This summer we were fortunate to rent a little miners cottage in the Sierra foothills within walking distance of the little town of NEVADA CITY, California

My plan for three months was to get back to nature through daily walks in woods and drawing with brush and ink.

Midway through the summer I was honored to be included in a group show at LeeAnn Brook Fine art in town , called Into The Woods.

I wanted to limit myself to black and white ink drawing which is my most favored medium but found myself mid summer wishing to explore expressing all of the wonderful colors of this environment so I enjoyed a couple of weeks foray into watercolors ...

I was moved to return to black and white in the waning days of August and to a more abstract study of form and line.

The summer has been a gift of reconnecting to the natural world through hours of sitting and observing. It's been one long glorious meditation in the woods.

I was able to meet some of the folks who live in the area, like the lovely woman Jann whose house I painted in watercolor. I was able to give her the painting and we struck up a little friendship that I hope will endure!

I am grateful to have been given the time to do this work. To slow down a little and remember what's important in life. Being able to reconnect to my first love, painting has made it a summer to remember!

What I did this summer