Where Nature is Nice

This year starts the eighth year of living in Charlotte. The one thing I enjoy everyday here is the nature. Matt and I talk often about where else in the United States we would want to live. We have not come up with a place yet but I am sure we will eventually. When I think about what I will miss about Charlotte if we do move away it’s the nature. I often chuckle at the city’s slogan “Charlotte’s Got a Lot” because I don’t think it does, I have found it to be just one big suburb with lot’s of nature and endless options for grocery stores.

Zone Eight-Issue 1

I made a zine called Zone Eight. Creating a zine has been on my to do list for many years, so I am quite happy that I finally followed through. The name comes from the planting zone of where I live, which is Zone Eight. It’s a collection of photographs and illustrations from the year so far, ranging from our garden, my surroundings and my favorite beverages. Now I get to start working on the the next issue. Check out the full zine here!

Grackles a Plenty

The summer has been flying by and it’s been a hot one. I am already for Fall to arrive so I can not melt every time I go outside. Though this summer has been good for bird watching, in early June there were a lot of Grackles hanging around. They are unassuming at first and then you notice their iridescent feathers. I tried to capture their essence in this drawing but I find them very hard to draw. Next on my list to draw is a Hawk or a humming bird, or maybe I will draw a food item. So many things to draw so little time!

Have Some Sauce

Have you tried Bachan? It’s our go to for making vegetables and meats a little more exciting. I wish I could find the teriyaki flavor, I bet is so good. We have had the Yuzu and Miso, both are very tasty and highly recommended! I really enjoy drawing food and it’s packaging, maybe sometime I will share some of my favorite sparkling beverage drawing with you:)

Every So Often

Every so often we see Blue Jays in our front yard and it never gets old. They are such a shy, beautiful bird. Whenever we see one we drop what we are doing to just stare at them until they fly away It’s kind of funny because they have a not so pretty call. I drew one in my sketch book a while ago and I have been wanting to try and draw one again. We will see there is so much to draw and so little time.