Explore My Art

Welcome to my portfolio! Here I share some of my favorite pieces and examples of the different medias I work in. Little stories are tucked in the caption of some creations. I hope you enjoy this peak into my world and imagination!

Mixed Media Nature Based Art

I primarily work with naturally made watercolors and fine line pen to create my work. I occasionally add in graphite, other watercolors, colored pencil, and guoache. I draw from photos, objects, scenery I am in, and my imagination. Natural history illustration is my specialty, focusing on scientifically accurate natural objects or dedicating real objects in creative ways.

Seaweeds of the Central Coast

This artwork was created for the 2026 California Seaweed Festival poster contest. Although I didn’t win the competition, I received over 10.5K views on social media! I am not a big social media gal, but do use it for connections and business purposes. Despite my distanced relationship from that world, I am extremely grateful for the visibility my artwork received. It was shared so many times all I over the world. I am still in shock. I plan on creating prints, posters, and canvas bags from this piece in Autumn of 2026. Keep a look out for this new product!

More about this arty: The ocean has always been a home to me. Ever since I was a child, summer days at the beach were longed for. Unlike most of my friends I was never afraid to jump into the cold salty water and dress myself in seaweeds pretending to be a mermaid. Into my teen years, the ocean and surfing played a vital role in saving me from self harm/suicide. I become an avid surfer, competing in high school and teaching surf lessons. I find my peace and passion on the waves. Although i have branched out to other passions, the ocean and surfing still are a close ally (along with snorkeling/free diving). During college and herb school I took up seaweed harvesting and an interest in their medicinal uses. Most of my clients walk away learning about the magic of seaweed and why they should Incorporate it into their food and I use it in several products. I also teach an ocean medicine workshop spreading the healing powers of the sea.

This artwork depicts the seaweeds I grew up playing with and finding on the central coast, many of which I work with for nutritional and medicinal properties. It was created with fine line pen, graphite, and watercolor.

Red Abalone & the Sea

The ocean has been a special place of solitude for me for a very long time. Surfing and the ocean were and still are an integral part of my healing journey. The sea has guided me through my darkest moments and also been with me through some of my most joy filled experiences. Through rage and pain the thundering waves have met my grief. The sunny smooth days on the ocean with sparking blue water reflect the deep peace and happiness that also exists within me. Salt water heals wounds and supplies necessary nutrients, seaweed supports mineral balance and health, the endless ripples of water allow for a meditative state in the mind along with the rolling sound of the waves, the sea otters and dolphins bring such excitement, the water takes away all pain and gravitational force while allowing for maximum use of all body parts providing adequate movement….There are endless ways the ocean provides healing.

Once I began free diving with friends, abalone shells became an important thing to look for and such a special gift from the ocean to find. The red abalone is the most common one on our part of the coast. These beautiful creatures have had massive habitat destruction which has lead to a dramatic decline in populations. While rare to see living, as the ones whom remain are tucked in narrow and deep shelves, abalone shells remain on the shores, showing us that they persist and remain. Abalone shells have a long history of importance with many indigenous groups for jewelry, trade, ceremony and more. So many beings are deeply connected to this shell/being and there is much to why. The beautiful red/pink top with a shimmering white and pearl/opal-like rainbow cream of an interior are endlessly drawing to the eye. By far one of the shiniest shell you can come across.

