Update Four brings three portraits of motion held in pause—from an owl gliding silently over prairie grasslands, a cardinal foraging amid pebbles and muted grass, to a great horned owl’s profile glowing against aged branches. Each painting captures nature’s poised energy: the hunter’s muted pursuit, the forager’s curious calm, and the sentinel’s ancient gaze amid wispy textures. These works extend the exhibition’s thread of stillness within action, revealing the subtle symphony of wild lives in their element.

“Silent Pursuit – Great Horned Owl” grew from watching a great horned owl glide in mid-flight over prairie grasslands, hunting in those warm, muted tones that feel almost whispered. I wanted to capture its wings stretched wide and powerful, merging with the soft earth below to hold that tense, quiet moment of the chase. The earthy palette brings out the owl’s focused intensity and natural camouflage. For me, this piece honors how silence turns the owl into both hunter and quiet storyteller over the open land.

“Scarlet Stillness – Northern Cardinal” grew from a male cardinal foraging on the ground in soft light—pebbles, earth, lichen all around, with muted grasses fading behind. I wanted his bright red feathers to stand out against those quiet textures, letting the gentle glow capture his curious yet peaceful moment. The soft tones draw you into the details of stone and grass where life unfolds. For me, this piece is about that perfect mix of bold color and calm discovery right at earth’s edge.

“Wisdom in Stillness – Great Horned Owl Portrait” captures a great horned owl in profile—its feather patterns and golden eyes softly glowing against rugged branches and wispy grasses. I layered the paint carefully to highlight those intricate details while keeping the background muted and calm. The light draws you into the owl’s thoughtful gaze, holding that timeless sense of watchfulness. For me, this piece is about the deep, quiet knowing that lives in nature’s ancient guardians.

Update Three presents 3 portraits where light reveals hidden depths—from a chickadee poised in silver fog, a sapsucker glowing against birch, and a wolf’s luminous gaze into vast blue. Each painting uncovers subtle wonders: delicate clarity through haze, patient radiance in the trees, profound solitude, and serene endurance. These works expand the exhibition’s invitation to pause amid nature’s layered silences and illuminations, one intimate portrait at a time.

“Stillness of Silver Haze – Black Capped Chickadee” grew from those misty mornings when soft light filters through fog, holding a chickadee in delicate balance atop a grass tassel. I used translucent glazes to build that ethereal grey veil, letting the bird’s sharp form stand clear as a spark of life, its feathers picking up faint gleams like early dawn. The textured grass and blurred backdrop reflect its watchful calm within nature’s gentle hush. For me, this painting captures fog-kissed quiet, where the world pauses to show the fine grace of its tiniest travelers.

“Backlit in Gold – Sapsucker” was inspired by the way golden light can transform a sapsucker into a glowing silhouette against birch bark, making an everyday forest moment feel radiant and alive. I focused on that strong backlight to rim the bird’s form in a halo, letting the soft tones of its feathers and the tree melt into a luminous backdrop of late-afternoon sun through the canopy. The calm perch holds the woodpecker’s steady gaze, with fine details shimmering like trapped sunlight in the woodland quiet. For me, this piece honors those perfect crossings of light and life, where one bird lights up the golden stillness of the trees.

“Luminous Stillness – Wolf” grew from my deep respect for a light-colored wolf’s quiet power—its steady gaze reaching out through soft light that fades into an endless, muted navy. I layered translucent glazes to create that airy, dreamlike feel, letting the wolf’s pale fur glow as a calm anchor against the vast blue, echoing the solitude of northern wilds. The gentle light around its form holds a moment of pure peace, where predator and wilderness seem to share a single breath. For me, this painting is a quiet reflection on nature’s deep silence, inviting you to meet the wolf’s gaze and sense the steady grace of the untamed.

Week Two brings three more portraits that trace light’s quiet dance across feather and season—from the hidden embers of a woodland warbler, to a chickadee’s brave glow amid falling snow, to the iridescent calm of a tropical tanager at rest. Each painting holds a moment where illumination reveals what the eye might otherwise miss: resilience in the cold, elegance amid the mist, and life’s persistent shimmer through every layer of habitat. These works continue the exhibition’s invitation to pause and listen to nature’s subtle symphony.

“Forest Rimlight – Yellow Rumped Warbler” was inspired by the quiet glow that lives inside woodland shadows—those moments when strong backlight turns the bird’s soft yellow markings into tiny embers against the forest. I wanted the edge of light to feel almost sculpted, catching the warbler’s poised form while the muted greens and browns sink gently into the background. The contrast is meant to honor its lively presence without disrupting its natural camouflage, inviting viewers to feel the warmth and flicker of life in the understory. For me, this piece is about those brief illuminations when a single ray of sun reveals how intricate and luminous a small, waiting bird can be.

“Snowlight Visitor – Black-capped Chickadee” grew from those quiet winter afternoons when new snow softens every sound and a single chickadee suddenly animates the landscape. I pictured it resting on an old branch as light flakes drifted down, with a soft blue backdrop to hold everything in a calm, wintry hush while the glow gently lifts its tiny form. The falling snow and diffused light echo its brave, inquisitive nature in the cold, where stillness and subtle motion seem to blend together. For me, this painting is a small tribute to winter’s gentle guests—the bright, persistent lives that remind us that warmth endures, even in the softest storm.

