I’ve been experimenting with fabric design for awhile and really love this print. It’s from an original colored pencil drawing of an ammonite. I was lent a sewing machine and figured out how to sew these (A HUGE thanks to YouTube). I’m not sure if this is a direction I want to go, as it was super time consuming to make these. . . But they are pretty cool.

As of now, I have two sizes: 
8.5” x 4” pencil pouch at $15 each
8.5’’ x 8.5’’ mystery magical pouch?? At $20 each

They’ll be available at the next Greenwood Art Collective Artwalk, which is a pretty big 2-day event Sept 10, 5-9pm and Sept 11, noon-5pm. I will post more info as the event draws nearer.

This series was done using both digital and traditional techniques. The illustrations were done from still lifes of my own items using ink. I then brought the scanned illustrations into procreate to color and design them digitally. This series showcases the tools for a few key areas of plastic free living. Feel free to share, comment and ask any questions! 

My botanical insect series is up at Shorelake arts for a couple more weeks (ends June 26). It’s a pretty cool shop filled with local goods. I also have my insect series prints, postcards, and stickers available there while the series is up. If you’re looking to support local artists this is a good shop to check out. 

These are some recent digital album art I've done for Simonet, Brianna Skye and the Dark Clouds, and Highline Trail. 

Check out their music online and hopefully in person soon! You can find and support these amazing artists below and on Spotify!

Simonet
Instagram
Youtube
Bandcamp
Facebook

Brianna Skye and the Dark Clouds
Website
Instagram
Bandcamp
Facebook
YouTube

Highline Trail
*NEW* All the links!
Bandcamp
Instagram

Over the past 8 months I’ve been collecting specimens of and drawing native conifers of the bioregion.  I really love trees and have always wished I could identify them on a hike or around town. When drawing something you really get to know it, so drawing all the native conifers of the bioregion would be a great way to learn how to identify trees!

I was surprised to learn there’s only around 33-39 native conifer species (I'm over halfway done!), the iffiness is where you draw your boarders. There’s a Southern cluster of trees which, while technically in the bioregion, their native habitat only scrapes the Cascadian bioregion, they’re in a transition zone in Northern CA which flows into Southern CA.

Drawing thirty-odd trees doesn’t seem like a lot but each tree collection of tree, branch, cone, seeds (drawing in graphite and coloring digitally) takes an average of 20 hours. The above work was about 380 hours of work. Unfortunately, my iPad crashed and I lost all but one of my digitally colored working papers, so I’ll have to redo about 100 hours of work, whoops. (Always backup your work when you’re finished with it!)

Because I’ve learned so much drawing these trees, I’d like to pass on the education by making identification cards. At my current rate I’ll be done with the trees in August but I really would like to add a bark illustration to each. With that, packaging design, and tree info, it’s definitely a  time intensive project but I’m aiming to finish it this year. If you have any thoughts on what info you'd be interested in knowing about a tree, please let me know!

I currently have 2 packs of tree illustration postcards, 12 designs and a tree riso print with 12 trees up on my etsy. I won't be making any new postcard packs, as I'm getting into lesser known trees. The 2 packs are all well known conifers. . . for the most part.

If you're interested in following updates on this project, I post new trees regularly on instagram, you can catch me @erinfox24

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Hands down *the best* thing about the 90's to me was the stickers (and LisaFrank). Everywhere you went there was these gumball type dispensers of psychedelic stickers. Frogs, aliens, peace signs, VW bugs and busses, and of course, cats. Every chance I had I would get more of these stickers to the point I would draw and sell them in elementary school. I had my notebook of stickers someone could choose what they'd like and I'd replicate it for them. 

As time has moved on, so has those fun sticker machines. But this new stickers series is a call back to those times. It's a series of six, 3"x4" sparkly, psychedelic stickers. The color portion is sparkly but the switch itself and screws are just gloss. They're now available on my etsy as singles or as a pack. I'm going to be uploading videos of them in the next day because, for real, they're so cool and change so much depending on your direction.   

You can check out the new shop additions HERE

I will have several new riso prints, postcards, stickers, and even a small card deck released on my etsy shop on March 20th. I will post more info closer to the date but I'm very excited about these  as most of these are new to myself in making! With new sized items I had to get new packaging.

All these are from Ecoenclose, while not based in the bioregion, they are the closest and have the most sustainable packaging options I've been able to find. They're based in Colorado.

