12” x 12”
Homemade ink (acorn caps, red cabbage, avocado pits, Oregon Grape bark), Arches cold pressed watercolor paper

This mandala is painted with the words from Pema Chödrön’s When Things Fall Apart, spiraling outward through the composition. As the pattern gradually becomes less ordered, it reflects my experience of discovering that growth often begins when certainty unravels, revealing unexpected beauty in the process of falling apart.

14 x 11 x 1"
Pen and ink

My garden is so quiet in winter. It is encouraging to know that life goes on. Also, I am a fan of Rumi.
$220

11.5 x 13.5 x 1”
Pen and ink

This is a tribute to the sweetness and thorniness of my home town. May we continue to appreciate the contrast.
$200

13 x 17”
Watercolor, pointed pen, cold pressed watercolor paper

I chose to make the letters for the word nature into natural objects and shaped them to resemble the letters. The remaining text is discreetly written below so as not to distract.

15 x 18”
Sumi ink, gouache, folded pen, pointed pen, German Ingres paper

This lovely poem by Kim Stafford seemed to break itself into two parts. I used two entirely different scripts and wrote in black and white on the tan paper for emphasis. The black lettering is bold and the white lettering answers somewhat softer. The two scripts contrast one another like the black and white do.

14 x 14”
Sumi ink, gouache, metal pens, gold leaf, hand embossing

I love this quote, and find it breaks itself into two parts. I realized I could make it a circle if I changed the pen sizes. I like how the pen size change and the color change harmonize the quote. The hand embossed dove is a subtle image that doesn’t fight with the calligraphy. I chose the soft grey green as it seemed especially peaceful.
$500

11 x 11”
Blended inks, metal pens, hand embossing

I enjoy hand embossing and working in circles. This came together quite easily, once I worked through the pen sizes needed to actually make the circle. The hand embossed word gratitude appears encapsulated by the calligraphy circle in a way that seemed special.
$300

24 x 25 x 1.5”
Broad edged pen, gouache, ink

I can’t think of any poet more in tune with the natural world than Mary Oliver (1935–2019). She wrote, “Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” There is much in nature that is delightfully gob-smackable!

11.5 x 15”
Graphite, Arches MBM laid paper

I felt that these uplifting words written by poet Joan Walsh Anglund needed a light but precise touch. Letters were designed and executed in graphite. I added a small bird illustration for contrast.

15 x 12”
Pen, ink, watercolor, embossing

When color is thoughtfully used in artwork, it can greatly enhance emotion. My goal in this piece is to let the viewer pause for a minute and feel the power of the colors.
$250

13 x 11 5/8”
Gouache, broad edged pen, three-dimensional glue drops, Arches MBM laid paper

I’m an avid gardener. Vegetables and fruits take up most of our garden space, but we plant blue-flowering plants in the dedicated flower areas—they create beautiful contrast to our raised vegetable beds. I chose Fraktur for the script, but felt it needed a lightness due to the subject, so I penned it using a double stroke.
$250

8 x 8”
Fountain pen and ink

What can nature teach us? This tree ring piece reflects the love with which nature cares for us. The center of the tree ring cookie starts as a heart with a pointed pen Uncial script conveying the word love.
$25

9 x 11”
Nib and ink

Nature is a balancing act that comes together to make everything which sustains us. When we are in need of peace, the one place we can always rely on is nature—a peaceful and harmonious place.
$40

6 x 10”
Pen, ink, privet juice

Nature provides us with many examples of conserving resources, reusing what has been discarded. This quote by Mark Twain echoes that sentiment. The other natural aspect of this piece is in the writing fluid—privet berry juice—for both the author’s name in bold Neuland and the word neglected. Don’t miss the little bird that is taking Mark Twain’s advice.

7 x 7”
Bister ink, Mitchell pen, Cheloniidae rag paper

This piece is a tribute to two people who profoundly shaped my life and artistic journey. The text is a poem written by Roberta Plummer, who was like a second mother to me and whose encouragement led me to Marylhurst College. The calligraphy honors my first instructor, Sister Loyola Mary, whose teaching laid the foundation for my love of calligraphy.
$150

30 x 26 x 1”
Gouache, graphite

The poem describes creating a horizon with just a line, and I wanted the calligraphy and visual composition to reflect both the proportions and the simplicity referenced in the text. The color of the lettering is a happy accident. I wanted to use black gouache, but the first tube I opened had completely dried up. The next tube was lamp black—I had no idea it would produce such a smoky, translucent effect, but I love it for this piece. My husband drew the graphite line. There was a lot of discussion and practice for such a simple graphic!

