Let cut to the chase - the world is a mess. As a deeply sensitive soul, every day feels like the horrors expand and I feel like contracting. I am actively taking care of myself, my family, my community - and also the fear and anxiety about the world effects my nervous system in ways that don't always maximize my ability to be proactive. I recognize that I have scoops and scoops of privilege in many ways, and in order use it for good - I am working on finding ways to lower my stress levels enough to rest and reset to be able to wake up and do all the things. This summer a few friends introduced me to the Merlin app - a brilliant piece of technology developed by the Cornell Ornithology department - this app can record audio and identify bird voices and tell what birds are vocalizing around you. As a very auditorily sensitive human - who is often overwhelmed and agitated by layers of noise - using my sensitivity to identify bird song has been a game changer for my brain. I have always liked birds - you can easily see them in previous works I have created - but this summer and fall I have climbed higher, or dug deeper - whichever metaphor you like - into the abyss that is getting to know the birds around me. Sitting in my side yard, traveling to near by refuges, or just at my local gas station - I have become aware of the magical avian life around me and I am hooked. Being able to categorize, track and learn about each species has been delicious to my brain - when I accurately identify the chickadees, juncos and nuthatches in my yard each morning I feel so satisfied and connected. I have also learned that some of my friends and coworkers have years of expertise and passion for this awareness and I have formed new connections based on my recent invigoration of learning about birds.  
    I recently took a Pastel class taught by Shelly Mackerell at the Art Department in downtown Salem. Learning what materials to use, and how to layer pastel has been a huge enhancement to my art. Using pastel pencil for detail has given me the ability to harness texture in new ways and I am thoroughly enjoying paying homage to these magical little creatures by studying their form, light and color through drawing them. I try to add some of my illustrative flair to each one, while reflecting the sparkle that already exists in each of these small critters. I love them so much and I am really enjoying pouring that love into time and effort of getting to know them, and create art to showcase them. As I learn about them I am learning how to support the surrounding ecology, as well as Tribal History of the land we live on - supporting the people who have partnered with these birds since forever. 
     In May, 2026 I will be having a show at the Foundry Gallery in Corvallis, Oregon to showcase all of my bird pastel drawings. Most will be available for purchase and I will make some cards to buy as well. I know between now and then I will keep enjoying learning and creating birds that I am seeing and hearing and hope to connect with a larger bird community as I go!