Sketch and Journal at Shell Beach!

In the month of April, the North Coast Nature Journal club will be heading back to the beautiful ocean with our sketchbooks and watercolors as well as our observation skills and our learning intentions. This site will provide a perfect opportunity for practicing the drawing of compelling landscape scenes including rocks, water, and coastal bluffs. […]

Discover Sonoma Mountain!

In the month of May, the North Coast Nature Journal club will be heading into the beautiful wooded hills east of Santa Rosa with our sketchbooks and watercolors as well as our observation skills and our learning intentions. This site is incredibly gorgeous this time of year, with verdant oaks,  lofty redwoods, dramatic creekbeds and […]

Tracking Animal Sign and Bird Language at the Laguna!

I love the Laguna de Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, and on June third I get to teach tracking and bird language there with the Laguna Foundation. My all time record for most species of raptors I have seen in one hour happened there! Because of the riparian areas there is also a large diversity […]

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Survey Salmon Creek Beach!

In June, the North Coast Nature Journal Club will head to one of my favorite spots, South Salmon Creek Beach! This is a very fun location to observe coastal sand dunes, wetlands, waterbirds, and to explore animal tracks including a resident family of red foxes! We won't hike long distances but the terrain is slightly […]

Low Tide Adventure at Shorttail Gulch!

In July, we will hike a little-known trail through prime owl habitat down to a beautiful cove with shorebirds and tidal rocks! There are also great wildflowers, raptors, and hummingbirds along the way. This is one of my favorite new spots to nature journal in all of the North Bay. We will be there during […]

Enjoy the Beauty of Bodega Head!

In August, we will escape the heat and head to the  majestic coastal bluffs of Bodega Head! This is a great place to learn about the local geology that underlies our region. It is also a great place to practice the rock drawing skills that we learned in June at Shorttail Gulch. There are some […]

Draw Majestic Elk and Epic Landscapes!

In September we will hike out on Tomales Point in Marin County to see the elk herds during their rut and enjoy the overall epic scenes! The Tule elk will be on their most dramatic behavior this time of year and we will get an opportunity to document it in our journals. Last year it […]

Come Draw Piles of Gorgeous Vegetables with Me!

Come practice drawing and nature journaling in an information dense setting at the wonderful Heirloom Expo in Santa Rosa. This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in nature, diversity, gardening, plants, and art. It is also a very affordable event. I will be going there with the focus of honing my drawing skills and […]

Nature Journal Jumpstart This Fall!

Do you want to experience nature with fresh eyes? Do you want to notice, understand, and remember more of the vibrant world around you? This fun class will teach you the tools used by the greatest naturalists of all time. Using pencils, ink, and watercolor we will create sketches and take notes in the field. […]

Capture the Essence of California Oak Savanna

In the month of October the north coast nature journal club will be exploring the rolling hills and oak savanna of Helen Putnam Regional Park near Petaluma. We will practice several techniques for doing small watercolor landscapes to capture the essence and atmosphere of the place. We will also practice drawing three-dimensional trees with several […]