I still am using glassine bags- if anyone knows of a local alternative from Uline I would love to know!

The Snake River dam system (37 dams) has depleted the salmon runs and many other fish species over the past decades- to the point where many are endangered. This has cascading effects on the ecosystem as a whole. The Southern Resident task force concluded the main contributor to the orcas threatened status is lack of salmon, in addition to vessel noise and pollution. The lack of salmon is due to the Snake River dam system (and I imagine pollution as well). Over $17 BILLION dollars of public money has been put into replenishing the salmon runs to minimal success. The issue is the dams, the salmon need their restored ecosystem to flourish and in return, sustain the larger ecosystem. Consider contacting your local representative about dam removal as much of the orca task force funding has been reassigned due to Covid. 

For more information and involvement check here: Wild Salmon.Org

 An Idaho representative, Mike Simpson has a dam removal proposal which aims to appease concerns of tribes and farmers with the goal of bringing back the salmon. Please contact your rep to sign on to this proposal and support it. More info can be found here in the Idaho Statesmen, among many other news articles. 

I've attached a 4x6 postcard you can print out and send to your representative asking for their support on this proposal and perhaps go further. You can print out and send, post however many you want. I printed them on a cream cardstock and they look pretty nice :) At future shows I will be handing these out for free as well.
​

Write a postcard to Patty Murray's office at:
The Honorable Patty Murray
915 2nd Ave, Suite 2988
Seattle, WA 98174
CALL and leave a message at Sen. Murray's Seattle office: (206) 553-5545

Write a postcard to Maria Cantwell's office at:
The Honorable Maria Cantwell
915 2nd Ave, Suite 3206
Seattle, WA 98174
CALL and leave a message at Sen. Cantwell's Seattle office: (206) 220-6400

This is just for Washington, but if you're in neighboring states, reach out to your rep!

A more contextual sidenote, I was doing research for an orca tattoo design and got caught up in the tragic story of the Southern Resident Orcas. A few years ago Tahlequah, one of the Orcas in J Pod carried her dead calf for 17 days, over 1,000 miles. It broke my heart then and everytime I'm reminded of her, I know there's more we can always do. If you end up making a piece for this issue, please send me a pic or link, I would love to share it. :)

Next month I'll be partnering up with nature educator and forest-sprite-come-to-life, CJ Kinton in leading a 4 week, online, nature journaling workshop. This workshop is through the Earth School of Witches and Wizards CJ has created to bring earthcraft and natural educational engagement through an accessible platform. I will be providing art lessons to help accurately render and speed up the drawing process of a natural specimen. I'll also be providing a few scientific illustration coloring pages. It's a unique workshop for all ages, no experience is needed just an interest in art and nature.

HONORING SUN RETURN: FINDING YOUR INNER SPIRITUAL PATH 
an online pagan nature journaling workshop
January 8 - February 4, 2021
Gift certificates available, give the gift of experience!
~
​A breakdown from CJ:
It's a new year - where are you going and how will you get there? Might I suggest getting outside with an attitude of appreciation, and seeking the advice and wisdom of our living planet?
Four weekly sessions: Preparing for the Journey (air), The Path Through the Tangled Wood (earth), Alchemy (water), and Shadows and Light (fire). You will... expand your natural history and science; transform natural materials into earth art; write and draw in your journal; awaken your senses, and shift your perspective... building your personal pathfinding altar as you go. Labyrinths, symbols and signs, oh my!
​
A private Facebook group will allow participants to chat, inspire one another and share work, experiences and ideas. Guidance from your friendly facilitator will be via short videos each week, as well as activities, rituals, information and links, which you can peruse on your own schedule. This workshop is for adults and teens, but adults who sign up could easily do the activities and journaling with kids.
Your personal path is one that helps you become/be your best self. My own personal path is to help heal the relationship between humans and our planet, and that's why I offer these workshops.

4-week series, Jan 8 - Feb 4, with sessions posted on Fridays
Fee: $40 - sign-up deadline is Dec 31 - email me at earthschoolwitch@gmail.com

You'll need to supply your own sturdy notebook or journal (or just sheets of blank paper); pencil, portable sharpener and eraser; ink drawing pens, ideally with varying tips (fine, medium, full); and soft lead colored pencils.

Below are a few of my most recent drawings from collected specimens and tree references in my neighborhood.

I'm looking forward to my first teaching endeavor! :)