I won a New Mexico Arizona Book Award!

Short Front Legs, the book I published last fall (and frankly thought no one would read) has got a big fat award sticker on it! It won the “parenting & family” category. And, yes, absolutely for the rest of my life I will dole out unsolicited advice under the pretext of being an award winning author of a parenting book.

But no, my book is not about how to parent. (No one who has a second child gives advice–we learn that every kid is different, so um, yeah what worked for one might be absolutely worthless for the next!) The book is really about me trying to “grow up” while raising kids myself. Not easy. The book is about 50,000 words, and has about 20 comics (yes, a perfect toilet read, ha! This book caters to parents in the thick of it, so it’s short and sweet! ) And was really fun to write so I hope you enjoy reading it!

You can find my book (including an Audible version) on Amazon.com.

Releasing this holiday season! My "Animals of Northern New Mexico" coloring book

So excited to release the Animals of Northern New Mexico coloring book this fall!

After several years of drawing Northern New Mexico animals, I decided to do a coloring book! Wild animals are SO cool, and Northern NM animals are incredible–surviving dessert climates and snowy mountains, these tenacious little creatures are so fun to draw and color. Like, did you know a roadrunner can swallow a rattlesnake whole? Or that the grey fox is the only canine who can climb a tree? And a horned toad can shoot blood out of their eyes to deter a predator? And elk have a matriarchal society? It’s amazing that these animals survive and thrive in some of the most vast and intense landscapes. They are so inspirational–raising babies and living life with nothing but the natural earth. The book includes some favorite nature quotes, as well as some thoughtful prompts so you can fire up your own creativity and find your wild side!

You can find my book at the Valles Caldera National Monument gift shop. (More locations coming soon!)

Some pages have quotes, others prompts, and some are full coloring spreads.

My team won the Southwest Science Writers award for graphic design!

This is pretty awesome, my team worked so hard on an magazine highlighting J Robert Oppenheimer. Curating photos and stories, we showcased a very unique part of history. I also did the Oppenheimer artwork on the cover, which for me was so challenging as I don’t typically sketch in color. Most of my portraits have been of a sleeping baby in one arm, and a sketch book and pencil in the other arm–so doing a man which a hat and pipe and skin tones–wow, what an honor it was part of this award.

You can see the magazine here.

Creating historical atomic prints using an organic nuclear fusion reactor

Okay, spoiler alert: the fusion reactor is just the good ol’ fashioned sun in the sky!

The prints I am sharing with you today are sunshine-made and showcase atomic history (yes, there is a nuclear science theme here!). By using a technique called cyanotype, I used public-domain photos from the Manhattan project and atmospheric testing era.

This cyanotype print shows atomic test, “Crossroads Baker,” 1946

What is cyanotype? Cyanotype is the oldest for of photography. You expose a chemical and paint it onto a medium. You do this first step in the dark, because when the medium exposed to the the sun it turns blue. But, whatever is in shadow turns does not get exposed, and after being rinsed with cold water, the elements in shadow are white, and whatever light comes through turns different shades of Prussian blue depending on the amount of light.

The most common form of cyanotype comes in are kits that are referred to as “shadow art”– the chemicals are already mixed and, allowing kids and adults to capture shapes of flowers and pine ones using the beautiful exposure of the sun.

These prints show atomic history in the United States, starting with the Trinity test on July 16, 1945.

Cyanotype prints can also be created using negatives. The blue and white gives a vintage look. Being from northern New Mexico, I decided it would be awesome to capture atomic history as a cyanotype. I like the idea of using historical mushroom clouds from scientific tests as my subject with cyanotype as my medium.

After inverting photos, and adjusting contrast, I printed my historical photos on transparent paper. Keeping an eye on the weather, I would go out to my workshop (okay, a tiny shed that I cleaned out so my husband could work on his projects but here I am, taking the space over!). I mixed the chemicals from a cyanotype kit (there’s an A formula and a B one) in the dark. I used a tiny lantern to see what I was doing, but was mostly in the dark. Then I would let them dry, and stack and cover (so absolutely no light could touch them prematurely.

When it was sunny (usually the next day) I would continue go back in the dark shed and secure the transparency onto my water color paper that I had prepped the night before. When the transparency was secured, and the right direction, I rushed outside and exposed in full sun for about one to three minutes. Then I rinsed it in cold water, and hung in a dark room to dry.

I had read a blog that exposure needed to be eight minutes and thirty seconds–which sounded very exact so I tried it, but actually there are a lot of variables with cyanotype–time of day, clouds, UV index (I live at 7400 feet!).

The whole process taught be a lot. Mostly, it taught me to be careful. I had to pay attention. Cyanotype was totally unforgiving. Over exposed, I got a dark blue sheet where I could hardly make out a picture. Underexposed the picture was washed out. I think I made around ninety prints before I  in the end were only happy with a handful. Initially, I hung prints to dry outside, and that caused the exposure to change. I learned that super cold water helped (I’d add ice, but if the ice touched the print it would stick and ruin it). And even then, there were little mistakes that would ruin the print– like scratching it, getting it dirty, or when I finally mounted on a wood canvas, having uneven glue or something stain it. It was really a fun but really meticulous process. No edit-undos like I’m used to!