But I think the biggest appeal is the lovely spiral of holes and the bowl like shape of the shell. Spirals are connected with much importance, but one I am most drawn to is the labyrinth. Often talked about as part of Celtic tradition, spirals can indicate a labyrinth where the individual/soul is on a journey inward to the self to find the answer and to wonder back out into the world after a sometimes dark journey. Walking a labyrinth is a great place for contemplation, meditation, and prayer. Much comes up when the mind is allowed to settle due to repetitive patterns and the trust of the path. You don’t have to worry where you are going or where you came from- there is no getting lost. You wander in and out. Such a. Life lesson in and of itself. This meditative state I find myself in when walking a labyrinth is so similar to that of the meditative state the coean allows us to drop into. How beautiful that a creature of the ocean can carry the same message as the waves it lives under. To be dropped into body in nature like this can really allow for the most profound moments and also a beautiful space to grieve and suffer. To return to our self and purpose, sometimes we must journey inward to our center to refine our truth, to work through things…in life we continually are walking in a spiral. We are always failing, learning, happy, sad, up, and down….there is no way to go back and way to know anything but what is present. There need be no worry for the harsh times as we must always journey back out of the spiral. This beautiful creature is a guide for me- reminding me not only of the magick of the ocean, but also the journey of life- the ebb and flow- and the amazing ability as a human to practice inner contemplation. The raw nature of living: To go into darkness and back to the light- to be reborn through death and continue the cycle of life.

Water color & guaoche (September 2026)

Owls in different medias

My art captures the essence of the creature I am dedicating through intricate link work and detail. Owls are a special animal to me, a guide on my path. The barn owl is particularly stunning to me, associated with darkness, the moon, and beauty within death I am drawn to this creature as it, alongside other nocturnal hunters, seems to resonate with the wild woman in me. Connecting these creatures to our cultural perceptions of death, menstruation, childbirth ,and menopause, I am able to express my draw towards this topics through my art. Through one may not realize unless they read between he lines (or read the caption). To the left is a barn owl in fine lion pen (soon to be colored), above a barn owl in as piece called “Life Cycle” is fine Lin pen, water color, and colored pencil, and bellow is another owl on tan mixed media paper created with fine line pen, graphite, and colored pencil.

Tres Hermanas & the Doshas

A bridge between my work in agroecology, herbalism and art, this artwork expresses the similarity between the ancient indigenous American practice of planting corn, squash, and beans together (Tres Hermanas/three sisters) to the ancient Ayurvedic (Indian) medical system relying on the Doshas (the elements).

Squash & Kapha (Earth/Water): fullness, nourished, heavy, strong, caring, grounded, stability, endurance, smooth/curvy, cool/cold (provide shade)

Corn & Pitta (Fire, Water): fierce, protection, sharp, leader, structure, integrity, heat, intellect, muscular, warm (sun)

Beans & Vata (Either/Air): floating, flexible, sweet, small, light, airy, cold (shade/sun), detailed, spiritual, gaseous exchange (Nitrogen/bodily processes)

When the three sisters are planted together the benefit one another, supporting each other in growth, nutrition, protection, and reproduction (yield). This system shows the importance of growing food like an ecosystem and how more diversity is deeply connected to better outcomes. Similarly when the elements (the three doshas are in balance in the individual health is improved and life is sustained. The elements ripples to families and communities where diversity and balance amongst the doshas results in healthy, happy, resilient communities. Together these separate ideologies teach us that Wholistic thinking/doing and working with ecology result in the most abundant, resilient, healthy systems. Let us lean on the three sisters and the elements to teach us how to come together and find balance.

Created August of 2026 inspired by my own growing on the tres hermanas and my elemental herbalism practice/training in Ayurveda. Check out my instagram (Sadie_of_the_sea) to read the whole comparison of these two beautiful traditions. May diversity, abundance, and health be with you this harvest season. (Materials: watercolor paper, graphite, fine line brown pen, natural watercolors, normal pink watercolor, berries, the spirits of the plants who shared their world with me)

Gouache Painting

Working with gouache is newer to me Althought I am quickly falling in love with its vibrancy and layering abilities. My style with this paint is more vibrant and flowy. As a watercolor artist, it has been a tad of a learning curve for me, but every time I do it I become more certain gauche has a place in my art practice. As I try to sick mostly to non-toxic paints, this is one limit of guaoche I am finding.

Fine Link Pen

During my childhood years as an artists I was strictly a graphite artist. In attempt to add more color I soon explored many other Ways of creating art. One staple to my art now is fine line pen that I grew into using during my Natural History Illustration course at UC Santa Cruz. Pen has allowed me to give up perfectionism in my art and find freedom with permanent ink. Some of my art is created straight from ink, leaving all imperfections part of the final piece. I have learned much self acceptance through going straight in with ink and most of my creation feature fine line pens in one way or another. I love the amount of detail I can include when using this art form.

