May 2-8th has officially been deemed Amphibian Week in the United States by proclamation of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in recognition of these species’ global decline and threats due to climate change, chytrid disease, and habitat destruction. You can find...
It’s World Tapir Day! Each year on April 27th we celebrate World Tapir Day. Read on to learn all about tapirs and also watch a workshop on how to sketch and paint a tapir! Tapirs are large, primitive mammals that you’ve likely never heard of. They look a...
John James Audubon John James Audubon was one of the world’s most acclaimed ornithologists and bird artists, known best for his studies and illustrations of North American birds in their natural habitat. As a bird artist myself, I’ve always been fascinated...
Conceived by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, Earth Day was created in 1970 to gain traction for the grassroots environmental awareness movement. Public concern over protecting our planet was still in its infancy during this time prior to environmental regulation,...
Happy Birthday John Muir! In celebration of John Muir’s birthday, April 21st, 1838, I’ve created some images of a few quotes from his writings. Resources for learning more about John Muir The Sierra Club’s John Muir Exhibit Visit the John Muir...
National Orchid Day April 16th is designated as National Orchid Day in the United States. Below you’ll find information about orchids of North America and the world, unique characteristics of the orchid family, a slideshow of orchids from my trip to the tropical...
All About Gila Monsters and How to Sketch Them! The Gila Monster is named after the Gila River in New Mexico; one of the states in the southwestern deserts where this largest lizard of the United States lives. It grows up to 2 feet long and 4 pounds and can live over...
All About Pronghorns and How to Sketch Them! The American Pronghorn is an iconic species of North America, roaming the grassland, desert, and sage steppe habitats from south-central Canada to Baja, California. Although commonly called an ‘antelope’ it is...
All About Pikas and How to Sketch Them Pikas are endearing mammals that live high in the alpine zones of North America’s Rockies, Cascades, and Sierra Nevada mountains. They make their homes on talus slopes where large boulders form protective crevices that...
Celebrating International Beaver Day on April 7th! An estimated 60 to 400 million beavers once lived in North America, but the European demand for beaver pelts for clothing, most notably hats, almost drove the mammal to extinction by the mid-19th century. Where I live...
