“Science asks us to learn about organisms. Traditional knowledge asks us to learn from them”.

-Robin Wall Kimmerer

This artwork is from a 2022 wall calendar project and is exploring how change happens in the more-than-human world. What is the pace? What is the scale? The catalysts, the intelligence, the resources? The plants and animals are powerful teachers and offer abundant examples of how, specifically, to practice a cooperative, interconnected life. Here I explore examples of Pollination (sharing), Metamorphosis (forming), Germination (growing), and Decomposition (Dying). Each monthly page includes a few questions about how these examples might translate to human experiences.

Pollination: MOVEMENT. BATS. “There are more than 530 species of flowering plants that rely on bats as either their major or exclusive pollinators.” (Bat Conservation International). Pollination is a vital part of all life on earth and many different creatures are responsible for it. Bats are able to travel greater distances than most insects and birds so they fill the role of long-distance pollen dispersers. If you think of pollen as a metaphor for resources and ideas, who or what creates, uses, and/or shares these resources in your communities? How are they dispersed?

Ranunculus. This is a digital reproduction of an original illustration I did using Micron Pens and Watercolor Pencils. Printed on crisp, firm 100 lb card stock measuring approximately 11" x 17". All prints are packaged with a clear plastic sheath and a thick mat board backing for protection. Made in Vermont.

This is a digital reproduction of an original illustration I did using graphite and watercolor pencils.  Printed on crisp, firm 100 lb card stock measuring approximately 11" x 14". All prints are packaged with a clear plastic sheath and a thick mat board backing for protection. 

This is an image from the project for the 2021 Calendar: Practicing a World Beyond White Supremacy Culture 

I created the artwork for this calendar with the intention to explore and practice antidotes that Tema Okun writes about in “Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture” 

(www.dismantlingracism.org) 

Each month corresponds to a characteristic I wish to interrupt and unlearn inside myself and I am inviting you to explore and practice this work with me. 

BREATHE

Unlearning defensiveness. 

Notice your body.  Your breath. What do you know about your nervous system? What physical things happen for you when you are anxious or scared?  Does your heart pound faster? Do your palms get sweaty? The study of somatics tells us that our brilliant bodies have systems to protect us and they keep a powerful memory bank.  These systems keep us safe in many ways and can also get confused when we perceive something or someone as physically threatening when, in fact, we are not in danger. If someone asks to give you feedback about something you did that impacted them, what sensations arise in your body?  

Peonies Illustration. This is a digital reproduction of the original pen and ink and watercolor pencil drawing. Printed on crisp 100 lb card stock measuring approx 8" x 10". All prints are packaged in a clear plastic sheath with thick mat board backing for protection. Made in Vermont.

“Science asks us to learn about organisms. Traditional knowledge asks us to learn from them”. -Robin Wall Kimmerer

This artwork is from a 2022 wall calendar project and is exploring how change happens in the more-than-human world. What is the pace? What is the scale? The catalysts, the intelligence, the resources? The plants and animals are powerful teachers and offer abundant examples of how, specifically, to practice a cooperative, interconnected life. Here I explore examples of Pollination (sharing), Metamorphosis (forming), Germination (growing), and Decomposition (Dying). Each monthly page includes a few questions about how these examples might translate to human experiences.

Metamorphosis: RE-FORMING. CICADA. These creatures have a total life span of 13-17 years and live underground for most of it. By emerging all at once, in large densities of up to one and a half million per acre, cicadas manage to overwhelm predators who quickly get too full. In this particular transformation, the pace and scale of change ensures a high survival rate for the species. When looking at different systems in our world, when have you noticed change happening slowly over time? When have you seen a huge shift happen all at once?

This imaginary creature is taking a Quiet Walk in Winter. Snow gently falling. It is a digital reproduction of an original illustration I did using Ballpoint Pen. Printed on crisp, firm 100 lb card stock approximately 11" x 17" in size. All prints are packaged with a clear plastic sheath and a thick mat board backing for protection. Made in Vermont.

“Science asks us to learn about organisms. Traditional knowledge asks us to learn from them”.