Healing Through Nature

This art piece was slowly worked on over time combining acrylic paint, fine line pen, and graphite. It was completed in 2023 and showcased at the UCSC Sexual Assault Survivor Art Gallery. Each flower drawn holds meaning in my healing story and this art depicts the embodiment of nature in a female body. The butterfly shown (painted lady) represents me overcoming my struggle with severe depression and skin picking as a young teenager. A childhood butterfly that was always around to remind me of the beauty in the natural world and a representation of the butterfly affect: everything affects everything- which I held close as a sensitive person and I often speak to in similar light as the Golden Rule.

Paper Mache & my love for mushrooms

Paper mache is such a lovely craft that is an affordable and sustainable way to create 3d beings. My love from mushrooms stemming from my time at UC Santa Cruz and the woods of Forestville at California School of Herbal Studies drove me to create decor for my space. After creating my first garland (pictured bellow) I went on to create many amanita muscaria ornaments and garlands that sold at a Cal Poly Craft fair, Slocally Made and Mystic Nature. These mushrooms are currently created from recycled foil, old newspapers, flours, water, salt, and acrylic paint. Sometimes I add foraged lichen to my creations.

The Art of Herbal Medicine

From medicine making to cooking and from botanical illustrations and labels to monographs, herbalism is both a science and an art. Sharing the history and medicine of plants through the communication of art and beauty is a great interest of mine. Art, the true universal language, can cross all barriers and share common histories and diverse ways of working with plants. Monographs which summarize plants from an herbal and botanical perspective can be turned into beautiful artwork depicting a plant and its information in sheet. This makes herbal medicine very accessible and digestible for anyone! Medicine making and working with herbs is its own art. Much of my role as a herbalism is harvesting, preparing, and creating herbal medicines. My medicinals range from topicals and soothing experiences to internal tinctures, teas, and food. It is all an art form tending to all of the senses! Sharing herbal medicines is at the heart of my path on the Earth. Merging art and herbal medicine brings me peace and fulfillment in all the ways!

Working with Nature to Create Art

One way I directly work with natural objects to create art is through willow weaving and wreathe making. I harvest natural materials over periods of time and hand harvest willows. I then bend it into hoops and add other materials. My lavender wreathes from Summer of 2026 where very popular!

Block Printing

Block printing is an art form I occasionally enjoy. I love the simplicity of this art form and am interested in creating more with it. As with all of my art, I focus on natural objects.

Painting with Nature

I have a strong value of natural materials when creating art. Many paints and art products contain toxic compounds- harmful to us and our environment. While I am finding ways to be mindful when working with such products, finding and creating alternatives. I am beginning to explore creating my own inks from natural materials. The art piece to the left is of echinacea created from powdered elderberry and alcohol. oak gall is another ink I am exploring alongside turmeric and other berries.

Healing Through Cultural and Ancestral Food and Medicine

When I was in 4th grade I decided to create a book out of an essay I wrote in class. My mom lovingly supported me as I drew the pages, wrote the words, and created my first book. She laminated it and we took it to the school library where it still sits for students to check out. My teacher said I was going to be an author and while 10 year old me didn’t believe it, I am proud to say I have written a second book.

Not officially published, but a solid 200+ page book that made up my UCSC senior exit project as an intern at the UCSC Herb Garden. This book is called Healing Through Cultural and Ancestral Food and Medicine and serves as a guide to the many herbs and medicines you can find in the garden. It is a living book where students can add recipes, plants, stories etc and is housed in a wooden home at the herb garden. Throughout the book I also touch on the ecology and natural history of place, a background on herbal medicinal and elemental herbalism, and I included hundreds of drawings from plants to pots- recording the pages. I created this book in roughly 20 weeks! Although it was a challenging, I am already working on other books, in hopes to one day be published.