In the end, the prints showcase exactly what I was going for: atomic history and nuclear physics in a unique format. These one-of-a-kind  pieces showcase a historical nuclear reaction, and are exposed by our giant nuclear reaction in the sky.

You can purchase these original fine art pieces by contacting me directly, thanks!

Photographing the arch in Los Alamos

This photo was taken from sitting inside the arch. I really like how the sun painted the sides of the arch.

I didn’t think the sky would be this epic, but during a moody monsoon evening I decided to hike up to the arch with my camera… The sky was epic!

We stayed up there a little late… it was getting dark! But taking pictures was too much fun.

Spontaneous Backlit Photography

I’ve been listening to a lot of podcasts on photography, and I finished Jimmy Chen’s masterclass on adventure photography.

The one thing I hear again and again is while having a photography plan is great, it’s even better to be flexible, pivot, look behind you, and shoot on the fly as light shifts and creativity ideas merge. So, when I went to take evening landscape photos of the lake and mountains with my new wide angle lens (and frankly, missed that golden hour), my daughter took the opportunity to jump in the lake one last time before dark. I swapped lenses when I realized the awesome photography subject was right in front when me!

The next morning, drinking coffee with my son, I noticed how beautiful the sun rays looked when a car drove by (yep, dust!). Instead of getting a photo of the sunrise landscape, I just pointed into the sun, and unexpectedly dust made more pretty awesome atmosphere and depth.

Find my stickers at REI and more!

I am now selling locally around northern New Mexico–including at REI Santa Fe, Valles Caldera National Monument Gift Shop, and PEEC Nature Center (Los Alamos). I hope you like them!

Sticker designs by yours truly!

I love, love stickers. Some people have t-shirts, some people get tattoos, but the thing that reminds me of my adventures is stickers on a water bottle, laptop, bumper, or my favorite, on our camper! door!All our adventure visually logged in one happy spot.

The problem with being a sticker artist is you are selling a print of your art for SO cheap! Which, makes it accessible to everyone, but not very sustainable not only for a small business but also a business that has a small niche of local-themed designs. And, it’s expensive! To make the stuff i do, I need an iPAd, a Mac, a stylus, cost of the stickers (which I get vinyl high quality ones!), and the thing we all want more of: time.

So, why do I make stickers? I love capturing a place or a mood or a personality–solving something visually–and a sticker is a small enough canvas that , with three kids and a FT job, I can complete each project. Really, the same way someone would solve a crossword puzzle or a video game, art can be that sort of brain candy.

And it really makes me happy when others are so happy to get a sticker. Or when I get pictures from people having a sticker on their water bottle or something like that. Stickers are just cool! So, forget about getting a Zia tattoo next time you’re in New Mexico, just get a sticker! You can find mine at Samizdat bookstore, Bradbury Science Museum, or Valles Caldera Gift Shop. You can find my designs at my print-on-demand store too, where you can get stickers, but also t-shirts, mugs, notebooks, sweatshirts–you name it!

My Oppenheimer Obsession

Okay, so maybe I drew J. Robert Oppenheimer a bit too much this last year. I made stickers, an online t-shirt shop. It’s gotten a little out of control. As an artist, he is just really interesting to draw…

Recently, my husband and I got the opportunity to meet Kai Bird, author of American Prometheus–the book that Christopher Nolen’s movie, “Oppenheimer” is based on. I gave Kai some of my stickers, and my colleague blurted out, "I actually think she has a crush on Oppenheimer."

I went on to tell Kai that I might have mentioned once or twice to my husband "Can you have a crush on a dead person?" while sketching Oppie.

Apparently Oppenheimer's magnetism lives on... ha. 

I introduced my husband to Kai, who is a physicist, and Kai signed my book:

To Ian and Brenda,

Who know the physics and the men!

Kai Bird June 20, 2023

Now, it’s the day before the movie comes out. I have been in Oppenheimer mode for months now, and looking forward to seeing how all once again, this figure is once again portrayed and interpreted!

New Mexico Starry Nights

I’ve totally been on a creative high lately. It’s been awesome–I’ve been designing decals, and writing a children’s book series, and making comics–its been a blast! I’m riding out my creative high as long as it lasts, but I decided after too many days with blood-shot eyes, I need a creative outlet that isn’t on a computer!

After going to a music festival and seeing all sorts of up cycled art, I challenged myself to come up with a non-computer project where I wouldn’t have to buy anything. I concluded to making wood-disc ornaments out of a dead apricot tree branch and a bunch of unused oil paints I have sitting in a closet.

I have painted Starry Night a few times in my life–and well, it’s just fun to paint! So this time I decided to do my own “New Mexico” version of Starry Night.

Colors of Hawaii

I recently went on a trip-of-a-lifetime with my family to Hawaii. Flowers, whales, beaches, jungles, lava, tribal art, colorful paintings, hand painted signs, manicured gardens, hula dancers, and mural art all were so inspirational and recharging to my design work.

