More California Coastal Walk along the National Marine Life Sanctuaries



Since my website is being hacked during the California election process...

Since my website has been continuously hacked at all week and probably will continue that way until the election is over in California, I decided to display my new watercolors of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, the Gulf of Farallones National Marine Life Sanctuary, and the Monterey Bay National Marine Life Sanctuary here in my blog. This new artwork all came from my travels this summer to the northern California coast, camping in state parks, and the 3 day cruise through the Channel Islands put on by the Los Angeles chapter of the Sierra Club. 

If you click on any of the paintings, it will take you to my shop. Any purchases contribute to the support of various non-profits that support the wildlife of the Sanctuaries.



Please don't forget to vote if you haven't yet.



Three more Marine Life Sanctuary watercolors!

Channel Islands Marine Life Sanctuary

Ventura, California

Gulf of Farallone Islands Marine Life Sanctuary

Stinson Beach, California

Cordell Bank Marine Life Sanctuary

Bodega Bay, California

Finally, I have completed my goal of painting scenes from all the California Marine Life Sanctuaries! Just when I finished I discovered the boundaries of the Farallone Islands Sanctuary and the Cordell Bank Sanctuary have been extended to deeper waters and north to Mendocino County. Well, I will just have to take a trip up there to finish the borders. Also I want to paint a scene off of Pt. Reyes in the GFIMLS and take a whale watching ride with the Oceanic Society to the actual Farallone Islands. Also I plan eventually to take a whale watching boat trip around the Channel Islands. What a wonderful job!

Then these watercolors are featured on products in my shop at my website, Starbell Enterprises.

Journey into the past...The Hand Fan Museum in Healdsburg, CA

Lately I've heard people in my family talk about the idea of one day we may be riding horses again, the way gas prices are going. I take talk like this as a possible prophecy, thinking about how my space in the carport would remodel into a cozy stable for my horse.

This week, my mom and I went on our June trip to Stinson Beach, CA and then to Healdsburg, CA. Stinson Beach is the place where one can see the Farallones National Marine Life Sanctuary.

I needed to finish my sketch of it for my watercolor series of the National Marine Life Sanctuaries. Two years ago we went to this beach and the fog shrouded it. This year the mist hung around the horizon but I finished my scene. Again the people were so wonderful and friendly. When I finish my painting I will feature it in this blog.

Then we drove up to Santa Rosa, CA, spent the night and headed up to Healdsburg, CA the next day to visit The Hand Fan Museum. My mother had donated her fan collection to it a number of years ago. We missed it being open two years ago when we made this same trip. Instead we were pleasantly surprised by the sweetness of Healdsburg and its lovely shops around its square. This year we had the days and times right and got a first class tour of the tiny museum. My mom and the docent chatted for over an hour about fans. It was a special treasure of a day for both of them they said as we were about to leave. We purchased a few souvenir fans, cards and left a donation. Then Liz, the docent asked for a picture with my mom outside the museum. I snapped this one.

Only a few years ago we saw fans in our culture. It is rare now. My great-great Aunt Grace who lived in San Francisco with her husband GG Uncle Clyde had a gorgeous fan collection that my mom inherited. She added her many fans she had collected to Grace's fans. Then Mom donated the whole collection to the Museum. However, she left out one beautiful tortoiseshell and ostrich feather fan which she gave to me, telling me that it belonged to Grace's mom. Her mom sang in the San Francisco Opera! I cherish this fan and am so glad I got to see the end, at least, of the fan era.