Gray Wolf (canis lupus)

Congress is expected to remove Endangered status protection from the Gray Wolf, at least outside Wyoming.
This drawing was done with a blue Sharpie until it died.

Japanese Crane

The Red-Crowned Crane (grus japonensis), in oil pastel on paper.

Observing the Cries of the World

in tribute to the suffering in Japan: Kannon, Bodhisattva of Compassion

Katherine Anne Porter

(1890-1980)  I was introduced to KAP's writing by one of my English professors, Martin Bidney, and she's since become one of my favorite writers.  I just finished making my way through a large chunk of her collected writings in the Library of America edition (which, by the way, is a beautiful non-profit publisher devoted to preserving the nation's cultural literary heritage: www.loa.org).  Anyway, afterward, I started reading a completely different piece of genre fiction, and the contrast almost ruined the latter experience for me a bit, seeing the stark difference between brilliant writing and that which is meant mostly for fun.  Also made me realize how difficult it is to pinpoint exactly what makes good writing good; I just know it when I see it, but I have trouble articulating why.  Anyway, this pencil drawing on red paper (don't ask why) is dedicated to the paperback copy of her collected short stories that I lost on a beach trip many years ago. Here's hoping someone picked it up and read it.

cold dog nose

This was likely inspired by some Zen paintings I had just looked at, but this with a pen rather than brush.

Sylvia Plath

1932-1963.  Ink.  I recently read The Bell Jar, and found it really well-written, but it was a bit of a haunting experience to read about someone's thoughts and attempts at suicide when that person would actually go on to do so.  Of course, the book is not all about that, and I felt real compassion and an affinity with her. Doing this ink sketch felt intimate in a way, almost like a direct communication between us.

green sea turtle

Here's a pen sketch I did of one of the turtles you could see each evening resting on the beach behind the Waikoloa Marriott.  Really beautiful animals, both when swimming and at rest.

coffee cherries

Saw these at the Mountain Thunder Kona coffee plantation--beautiful place that smelled soo good, and had a great tour.  You can actually eat these, which house the coffee beans themselves.  This is in colored pencils.