-Robin Wall Kimmerer

This artwork is from a 2022 wall calendar project and is exploring how change happens in the more-than-human world. What is the pace? What is the scale? The catalysts, the intelligence, the resources? The plants and animals are powerful teachers and offer abundant examples of how, specifically, to practice a cooperative, interconnected life. Here I explore examples of Pollination (sharing), Metamorphosis (forming), Germination (growing), and Decomposition (Dying). Each monthly page includes a few questions about how these examples might translate to human experiences.

Pollination: MOVEMENT. HUMMINGBIRDS. These birds can visit between 1000 to 3000 flowers a day. In the act of pollination, these creatures get both the food they need and the ability to transport pollen to other plants where they facilitate new life. Can you imagine a situation where getting the nourishment you need, mentally, physically, and spiritually, coincided with fulfilling a larger community need?

Eucalyptus. Simple. Ready for a frame! This is a digital reproduction of an original illustration I did for my 2019 Calendar project using Micron Pens and Watercolor Pencils. This piece measures approximately 11" x 17" and is printed on crisp, firm 100 lb card stock. All prints are packaged with a clear plastic sheath and a thick mat board backing for protection. Made in Vermont.

This is a digital reproduction of an original illustration I did using graphite and watercolor pencils. Printed on crisp, firm 100 lb card stock measuring approximately 11" x 14". All prints are packaged with a clear plastic sheath and a thick mat board backing for protection.

This is an image from the project for the 2021 Calendar: Practicing a World Beyond White Supremacy Culture 

I created the artwork for this calendar with the intention to explore and practice antidotes that Tema Okun writes about in “Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture” 

(www.dismantlingracism.org) 

Each month corresponds to a characteristic I wish to interrupt and unlearn inside myself and I am inviting you to explore and practice this work with me. 

ALIGN 

Unlearning power hoarding.  

There is enough power when it is used with people instead of over people.  What kinds of energy feel like renewable resources to you?  Love? belonging? Move towards those.  Deepak Chopra says, “What you pay attention to grows”.  What do you want to grow? Who do you want to build with?  Build alongside?  Our current systems grant some folks power and not others.  Are any of your current circumstances in the way of others accessing their power?  Who do you consider a guide or an inspiration?  You can look to these people or groups as a compass and position yourself so you are able to boost their goals and they are able to boost yours.  More power is activated when it is shared and strategic.

Roses illustration. This is a digital reproduction of the original pen and ink and watercolor drawing. Printed on crisp 100 lb card stock measuring approx 8" x 10". All prints are packaged in a clear plastic sheath with thick mat board backing for protection. Made in Vermont.

“Science asks us to learn about organisms. Traditional knowledge asks us to learn from them”.

-Robin Wall Kimmerer

This artwork is from a 2022 wall calendar project and is exploring how change happens in the more-than-human world. What is the pace? What is the scale? The catalysts, the intelligence, the resources? The plants and animals are powerful teachers and offer abundant examples of how, specifically, to practice a cooperative, interconnected life. Here I explore examples of Pollination (sharing), Metamorphosis (forming), Germination (growing), and Decomposition (Dying). Each monthly page includes a few questions about how these examples might translate to human experiences.

Pollination: MOVEMENT. BEES. Honey bees alone pollinate eighty percent of all flowering plants. When honey bees pollinate they can enhance a plant’s resistance to diseases and adverse climate factors. In your particular place on the planet, what movement of resources and ideas could help enhance your community’s ability to survive climate change and disease?

Cougar-Mermaid! This piece is one of my favorites combining my love of the mountains and the water. It is a digital reproduction of an original Pen and Ink illustration. Printed on crisp, firm 100 lb card stock approximately 11" x 17" in size. All prints are packaged with a clear plastic sheath and a thick mat board backing for protection. Made in Vermont.

“Science asks us to learn about organisms. Traditional knowledge asks us to learn from them”. -Robin Wall Kimmerer

This artwork is from a 2022 wall calendar project and is exploring how change happens in the more-than-human world. What is the pace? What is the scale? The catalysts, the intelligence, the resources? The plants and animals are powerful teachers and offer abundant examples of how, specifically, to practice a cooperative, interconnected life. Here I explore examples of Pollination (sharing), Metamorphosis (forming), Germination (growing), and Decomposition (Dying). Each monthly page includes a few questions about how these examples might translate to human experiences.

