The Asiatic Lion

Panthera Leo Leo-a rare lion that roams India in numbers of under 1000 today. These are very large lions, known to be 10 feet long, and have a range of colors in their fur-including black. Facing threats of poaching and other environmental hazards, they are fortunately increasing in numbers. 

For my love of all cats, here is the noble male Asiatic Lion in watercolor. 

(And just for fun, here's my little wildcat, also just as noble)

Spix's Macaw

 I stumbled upon a photo of this small macaw online, and found them to be such beautiful birds with their blue feathers. While I've not seen this movie, they are featured in the movie Rio. Their home was in Brazil, but with deforestation, they are extinct in the wild. Fortunately, conservation groups such as ACTP are working to reintroduce them to their native rainforests.

This watercolor painting took me a couple of months as I had lost my creative urge for several weeks. Once it came back, I worked through it quickly and with great joy. This was challenging beause of the detailed texture of the feathers. And instead of a detailed background, I went with an abstract green watercolor with alcohol droplets to simulate greenery. Very pleased how this turned out.

Cape Flattery Washington State

 A destination on my bucket list to hike into, possibly camp nearby, this gorgeous northwest corner of Washington State captivates my heart with the utmost beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Watercolor on paper.

The Keel-Billed Toucan

 Thought this bird was beautiful when looking at photos of toucans. Watercolor on paper in my bird journal.

The Seahorse

 My last post was about paintings in my daughter's bathroom, this one is about a new painting for mine. Certainly not as scary, but just as fun to paint.

Watercolor on paper.

The Anglerfish

 In my early days with experimenting in watercolor painting, I did a beautiful bearded iris in metallic watercolor paints (student grade) from pans. I used a canvas material, and didn't realize that wasn't the norm for using watercolors. Still, I was proud of how it turned out (I did use a stencil). That painting has been in my 16 year old's bathroom now for several years, and I thought it was time to update her paintings. When I asked her what type of animal or fish she might like, she chose the Anglerfish. I had no idea what one was until I searched for it online. If you know my daughter, you would see why she suggested this scary looking fish.

I think this one turned out quite well actually, so it now hangs proudly in her bathroom. I used paper instead of canvas this time however..

The Monarch Butterfly

 The most amazing moment I felt many years ago when outside a monarch landed on my finger. She chose me to trust, perched to rest until she was ready to flutter off. Monarchs always capture my attention, freezing me in the moment, reminding me to appreciate the here and now. M Graham watercolor on paper.

The Tree Frog

 Oh to see one of these cute frogs hanging in a lush tree would be such a treat. Frogs represent fertility, properity, wealth and transformation. Delicate animals with such a sweet song. M Graham watercolor on cotton paper.

The Raven

 I will never forget the eerie feeling of seeing a murder of ravens in February 2020 at dawn from my office window. There were hundreds, if not thousands, that flew past the the 9th story in downtown Portland. Little did I realize that the COVID pandemic was just about to begin...

The Raven is painted with M. Graham watercolors on cotton paper.

The Conch

 For such a simple painting, this one was a challenge. I used an actual conch shell I have to use as a model, but getting the texture down was tricky. I did use a gray ink outline but used watercolors as much as possible for the highlights and shading. Final size is 9x12 on Arches paper.

The Giraffe

 Since the 80's, giraffe populations have decreased by about 30%...think about that. Just 40 years and nearly a third of these gentle giants are gone. The more I paint animals, the more I really appreciate just how special they are. This one is done from a copy of a photo, and then I added my own idea of an African landscape. Painted on a 10"x12" treated canvas board with watercolor paint.

The vivid blue and gold Macaw

 A few months ago, I had an intense dream of these blue and gold Macaws flying above my back patio at dusk. It was a very happy feeling, yet somehow not a single spot of bird droppings in the dream. The feeling that I was left with inspired me to paint one in my watercolor bird journal. These are large birds, and live for many years, such incredible and beautiful animals. Watercolor on paper.

