I’ve discovered a wonderfully geeky corner of the internet, and I am completely hooked. It’s an app called iNaturalist, and though it’s been sitting on my phone for quite a while, I only recently figured out how much fun (and how useful) it really is.

For years, people have asked me how I create my artwork. I usually explain that I start with a collage base on wood panel, add gesso, transfer my own photos using acrylic medium, and then build up layers with colored pencil, paint, and more collage.

My artwork often features natural specimens, everything from butterflies, skulls, and nests to shells, bits of wood, and even the occasional dehydrated reptile. Sometimes they appear as standalone elements, and other times I arrange them into still-life tableaus.

Art journaling is one of my most essential creative practices. It’s more than just a sketchbook, it's a space for exploration, reflection, growth, and play. Whether I’m processing emotions, testing out new techniques, or just giving myself the freedom to create with no expectations, my journal is always there.

I remember being a child on a camping trip in Bodega Bay, along the northern California coast. Our campsite was nestled in the dunes, not far from the beach, and I spent hours wandering the sandy trails on my own. It felt like a grand adventure, exhilarating and full of possibility.