“Gentle Perch – Turquoise Tanager” was inspired by the mesmerizing iridescence of this tropical bird’s blue and yellow feathers, framed against a soft, muted background that lets those colors shine without any interference. I placed the tanager in a thoughtful, poised position, using light brushwork to hint at the misty rainforest around it while keeping the bird’s calm elegance front and center. The quiet palette only heightens the jewel-like glow of its plumage, capturing a peaceful moment amid the canopy’s wild energy. For me, this piece celebrates the subtle brilliance of tropical life, where one gentle perch opens a window to nature’s vivid yet understated wonders.

“Timeless Refuge – American Kestrels,” created in opaque and transparent watercolor on museum board at 11 × 14 inches, reflects my ongoing focus on intimate wildlife subjects and the quiet spaces they inhabit. I’m honored to have this work recognized among such a strong collection of paintings. The Spokane Watercolor Society continues to foster a community dedicated to excellence in watercolor, and I’m grateful to be included in this year’s exhibition.

My thanks to the Spokane Watercolor Society, the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, and Michael Holter for their work in presenting and jurying the show. I appreciate the continued support from those who follow my work and look forward to sharing future projects as they develop.

As the exhibition opens, I’m beginning with three paintings that trace the quiet, everyday poetry of the natural world—moments often passed by, yet rich with light, stillness, and grace. Each piece in this first week’s collection invites a slower look: the hush between a woodpecker’s tapping, the gentle pause of a foraging rabbit, the clear note of a chickadee against winter sky. Together, they introduce the rhythm of the show, as it unfolds in the weeks ahead, one intimate moment at a time.

“Muted Drummer – Downy Woodpecker” grew from my fascination with those quiet, easily missed moments in the woods. Instead of the bold, dramatic light often associated with woodpeckers, I wanted to explore a softer mood—one that feels more like a hush between heartbeats. The bird’s gentle posture and muted tones mirror the stillness that follows its tapping, when the forest itself seems to listen. By focusing on subtle textures and quiet light, I hoped to bring viewers a little closer to that fragile balance of life that quietly keeps the woodland alive.

“Gentle Forager – Cottontail” grew from a quiet moment of calm among fallen apples and soft grasses—a glimpse of peace in ordinary wildness. I wanted the light to feel tender, almost like it was brushing the rabbit’s fur without breaking the stillness. The soft glow and muted tones echo how these small visitors move through the world—watchful but unhurried. For me, it’s about pausing long enough to notice the simple grace in what’s easily overlooked, where even a cottontail carries a whisper of wonder.

“Blue Radiance – Black Capped Chickadee” was inspired by those rare winter moments when light turns the ordinary brilliant. A single ray transforms a rough branch into a stage, where the chickadee glows bold against the blue. I layered the paint softly to catch that halo of light—the quiet shimmer that reflects its resilient, joyful spirit in the cold. For me, it’s a reminder of how beauty often hides in plain sight, revealed by nothing more than a fleeting touch of sun.

This piece grew out of a simple but luminous moment—sunlight resting on late-season sunflowers in my father’s garden, sunflowers turning toward the late light, goldfinches moving gently among them with their cheery calls. There’s a softness to that kind of light, a sense of time slowing, that I wanted to hold onto. The pairing of sunflowers and goldfinches felt especially meaningful to me—their shared palette, their seasonal rhythm, and the quiet energy they bring to a scene that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Painted in both opaque and transparent watercolor on museum board, this work allowed me to explore subtle layers of light and texture. I’ve always been drawn to that balance—letting transparency suggest atmosphere while using opacity to anchor form and detail. In many ways, the process mirrored the subject itself: fleeting light made tangible through careful observation.

I’m deeply grateful to the Salmagundi Club for the honor of inclusion in this exhibition. It’s a privilege to have my work shown in such a historic and respected space, alongside so many accomplished artists. Opportunities like this feel both grounding and inspiring—reminders of the shared dedication that connects artists across time and place.

Thank you, as always, to those who continue to support and follow my work. Your encouragement means more than I can fully express.

This piece holds a quiet, personal significance for me. Between Seasons grew out of that subtle, shifting moment in nature when one season gives way to another—when colors soften, edges blur, and everything feels suspended in transition. It’s a space I’m continually drawn to, both visually and emotionally, and one I return to often in my work.

To have this painting recognized among so many exceptional works by talented watercolorists across the country is truly humbling. I’m especially thankful to the jurors and organizers of the Georgia Watercolor Society for their dedication to celebrating watercolor as a vibrant and expressive medium. Exhibitions like this create a meaningful sense of community and shared purpose among artists.

I also want to extend my sincere thanks to those who support my work—collectors, fellow artists, friends, and everyone who follows along with what I’m creating. Your encouragement makes a difference in ways that are hard to fully express.

Moments like this remind me why I paint: to observe closely, to honor the natural world, and to translate fleeting experiences into something lasting. I’m grateful to continue this journey and to share it with all of you.

In “Stillness in Amber Light – Great Blue Heron,” Rebecca captures a moment of complete calm: a heron poised in warm, low light, held between motion and rest. The soft amber glow, reflected in water and feather, invites the viewer to slow down and breathe with the scene, noticing the subtle textures and gentle shifts of color that define her realism. It’s a piece that feels both intimate and expansive, echoing the hush of early or late light along the water’s edge.

Like the rest of the exhibition, this work can be enjoyed from anywhere. 2026 Visions: AAPL at the Carriage Barn will be viewable online from April 19 to May 8, 2026 on the American Artists Professional League website at AAPLinc.org, where “Stillness in Amber Light – Great Blue Heron” will appear alongside “Enchanted Dawn – Yellowthroat Warbler” and other works by professional artists.

For followers of Rebecca’s art, this is a lovely opportunity to see how these two paintings—each centered on a quiet, reflective moment in nature—speak to one another within a broader exhibition dedicated to excellence in fine art.