of the largest butterflies. Microscopic, tetrahedral scales on their wings reflect light, resulting in their iridescent blue color. The underside of the morpho’s wings provide camouflage with gray, black and red markings in the shape of foliage on a dull brown field. Large eyespots, or "oceli" make predators think the butterfly is much bigger than it is. The markings create the illusion of "crypsis", breaking up the shape of the butterfly when observed against the complex shapes and colors of the forest. In flight, the wings create a flashing effect that makes it more difficult for predators to track the elusive creature. 

Doryteuthis opalescens
Watercolor/Digital Media

Odontolabis curvera
Colored Pencil on Film/Digital

Monarch Butterfly
Danaus plexippus
Watercolor/Colored Pencil

Monarch butterflies migrate to the eucalyptus trees of coastal California and the Oyamel Fir Forests in Mexico during late summer or autumn, and return to the northern region during the spring when their primary food source, milkweed is abundant. They will huddle together in the treetops for warmth and safety. The butterflies use the same trees each and every year when they migrate even though they are a different generation. During its caterpillar stage, a monarch survives on milkweed plants alone. They lay their eggs on milkweed plants so the tiny caterpillars will have access to food as soon as they hatch. The full migration spans 3-4 generations. The first three generations will go through a four-stage life cycle over a 2-6 week period - egg, caterpillar or larva, chrysalis or pupa, and finally adult. Their built-in compass will lead the butterflies over 2,500 miles to warmer climate each year. The second generation emerges in May/June, and the third is born in July/August. The fourth generation is unique. Born in September/October, the monarchs will go through the same life cycle over a 6-8 month period, laying their eggs in February or March.

Black Kite

Milvus migrans

Medium: Gouache

Australian legend of the fire hawks: Though no one in modern times has officially witnessed this behavior, Aboriginal legend claims that black kites (pictured here), whistling kites and brown falcons will pick up sticks from wildfires and drop them into grassy areas to root out prey. There are three levels of fire mastery. Chimps have only been known to achieve level one, but fire manipulation such as this act is considered level two mastery. Smart birds!

Octopus cyanea
Acrylic/colored pencil

The day octopus (Octopus cyanea) frequents the reefs of the Pacific ocean, and is one of the most active and strongest of its genus. The cephalopod will camouflage itself by manipulating the texture and color of its skin through a complex system of "chromatophores." This camouflage allows the octopus to ambush unsuspecting crabs and mollusks, and avoid becoming prey themselves. Shells can often be found lying in a pile outside of their cavern, in an area often referred to as the "Octopus's Garden."

Bubo virginianus & Corvus brachyrhynchos
Pen & Ink

The Great-horned owl (Bubo virginianus) & American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) have an adversarial relationship that is built into their very DNA. Though the owl is naturally camouflaged with its pattern of complex markings and sleeps within or near the tree trunk during the day to maximize its camouflage, the crows often give away their hiding spot. Large murders of crows can often be spotted harassing the owl while it sleeps, taking turns dive-bombing the sleeping predator. This behavior increases during breeding season when crows are actively protecting their young. Great-horned owls are opportunistic hunters, and often eat the crow hatchlings or adult crows if they happen upon them. Owls do not actively hunt this species. Tufts of feathers form horns on top of their heads. These "plumicorns" often express their mood, laying flat when agitated and standing erect when the owl is calm.

The Brown Pelican
Pelecanus Occidentalis
Colored Pencil/Digital

The Brown Pelican (Pelecanus Occidentalis) can spot fish from as high as 65’ above the water. Pelicans eat small fish that gather in schools near the surface. Herring (Clupea harengus) are among their favorite food, but they will also eat menhaden, mullet, anchovies and sailfin mollies. Once the prey has been spotted, the pelican will spiral to the left to protect its esophagus and trachea, which are located on the right side of the body. The graceful bird then tucks into a streamline position, and plunges head-first towards the water. Upon impact, its 18” long bill stuns the fish. Air sacs below the skin of the chest provide buoyancy. The pelican’s lower jaw spreads laterally and the gular pouch expands like a fishing net to scoop up its meal. This pouch can hold 2.6 gallons of water. The hungry bird then lifts its head slowly to drain the water out of the pouch, then snaps his head back to allow the fish to slide down its throat.

Pelecanus occidentalis

Colored Pencil on Film/Digital Media

Article describing the behavior and feeding habits of the brown pelican.

Under Monterey Bay, an 11,800’ deep submarine canyon extends 93 miles out from Moss Landing and terminates in an alluvial fan. The canyon provides a nutrient-rich habitat for deep sea marine life.

Ardea herodias
Digital Media

California's Estuary
Digital Media

One mural in a series of four describing California Habitats created for Oakland Zoo in cooperation with ECOS Communications.

Scratchboard

Limulus polyphemus
Graphite on Film/Pen & Ink

Ensifera ensifera & Passiflora mixta

Medium: Colored Pencil on Film/Watercolor

The Sword-billed Hummingbird and Passiflora mixta have co-evolved in the tropical/subtropical montane cloud forest of the Andes. This species of hummingbird is the only one able to pollinate this flower with its elongated corolla, and has the advantage of an abundance of nectar since no other bird has access to this flower. Small insects will sometimes burrow into the side of the corolla to find a meal. The will also pollinate the long tube of the Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia sanguinea). The bill of this hummingbird is longer than its body, causing it to roost with its nose up in the air to counteract the weight. This bird also has to preen with its feet since it cannot use its bill.

Echeveria secunda
Graphite

Eumetopias jubatus
Graphite

Babylonia japonica
Colored Pencil/Gouache on toned paper

Punica granatum
Colored Pencil on Film

Brassica oleracea
Pen & Ink/Watercolor Pencil

The Romanesco Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) displays the mathematical Fibonacci sequence that can be seen in many natural forms. This image shows the internal structure of this complex, edible flower bud.

