Category: How-To
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A Book of Trees in a Dream
I have always wanted to write an illustrated natural history book. It began long ago, when I began to see scientific illustration as more than just an old-fashioned art form, and started to work on it as a spiritual practice. Science. Nature. Art. Spirit. For me there is no division between these things, although Science typically argues otherwise,…
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Spoonflower Fabric Printing: First Three Test Swatches
Just got my first three 8″ test swatches of my original designs from Spoonflower, the fabric printing company. Spoonflower offers several natural-fiber fabric options. I chose the two that I thought I’d actually use. Colors for these three designs were all picked from the “preferred colors” chart that Spoonflower provides in an attempt to help designers…
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Fabric Cat Mask Pattern
I recently posted about my Feral Black Cat Mask made from cotton fabric. Here’s the white version, for which I shortened the pattern so it covers a bit less of the face. Snowball the Shelter Ghost Mask is made from undyed 60%hemp/40%cotton muslin, a single layer of cotton batting, and a backing of unbleached cotton muslin. This…
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Desert Incense
The desert is a fragrant place, since many of its shrubs contain aromatic oils. Some of these plants have medicinal properties and are usable for incense. Here are a couple of my favorites: BRITTLEBUSH or INCIENSO – Encelia farinosa A very common small shrub among the saguaros, with triangular leaves that are covered in dense white fuzz. The…
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How to Draw Fire
The title phrase has shown up in my blog stats every day for about a year. What does fire look like? Regardless of the art medium or style that you are using, you need to be familiar with what fire looks like and how it behaves. Here’s the photo gallery at wildlandfire.com, the ultimate online…
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Moon Turtle Mandalas
The circular turtle shell is a motif that I have used in several drawings, the most detailed of which is the scratchboard Tsunami Turtle. The first time I used it, I painted the Dark Moon Tortoise Mandala in forest fire charcoal, charred bone, and silver metallic powders. It’s been holding a collection of white chalcedony “moon pebbles”, though now I’m drilling…
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Tarot Bag Pattern
PATTERN FOR A TAROT BAG: Lined, reversible, with double drawstrings. LEFT: Padded, flannel-lined embroidered bag for “All Souls Procession Bell” CENTER: Flannel inside and outside, for jewelry. RIGHT: Half-size bag for Pod Knife: Hemp/cotton hand-dyed with pomegranate husks, with hemp cords and silk tassels. This pattern is sized to fit most Tarot decks, but I use it…
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