Metamorphosis: RE-FORMING. MONARCH BUTTERFLY. Gloria Anzaldúa says “nothing happens in the real world until it happens first in the images in our own head.” When caterpillars become butterflies, they have cells that are called imaginal cells which are the primary catalysts of transformation. What circumstances help your imagination come alive?

Chrysanthemums Illustration. Ready to frame. This is a digital reproduction of an original illustration I did for my 2019 Calendar project using Micron Pens and Watercolor Pencils. This piece measures approximately 11" x 17" and is printed on crisp, firm 100 lb card stock. All prints are packaged with a clear plastic sheath and a thick mat board backing for protection. Made in Vermont.

“Science asks us to learn about organisms. Traditional knowledge asks us to learn from them”. -Robin Wall Kimmerer

This artwork is from a 2022 wall calendar project and is exploring how change happens in the more-than-human world. What is the pace? What is the scale? The catalysts, the intelligence, the resources? The plants and animals are powerful teachers and offer abundant examples of how, specifically, to practice a cooperative, interconnected life. Here I explore examples of Pollination (sharing), Metamorphosis (forming), Germination (growing), and Decomposition (Dying). Each monthly page includes a few questions about how these examples might translate to human experiences.

Germination: GROWTH. COMPANION PLANTING. CORN, BEANS, & SQUASH. This interdependent growth relationship is grounded in Indigenous knowledge. Corn is a living support trellis and protective shady umbrella. It provides sugars to feed the nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the bean roots. The bean bacteria captures atmospheric nitrogen and converts it to plant usable nitrogen. Squash functions as living mulch that shades soil, helps retain moisture, and inhibits weeds. What lives near you and offers you nourishment and protection? What care do you offer in return?

This is a digital reproduction of an original illustration I did using graphite and watercolor pencils.  Printed on crisp, firm 100 lb card stock measuring approximately 11" x 14". All prints are packaged with a clear plastic sheath and a thick mat board backing for protection. 

This is an image from the project for the 2021 Calendar: Practicing a World Beyond White Supremacy Culture 

I created the artwork for this calendar with the intention to explore and practice antidotes that Tema Okun writes about in “Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture” 

(www.dismantlingracism.org) 

Each month corresponds to a characteristic I wish to interrupt and unlearn inside myself and I am inviting you to explore and practice this work with me. 

CONNECT

Unlearning the idea that there is only one right way. Do you find yourself wanting to manage other people’s choices and the methods?  Can you consider that there are many right ways to get to the same goal? Each living being has a unique lived experience that qualifies them to hold a particular perspective. If the goal is in alignment with all involved, there is enough room for everyone to come to the process with their own strengths and insights.  Nothing less will do if the goal is to work towards a genuine multiracial movement (for example).  Alicia Garza speaks about finding your lane.  Each of us on our purpose and on our paths can create the collective power to build the world we deserve.

“Science asks us to learn about organisms. Traditional knowledge asks us to learn from them”. -Robin Wall Kimmerer

This artwork is from a 2022 wall calendar project and is exploring how change happens in the more-than-human world. What is the pace? What is the scale? The catalysts, the intelligence, the resources? The plants and animals are powerful teachers and offer abundant examples of how, specifically, to practice a cooperative, interconnected life. Here I explore examples of Pollination (sharing), Metamorphosis (forming), Germination (growing), and Decomposition (Dying). Each monthly page includes a few questions about how these examples might translate to human experiences.

Metamorphosis: RE-FORMING. MOTHS. Luna and Cecropia Moths are both members of the silk moth family. They go through five stages of molting as caterpillars (Instar larva) and their size and color changes a little each time. As pupae, they are large, dark brown, and encased within a silk cocoon that is attached lengthwise along a stem of a nearby plant. Both types of moth live approximately two weeks in their winged form (Imago). How many rites of passage have you gone through? What helped you find your way through each phase of life?