Capsicum annuum
Watercolor pencil

Bell peppers are typically green, yellow, orange and red, but occasionally can display a brown, white, lavender, or dark purple color. Red bell peppers are just ripe green peppers and are the sweetest of the family. Green peppers are less sweet and bitter compared to the red, yellow and orange varieties. Botanically speaking, this fruit is technically a berry. It varies from other berries in that air surrounds the seeds rather than pulp.

Bird Eye Studies

Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)
Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)
Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
Double-Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Victoria Crowned Pigeon (Goura victoria)
Brown Pelican (Pelecanu occidentalis)
Toucan (Ramphastos Toco)
Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos)
Juvenile Black-Capped Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Allium cepa
Colored Pencil/Gouache

The garden onion is closely related to the garlic, leek, chive and Chinese onion. The onion plant (Allium cepa), or bulb onion is the most cultivated variety of the allium family. As I was drawing this particular onion, the green shoots would move to follow the sunlight, offering a great challenge to capture its form. It really wanted to be planted!

Ondatra zibethicus
Colored Pencil & Gouache on Toned Paper

Phalaenopsis sp.
Pen & Ink

The Iroquois have been using the three sisters method of planting since the 1300s, and were thought to pass their wisdom on to the European settlers that arrived three centuries later. The triad of vegetables - corn, beans and squash - provided the Native Americans with physical and spiritual sustenance. The three sisters method of sustainable companion planting provided soil fertility and a healthy diet from one single planting. The corn provides structure for the beans. The beans pull nitrogen from the air and bring it to the soil and as vines wind and twist towards the sunlight, they bind the three together and provide further structure. The large leaves of the sprawling squash provide shade keeping the soil cool, moist and weed-free, creating living mulch that shades moist and preventing weeds. The prickly squash leaves also keep away critters.

Mass extinctions are defined by the loss of at least 75% of species within a relatively short period of geological time. We are currently in the sixth mass extinction (or Anthropocene extinction) of the Holocene epoch. Vast numbers of species of plants and animals including mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and arthropods are dying off in alarming numbers due to widespread destruction of habitat, irresponsible agricultural practices that result in the poisoning of our food and water source, overfishing, and a rise in temperature due to irresponsible burning of fossil fuels. The oceans are getting warmer and more acidic, plastic waste is showing up in our drinking water and shellfish and our air and water quality are being threatened by careless, short-sighted policy. The arrival of humans on different continents coincides with the extinction of large mammals that occurred at the end of the last Ice Age.

A representative from the endangered list from each of the groups that are at risk of extinction - mammals, birds, insects, marine creatures - are represented in the top of the hourglass with little hope of escaping the pull of gravity that has almost consumed the human being. The oroborous represented by a snake chasing its tail symbolizes the cycle of life and death.

The previous five extinctions are featured in the lower part of the hourglass with extinct species indicated in fossil form:

End Ordovician, 444 million years ago
Late Devonian, 375 million years ago
Permian-Triassic Event 251 million years ago
Triassic-Jurassic Extinction Event 200 million years ago
Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction Event 66 million years ago

Thunbergia mysorensis
Colored Pencil on Film

Ammonoidea
Carbon Dust/Digital

Carex viridistellata

A new species of sedge discovered in the Prairie Fens of the Eastern United States.

Pinus ponderosa
Scratchboard

Dendrophylax lindenii

Rare and endangered, the ghost orchid can be found in the swamps of Florida.

Dracaena braunii
Graphite

Yucca filementosa
Scratchboard

Phalaenopsis sp.
Watercolor

Guzmania lingulata
Pen & Ink

Fragaria × ananassa
Digital

Botanically speaking, the garden strawberry is not actually a berry. It is an aggregrate accessory fruit, or false fruit made up of achenes, which are often mistaken for seeds. An aggregate fruit forms when several ovaries in a single flower merge, unlike a simple flower that only contains one ovary. Each achene represents one of the flower’s ovaries and contains the actual seed inside. This piece featuring the Fibonacci pattern of the strawberry’s achene was created in Illustrator using vector shapes.

Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus
Watercolor pencil

The watermelon radish is known for the vibrant pattern of white and magenta in its fleshy interior. It is an heirloom Chinese daikon radish and its Chinese name “Shinrimei” means “beautiful heart.”

Mangifera indica
watercolor pencil

Allium cepa var. aggregatum
watercolor pencil

Tropical Fruits
colored pencil/graphite

Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum)
Star fruit (Averrhoa carambola)
Dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus)
Pineapple (Ananas comosus)

Excerpt from a children's book series exploring the wonders of nature through fantastical means.

Pastel & Gouache on black sandpaper

Excerpt from a children's book series exploring the wonders of nature through fantastical means.

Pastel & Gouache on black sandpaper

Excerpt from a children's book series exploring the wonders of nature through fantastical means.

Pastel & Gouache on black sandpaper

Excerpt from a children's book series exploring the wonders of nature through fantastical means.

Pastel & Gouache on black sandpaper

In Fort Worth, Texas, starlings gather at first light to welcome the sun with their melodic, other-worldly call.

Oil on Canvas

Hypothetical Project describing how to prepare for a trip into the backcountry.

Technical Illustration of wooden kayak and accessories

Passiflora caerulea

Package design and magazine advertisement for Nectar of the Gods - an all-natural passionfruit infused soda.

Medium: Illustrator

Package design for Aloha O’s cereal by Earthy Crunchy Organics.

Medium: Illustrator

Magazine spread created for “Hippy Gardener” magazine

Branding and Package Design for HoledUp donut shop

Package design for Russet Tater Gems

Medium: Illustrator