At an intensive language school in Zacatecas, Mexico, an instructor once told me, “You have to have input to create better output.” This applies with language–but also with design. Experiencing what the world has to offer allows me to create a better output.

Since Hawaii, I have been inspired to use color and personal touches more in my visual communication output. Stringent grids, modern type, and stock photos offer a quick way to finish a design project and make it acceptable to a customer, but tend to lose the human to human voice that is so important in actually engaging an audience.

Here are some pics–first set of pictures are from Maui, second set of pictures are from the Big Island. And, below is a quick jot of my favorite things to do in Hawaii!

Hawaii favorites

We did a total of 12 days, roughly spending half in Maui, exploring beaches and snorkeling, and the other half on the big island, in the jungle with volcanos and lava sight-seeing. Below are my notes to remember for next time… !

Maui: Stayed on beach just North of Lahaina

• Baby beach–awesome snorkeling, clear water, great sand

• Lahaina–Amazing tree park down town, Hawaiin French toast (out of this world!)

• Steve’s Whale Watching Adventure–2 hours on a raft checking out the incredible whales and learning about migration, babies, etc.

• Atlantis Submarine–such a cool way to explore a reefs, and a ride on a submarine! Saw puffer fish, reef shark, sunken ship, fish galor

• Leona’s pies: pick up and take to beach–Well-worth the trip wherever you are on Maui

Big Island: Stayed in jungle near Volcano National Park

• Volcanos National Park–Lava Tube hike and viewing real lava at night

• Lava museum in Pa’hao/spending time in Pa’hoa–talking to locals about 2018 lava flow

• Panalu’u Black Sand Beach–first sea turtle I ever saw! 

• Manau Kae–stunning, crescent moon shaped white sand beach that has a hotel bar on it where you can grab a cocktail

• Kikaua Point Park Beach–tiny little sandy nook surrounded by lava rocks that block the waves. Akaka Falls–stunning waterfall jungle hike near Hilo

Photo Essay: Trinity Site

I put together these historical “then and now” photos after visiting Trinity Site for the LANL magazine, National Security Science. Trinity Site, located in southern New Mexico, is where the first atomic bomb, Trinity, was detonated on July 16, 1945. Credit: Los Alamos National Laboratory. LA-UR 21 25571

Ground zero is viewed from the top of Compaña Hill (also called Compania Hill or Cerro de la Colorado) in 2021 and 1945.

Manufactured in Ohio by Babcock & Wilcox, Jumbo was originally 25 feet long, 10 feet in diameter, and weighed 214 tons. Scientists planned to use Jumbo to contain the Trinity test but then changed their minds.

The Trinity test was detonated atop a 100-foot tower, perhaps to help ensure clear photos of the expansion of the fireball. These photos were used to help determine the device’s yield and other blast effects.

Jennifer Talhelm, of the Lab’s Public Affairs group; Nicholas Lewis and Alan Carr, both of the National Security Research Center; and Mark Chadwick, of the Weapons Physics directorate, leave the McDonald Ranch House, where the Trinity device was assembled in 1945.

The Compaña summit (elevation 5,700 feet) provided a good spot for scientists to watch the Trinity test in 1945.

Epic camp trips 2021

Bitsi Badlands near Chaco

Ah, so the time has come. It is time to winterize our camper. The warmth of summer is encapsulated in the my tears that fall as fall falls upon us. :D!

And here’s where we went! Juniper Campground (Bandelier, NM), Columbine Campground (Red River, NM), San Antonio (Jemez, NM), Field Tract (Pecos, NM), Peak One (Frisco, CO), Elephant Butte (NM), Pine Point (Vallecito, CO), and Chaco Canyon (near Farmington, NM).

Chaco and Bandelier are so historical and stunning; Columbine, San Antonio, Field Tract are great mountain-y destinations with water to play in; Peak One and Vallecito are our alpine lake spots and Elephant Butte is like a hot, sandy beach in the middle of the desert–so yeah, they are were all really different and amazing in their own ways!

Creating fall mantel art

Inspiration was this evening pic I took this fall of Wheeler while staying in Red River.

End result! Gesso’d a pre-framed canvas from Ross and just went for it. Second time using oil paints, and my girls helped so we got it done over a couple hour-intervals. D1 did the sky–and I love the end result. D2 helped me fill in the trees–here she is adding back some texture. Love it!

Creating Spoonflower fabric out of my kid's art

This project was SO fun. I used my kids Adobe Fresco to digitize my kids artwork to make these fabric patterns (prototyped on Spoonflower). It is a great way to showcase their individual artistic styles (and avoid putting more artwork in a file cabinet!).

Below are a couple of the pages I traced–I had about five different desserts drawn on separate pages of a little notebook. They were so cute (love the donuts with whip cream tops!). My other daughter learned a technique like this one–where you trace your hand and curve lines coming from horizontal lines–and she took it to a whole new level with these little people she created (I think the influence came from learning about pictographs at Bandelier combined with Minecraft?) No idea, but they are so original and super cool.