6 x 16”
EZ-A pen, Bister ink, Rives BFK paper

This e e cummings piece is a thank you note to nature. I have always liked his words and I excerpted the first stanza of a longer poem. In our current political climate it may seem impossible to awake and say, “i thank You God for most this amazing day,” but if we address it to nature it can be uplifting!
$450

12 x 16 x 1”
Acrylic ink, watercolor, Mitchell Roundhand and Speedball B nibs, hot pressed watercolor paper

Since everyone knows I’m a calligrapher, I feel a lot of pressure to perform during the holiday season. This is my attempt to impress the family: a well loved Christmas carol brought to life as a dramatic angel with shimmering halo. I can almost hear it now…
$275

7 x 9”
Sumi ink, brush, fineliner, Mitchell roundhand nib, Arches hot pressed watercolor paper

These lyrics have always touched my heart. The tenderness and devotion expressed are as expansive as the sky above.
$175

12 x 14 x 3/4 “
Watercolor, Brause nib, Arches Text Wove paper

The old redwoods are some of the oldest trees, and they hold wisdom. This Shakespeare quote is lettered around my husband’s photo of these wise trees, which indeed teach us like books.

18.5 x 14.5”
Walnut ink, watercolor, folded pen, handmade stamps, inkpad, hot press watercolor paper

PSC member Christine Colasurdo wrote a poem about an oak tree. I identified with it, as I had just planted a little native Garry Oak. The first and last lines of her poem are written as if they were the bark on my little oak. She had made an oak leaf stamp and I made facsimiles.

22 x 16”
Walnut ink, Brause nib, photo print, Arches Text Wove paper

My husband took this photo of the bark of the Japanese Stewartia tree at Elk Rock Gardens. I loved the coloration and found a quote to letter onto the print. Much of my art combines his photography and my calligraphy.

23 x 17 x 3/4”
Brause nib, Photoshop, giclée printing

This unpublished quote by William Stafford appears on the Stafford Stones in Lake Oswego. I love to letter on my husband’s photos of nature, and the Licorice Ferns at Tryon Creek State Park seemed a perfect visualization of the quote.

13 x 13”
Sumi and white gouache, plywood, Mitchell 3 and 6 nibs, watercolor, Canson Mi-Teintes paper

I love the way modern sumi drawings provide such an opportunity for free expression of emotion. Their simplicity of design just draws me in.
$225

19 x 25 x 1”
Watercolor, Mitchell 1 and 2 nibs, embossing tool with stencils, Arches 140# cold pressed watercolor paper

A lifelong shell collector, I decided to research shells that are endangered and the problems they face. I then tested out different layouts for the shells, different styles of lettering, lettering sizes, and colors. The white spaces that were left called to me for subtle shell embossings.
$675

12 x 15 x 1”
Watercolor, Arches 140# cold pressed watercolor paper

There are over three thousand known species of dragonflies. I see a few different types flitting around my garden, and I decided to capture some of their iridescent beauty. The simple geometric block lettering, overlapped and arranged in a subtle rainbow order, is a play on the variety of their colors.
$275

23 1/2 x 19 1/2 x 5/8”
Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleedproof White ink on Canson paper

A friend found this quote very moving and asked me to do it in calligraphy. I spent many months deciding the best way to present such a long quote and am quite pleased with the outcome. It is an inspiring quote.
$275

8 3/4 x 8 3/4 x 5/8”
Watercolor, Higgins ink, Strathmore Mixed Media paper

When I first found this quote, it made me think of a good friend who has a lovely rose garden and loves sharing his blooms with friends and neighbors. He is a kind man. I am still pondering the posed question. I love roses too, so are they making me kind, or is it kindness that draws me to roses? I like the simplicity of the circle of roses, and this piece makes me smile.
$85

11 x 14.5”
Acrylic, gouache, black ink, watercolor paper

Psalm 98 is an exuberant expression of the glory of creation, seen in the natural and dynamic world. It was commissioned by a couple who resided at the Oregon Coast who felt the poetry of this psalm reflected what they experienced.

11 x 11 x .5”
Mitchell 2 nib, walnut ink, Micron brown pens, Derwent metallic colored pencils, Artagain tinted paper

The castle prompt came from an online art group. When sandcastles came to mind, I knew I was on the right path—the beach is one of my favorite places. My sister sent sandcastle quotes, and I chose a favorite for a circular form. Something about sandcastle called for Fraktur script. Sandcastles and children’s laughter felt “only natural” for this exhibit.
$275

14.25 x 20.25 x 1”
Walnut ink, Dr. Ph. Martin’s iridescent ink, folded pens, Mitchell nibs, embossing, hot pressed watercolor paper

Inspired by a bumper sticker showing dog breed silhouettes and the words “Welcome Diversity,” I wanted to express my belief that diversity makes our country and world special. I hope to encourage a welcoming nation embracing all people. After exploring several concepts, I chose to put welcome in all caps and used a different calligraphic hand for each letter in diversity.
$425

13.5 x 17 x 1.5”
Ink, broad edged pen, Arches Text Wove paper

Although this quote has a deep meaning to me, I will let viewers find their own. I have done many iterations of this quote and find I like this one the best. For me, the compacted letters result in more evident negative spaces between words that look like paths through a forest or lights shining through trees.

12 x 12 x 1.5”
Metallic watercolor, broad edged pen, Canson Mi-Teintes paper

I love roses, and Eliot’s poem is a favorite of mine. The choice of lettering style is meant to reflect the many shapes and style roses come in, and the use of pink and silver watercolors is an attempt to mimic roses raining down.