Whale Watch Room Gallery Exhibit Opening Reception – Tempra Board

This Whale Watch Room Gallery Exhibit features artwork by Tempra Board; opening reception on September 12, 2026, at 5 p.m. The exhibit will remain on display from 9/12 through 12/13/2026. Jewelry by Ling-Yen Jones continues to be on display.

Exhibit Statement: The northern Sonoma and southern Mendocino County coastal areas are affectionately known by locals as “Mendonoma.” The area is rugged, remote, and dominated by nature. When I stand on the wild edge between land and sea, surrounded by the open sky, often beset by strong wind, I welcome the humble and expansive feeling of being a tiny part of a vast world. My work attempts to capture this feeling. The dynamic landscapes, flora, and fauna of the Mendonoma coast are an unending inspiration for my paintings.

I am also inspired by old WPA lithograph posters and wood block prints, and the graphic nature of my work shows these influences. The images here are drawn by hand on smooth Bristol paper using black ink outlines and colorful Illustrator markers, then are made into a series of collectible giclée prints using archival inks on archival cotton rag paper. (Please note that all of the framed pieces are covered in special UV-protection, no-glare plexiglass, but real glass is available at no cost by contacting me at 530.828.3406 or [email protected].)

I have also begun experimenting with oil painting, and am especially interested in
capturing the shapes and shadows of the Point Arena Lighthouse using unique cropped perspectives.

Artist Bio: I am a mostly self-trained artist working in ink, markers, watercolor, graphite, colored pencil, collage, and oil. I have studied with Mendonoma-based artists Mike Henderson (graphite), Andrea Allen (Chinese brush painting in sumi ink), and Kathleen Alexander (watercolor), as well as Humboldt-County-based oil painter Rachel Schlueter. I have also studied botanical illustration in graphite, ink, and watercolor through the New York Botanical Garden’s continuing education program.

After a lifetime of wrongly believing that I “had no talent,” I began drawing and painting in earnest when I was introduced to nature journaling during COVID. Since then, I have tried to quiet my inner critic and simply play and practice, the keys to success. I take my inspiration from living on The Sea Ranch, with its mesmerizing and constantly changing landscapes, and native plants, birds, and other wildlife.

In 2024, wanting to bridge my skills in graphic layout, writing, and art, I launched Mark Makers’ Quarterly (MMQ), a print journal of rural California art and artists (markmakersquarterly.com). In 2026, in partnership with artist Kathleen Alexander, I launched the Grey Whale Gallery, art studio, and workshops on The Sea Ranch (greywhalegallery.com).