Elephant Walk! A great piece for framing! This is a digital reproduction of an original illustration I did using Ballpoint Pen, Watercolor Pencils, and Gouache. Printed on crisp, firm 100 lb card stock measuring approximately 11" x 17". All prints are packaged with a clear plastic sheath and a thick mat board backing for protection. Made in Vermont.

“Science asks us to learn about organisms. Traditional knowledge asks us to learn from them”.

-Robin Wall Kimmerer

This artwork is from a 2022 wall calendar project and is exploring how change happens in the more-than-human world. What is the pace? What is the scale? The catalysts, the intelligence, the resources? The plants and animals are powerful teachers and offer abundant examples of how, specifically, to practice a cooperative, interconnected life. Here I explore examples of Pollination (sharing), Metamorphosis (forming), Germination (growing), and Decomposition (Dying). Each monthly page includes a few questions about how these examples might translate to human experiences.

Decomposition: DEATH. SNAKE SHEDDING SKIN. ECDYSIS. Snakes shed their skin because when they grow, their skin does not. This can happen as frequently as once a month depending on the snake’s species, age, environment, and nutritional health. The process can help remove parasites that may have attached to their old skin. Have you or would you shed something that no longer served you in order to continue growing?

Octopus Gliding Underwater. Beautiful piece for framing. This is a digital reproduction of an original Pen and Ink drawing. Printed on crisp, firm 100 lb card stock measuring approximately 11" x 17". All prints are packaged with a clear plastic sheath and a thick mat board backing for protection. Made in Vermont.

“Science asks us to learn about organisms. Traditional knowledge asks us to learn from them”.

-Robin Wall Kimmerer

This artwork is from a 2022 wall calendar project and is exploring how change happens in the more-than-human world. What is the pace? What is the scale? The catalysts, the intelligence, the resources? The plants and animals are powerful teachers and offer abundant examples of how, specifically, to practice a cooperative, interconnected life. Here I explore examples of Pollination (sharing), Metamorphosis (forming), Germination (growing), and Decomposition (Dying). Each monthly page includes a few questions about how these examples might translate to human experiences.

Germination: GROWTH. CONNECTION. MYCORRHIZAL NETWORKS. Studies show that trees use underground hyphal networks created by mycorrhizal fungi to communicate and share resources. When an individual tree is attacked by a fungal pest, the tree can send a warning to the neighboring forest. They do this even after it is too late for them to recover. This concept undermines the idea that nature constantly competes for survival. Have you been taught that competition is the norm? If so, what would it take for you to shift that thinking? Are you willing to choose collaboration instead?

Fox illustration. This 5"x 7" card features a digital reproduction of an original graphite and colored pencil drawing of a fox near a fur tree in the winter. Blank inside. Printed on crisp 100 lb card stock. All cards come with a corresponding envelope in a clear plastic sheath for protection. Made in Vermont.

This is a digital reproduction of an original illustration I did using graphite and watercolor pencils.  Printed on crisp, firm 100 lb card stock measuring approximately 11" x 14". All prints are packaged with a clear plastic sheath and a thick mat board backing for protection. 

This is an image from the project for the 2021 Calendar: Practicing a World Beyond White Supremacy Culture 

I created the artwork for this calendar with the intention to explore and practice antidotes that Tema Okun writes about in “Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture” 

https://www.whitesupremacyculture.info 

Each month corresponds to a characteristic I wish to interrupt and unlearn inside myself and I am inviting you to explore and practice this work with me. 

PACE  

Unlearning a sense of urgency.

Imagine moving at the speed of trust.  Imagine what is possible when you allow your values to direct the pace. Pace often determines the goals, who can be involved, and how thoughtful the decision making process is.  Where does a sense of urgency show up in your life? Where does that message come from and can you choose something different?

Hare illustration. This 5"x 7" card features a digital reproduction of an original graphite and colored pencil drawing of a hare near a fur tree in the winter. Blank inside. Printed on crisp 100 lb card stock. All cards come with a corresponding envelope in a clear plastic sheath for protection. Made in Vermont.