4:00 pm • White tailed deer are one of the more predominant mammals in the Northwoods. We all see them in our yards, at the edge of the road even in town. They are ever present, much like the squirrels and the chickadees. People end conversations with "drive safe and watch for deer," which begs the question - do deer warn other deer to watch for humans?

This piece was one of the first pieces started in this body of work - it was started before I even knew I was working on a series. I created it in response to my first vehicle run in with a deer. The deer did not survive, and there was a lot of damage to the vehicle too. It was scary and dispiriting. My love, Cassidy, and I were nearing the end of our house build with a goal to move in a few months later. We were driving to our land with construction supplies in our only hauler vehicle, when a deer, running at full speed from a field, pitched itself into the road in front of a vehicle headed north and hit our vehicle broadside as we were headed south. I was in the passenger seat so I wasn't certain what occurred when the driver's window shattered with a bang. I remember screaming, thinking a vehicle might have hit us, not sure if Cassidy was hurt. Other than being covered in a few scratches and some superficially embedded glass Cassidy was mainly fine. I was physically fine as well. But the small accident had a larger mental impact. We had to use money from our building budget to fix up the vehicle as best we could. It took time to work on the vehicle and until it was usable it took more time and trips to haul supplies.

I felt selfish for being irritated at the deer, especially knowing it had lost it’s life, but I was still irritated. Simultaneously, I adore deer. I support proper conservation efforts and I am grateful for the sustenance deer provide to all living beings in the Northwoods. This piece grew out of all of those conflicting feelings. This piece has been in the works for 3 or 4 years and it really has taken on a life of it's own as I dealt with that one deer's death, the finishing of our home, the ongoing climate crisis, and my contemplation of my place in the wild world. It is all intertwined, and therefore complicated.

Featured flora and fauna • Canadian Warbler, Gray Tree Frog, White Campion, Harebell, Wild Lettuce, Cabbage White Butterfly, White Tailed Deer

In and Out of the Thicket / The Complex Nature of Deer as it Relates to Water

©2021, 24” x 18”, Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas.. You can purchase this piece here.

Restful Red

1:00 pm • A Badger at the edge of the meadow pokes its head out of its den. The sun is hot but her shady tree is the perfect temperature. Though she is mainly a nocturnal mammal she does enjoy poking her head out to observe the daytime. It has been a long hard winter and spring, and the abundance of food and plant life make this sweet lady happy to have made it through the cold times.

This painting is a true representation of coming out of the pandemic blues. It was a long, difficult year for me, especially for my art. This particular body of work was scheduled to be completed by June 2020 but when the pandemic struck the exhibit was rescheduled for 2021. I had high hopes that there would be a vaccine and a healthier environment come June 2021. After rescheduling in March of 2020 my brain went into a funk. It was hard to work on the art for this show so I chose to give myself a break and moved back to doing commissions. I had so many supportive patrons during that time and learned a whole lot about myself as an artist, by the time I needed to get back to finishing up this work I felt ready.

But the emotional toll of Covid-19, the isolation, the change in creativity, I felt it all. I was able to step out of my funk when I started teaching in person again in October of 2020 I felt a shifting perspective. Kids' brains are awesome and I find so much inspiration in working with them. Getting that opportunity again made me feel like I was finally feeling the full force of the creative sunshine after months of feeling blue and stagnant while holed up. This piece came to me in a dream and flowed rather quickly onto the canvas.

Featured flora and fauna • Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly, Large-flowered Bellwort, Badger, Indian Paintbrush

Holed Up

©2021, 14” x 11”, Acrylic on Canvas. You can purchase this piece here.

Morel of the Story

12:00 pm • Barred Owls (aka, striped owl or hoot owl) can be found in much of Minnesota and North America. Though they are most active in the dark they can still be heard or spotted day or night. A walk in the woods leading to an owl sighting is always exciting. This sweet Barred Owl is just chilling, soaking in the sun beams, and contemplating the day. It is midday and it is a hot one. The sun is high in the sky, and all the critters are seeking shade. It is a good time to stretch the legs and see what the meadow may have to offer in the form of sustenance. It has been a good morning so far, the afternoon is shaping up well - on such a relaxed, warm day, how could the world not just be filled with pure love?