Desert Rainbow, somewhere in Arizona

 The short dark days of winter are helping me recall my days of living in Arizona (21 years ago!). While living in Phoenix wasn't my favorite place, the sunsets were amazing. Outside of the metro area, into the mountains is where the stark beauty really lies. Continuing with my admiration of cactus plants, this is a watercolor of what I would think the Santa Catalina mountain near Tucson would look like. Saguara National Park is on my list of National Parks to visit some day, and I also imagine the scenery to be similar. Painted on paper in watercolor.

The Happy Sea Turtle in watercolor

This sea turtle has a slight grin on his face as he swims along in the depths of the big blue ocean. Another fun animal painting done in watercolor on canvas borad. I used a hair dryer on wet paint to give the spreading affect in the water and on the shell. Painted in M. Graham watercolors on canvas board.

The Solemn Blue Whale

 This was the first sea animal I painted last year. Growing up, I was fascinated by whales, especially Blue Whales because of their size. M. Graham watercolor on canvas board.

A new start for my dad

My dad will turn 70 in a couple of weeks. He 'retired' 8 years ago, but still found himself doing odd jobs and projects for others instead of enjoying his new freedom. For many years he worked for the NC state prison system. Needless to say, this job wore on his psyche which also led to health issues. Today, he's healthy and happy because he finally found his homestead in the mountains.

This month he and his lovely wife will close on a 3 acre property in Floyd County Virginia. Here is a general idea of his view:

His new home will be in Floyd County, an area known for the arts, music and a slower pace of life. I'm very much looking forward to visiting them in their new home with their new life on the farm. He has expressed interest in raising miniature donkeys as pets. Have you seen how cute they are??

For his birthday, I painted on Arches 100% cold pressed watercolor paper with M. Graham paints an image of his 1950 Chevy truck he lovingly restored by hand. His new pet donkey is happy to also come home with him. In the background are the lush green hills of Virginia.

My dad is one of the most interesting and vibrant people I know. His new life on the farm is a culmination of his experiences of gardening, his appreciation of the simple life, and his amazing diverse talents to do and make just about anything. To see someone you love achieve their dreams is one of the best feelings (love you Dad!).

Sunset Surf in Santa Barbara-in gouache and watercolor

My oldest daughter recently requested a new painting from me, and I was honored with her request. She loves the beach, Hawaii and Santa Barbara are her favorites (she has great taste!), so naturally I was inclined to paint her a beach scene. The idea of surfing and a Willy Jeep Wagon came from an image on a vintage post card from Santa Barbara while searching online. This is a 10x12 gouache and watercolor on treated canvas board, and will soon be hanging in my daughter's apartment.

California Quail

In the last 3 months, we humans have fretted over toilet paper shortages, complained about not getting haircuts, wore masks, stayed six feet from each other, and now riots are currently embroiled in major cities across the US. Meanwhile, it makes me wonder how animals are seeing our current world. National parks and forests have been closed, and there have been less cars on the road, which we can assume has been beneficial for them, right? After all, they were here before humans invaded their spaces.

Here is a bird that has adapted quite well to the invasive species of human beings, and is the California State bird. It has been over a year since I opened my bird journal. Hearing and seeing the finches early in the morning in my yard has renewed my admiration for birds. What would it be like to just take off and fly if you need a change of scenery? Painted on 100% cotton paper in watercolor and ink.

Frankie the Koala

My heart was breaking while reading news stories on the koala bears suffering from the Australian wildfires. I've never seen one up close, but I find them sweet, kind and adorable. This painting represents my admiration for these sweet marsupials. Painted on treated canvas board 10x14 in watercolor.

Canals in Belgium

It's easy to think about Venice when you read or hear about canals in Europe. Recently I discovered there are also canals in Bruges Belgium. This is a view on my bucket list some day. Painted on paper in watercolor.