Children’s Fairyland in Oakland presents the 4th Annual Drawn Together, an adults-only evening (21 and over) of live art-making, fixed-price art sale, music, food, and fun at Children’s Fairyland. More than 50 exciting artists from Oakland and the Bay Area, including myself, will create over 100 pieces of original Fairyland-inspired art that will be sold for $40 per piece; proceeds will help Fairyland keep admissions low for all and free for those most in need, as well as funding park restoration. Complimentary beer and wine included with ticket price; food available for purchase. The Hanged Man will be on hand to look into your future with a tarot or palm reading, and Very Fairy to add glittery extensions to your hair.

Event starts at 6 pm and drawings made go up for sale at 8 pm.

Space is limited, so get your tickets while they last and support a great cause! Thanks to FLAX art & design for in-kind support of this event!

Children’s Fairyland
699 Bellevue Ave
Oakland, CA 94610

 Who has not experienced the delight of the morning bird chorus or had their spirits lifted by the sight of a bird in flight or perched on a telephone wire or tree branch close by?

I’m excited to show you the new paintings I did specifically for the Emeryville bus shelters, based on birds I have actually observed in Emeryville.

Each bird painting is paired with an inspiring or uplifting quote that gets to the heart of what birds have to offer us with their presence, song and beauty.

I choose the lightness and airiness and luminosity of watercolor to convey the essence of each bird, leaving plenty of white space to fully illuminate the luscious fluid qualities of pigment on paper and create a calming, open feeling to each piece.

The teacher in me couldn’t pass up this opportunity to offer some resources people to who want to learn more about the bird species. In addition to putting in the common name and species name of each bird on each poster there is also a  QR code on each one so people at the bus stop who were carrying smartphones could access a web page from my favorite site for bird information and access bird songs, see photos and read descriptions.

Birds are one of the few species that can easily adapt to human encroachment, yet so few of us city dwellers can name most of the birds with which we share our day-to-day existence with. I have a deep commitment to native species understanding and education. I see this project as a way to invite the people who live, work and shop in of Emeryville to understand a bit more about their neighbors – the bird species that surround us.