Featured flora and fauna • Vetch, Northern Crescent Butterfly, Dandelions, Sand Violets, Barred Owl, Clover, American Toad

Owl Always Love You

©2021, 20” x 16”, Acrylic on Canvas. You can purchase this piece here.

11:00 am • This bobcat mother and her cubs are out enjoying the spring day. Their kaleidoscopic kitty brains are seeing things beyond what our eyes and minds can perceive. The cubs frolic with joy, chasing flowers and butterflies, while the mother is attentive. She is taking in her surroundings, ready to defend her cubs if need be. But even when on the defense she can still enjoy the sweet sounds of small kitty growls, and the joy that floats in with a cool breeze on a hot day. The painted lady butterflies flit through the wild roses, daisies and pearly eyes while the bobcats watch.

My mom died when I was 17. I regret that I never got to know her aside from stories. There were a lot of stories, so she was ever present in our household regardless of her absence, and though I wasn’t sure how to mourn her at age 17 I did know I loved her and I hope she felt it. We all have a mom but each of our experiences are different. Despite my lack of direct experience in this area I have come to meet so many incredible mothers. This piece is to honor that mother/child love.

Featured flora and fauna • Woods Wild Roses, Painted Lady Butterflies, Sand Violets, Pearly Everlasting, Black Eyed Susans, and a family of Bobcats

The Matriarch's Cub

©2021, 14” x 11”, Acrylic on Canvas. You can purchase this piece here.

11:00 am • This bobcat mother and her cubs are out enjoying the spring day. Their kaleidoscopic kitty brains are seeing things beyond what our eyes and minds can perceive. The cubs frolic with joy, chasing flowers and butterflies, while the mother is attentive. She is taking in her surroundings, ready to defend her cubs if need be. But even when on the defense she can still enjoy the sweet sounds of small kitty growls, and the joy that floats in with a cool breeze on a hot day. The painted lady butterflies flit through the wild roses, daisies and pearly eyes while the bobcats watch.

My mom died when I was 17. I regret that I never got to know her aside from stories. There were a lot of stories, so she was ever present in our household regardless of her absence, and though I wasn’t sure how to mourn her at age 17 I did know I loved her and I hope she felt it. We all have a mom but each of our experiences are different. Despite my lack of direct experience in this area I have come to meet so many incredible mothers. This piece is to honor that mother/child love.

Featured flora and fauna • Woods Wild Roses, Painted Lady Butterflies, Sand Violets, Pearly Everlasting, Black Eyed Susans, and a family of Bobcats

The Matriarch

©2021, 24” x 18”, Acrylic on Canvas. You can purchase this piece here.

10:30 am • These two bear cubs have found the perfect spot to roll around in this patch of low bush blueberries. Imagine how awesome it would feel to be rolling with your best fluffy bud in a patch of blueberries and butterflies. What a tripped out moment that would be. I created the piece to represent the joy that is happening somewhere deep in the underbrush when humans aren't there to witness it. This also answers the question of where all the blueberries disappear to.

Featured flora and fauna • Low Bush Blueberries, Eastern Tailed Butterflies, and a couple of Black Bear cubs

The Blue Beary Patch

©2019, 14” x 11”, Acrylic on Canvas. You can purchase this piece here.

9:00 am • This bull moose has found a restful cove in the midst of these showy lady slippers and spring peepers. Surrounded by the delicate beauty of moss and flowers this sweet dude ponders his day. If he were to stand you could see his tall stature, towering over the small frogs and butterflies at about 6 feet tall. Being the largest mammal of the Northwoods this critter can seem (and also be) formidable when he has to, but in general he is a gentle giant who prefers swimming and munching to fighting and conflict. He finds much of his food right here in this shady forest cove which is close enough to the marsh to have some of his favorite leafy greens. When he wants something a little different he will dive into the lake for some water greens which he will harvest from the bottom in the shallower areas. Yes, it is nice to be a moose.

Featured flora and fauna • Showy Lady Slipper, Bedstraw, White Admiral Butterfly, Moose, Nodding Bur Marigold, Spring Peepers

What the Bull's Eye Perceives

©2021, 24” x 18," Acrylic on Canvas. You can purchase this piece here.