becca goes outside

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comic

comic & process: where are we going

I had the general idea for this comic for a couple weeks, and while going through old photos, I found the perfect references for bringing it all together. A few years ago, friends and drove down from Chicago to Jasper-Pulaski FWA, one of the best-known spots locally for

comic

comic & process: cool stick

On a winter bog hike with my sister in 2024, we stumbled upon an impossibly cool stick in the middle of the trail. Covered on every inch in lichens and fungi, we couldn't help but stop for several minutes to admire it. I hope that you too find

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watercolor highlights

some of the little paintings i've made while rediscovering watercolors.

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comic

comic & process: snackle

Sometimes your subject writes the joke for you. I had so many funny shots of grackles that a comic felt inevitable- all I needed was a punchline! This one required some style exploration before I landed on the final version. Read on to see sketches, peek the reference photos, and

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comic

comic & process: prothonotary

As spring migration passes through the Midwest, feral swarms of warmth-starved Chicagoans can be seen pointing upwards to the tallest trees. These groups of strangers murmur in uncertain tones, "Tennessee? No, orange-crowned?" as we rub our brain cells together, trying to recall the few warblers we

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why i shoot my own reference photos

the joy of connecting camera and pen.

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comic & process: chick-a-dee-dee

This comic has lived rent-free in my head for months. Let's keep it simple- I'm not going to make up some pretentious explanation for a moment of genius when the idea came into my head. It's just funny. Read on to learn how

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comic

comic & process: signs of spring

Do birds and people experience spring in similar ways? Do we both get a rush of excitement when redbuds open up and spring beauties carpet the woods? I suppose we'll never truly know, but I like to imagine that we have more in common than we think. Read

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anyone can draw with a grid

a beginner-friendly technique for accuracy, speed, and fun.

comic

comic: hot bug summer

This is one of the first comics that I ever made! In 2025, I really took a deep dive into the world of insects (and friends) both in the nature preserves and in our apartment's little backyard. I went to moth sheet monitoring events, learned about planthoppers after

updates Featured

so what's all this then?

an intro to *waves hands* whatever this is.

go outside

staying offline while selling online

my unsponsored list of tools to stay offline.

go outside

beginner macro part 4: troubleshooting

resolving common problems in macro.

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beginner macro part 3: take the shot

how to take the actual macro photo.

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beginner macro part 2: settings

how to set up your camera for macro photography.

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beginner macro part 1: equipment

the hardware you need to get started in macro photography.

make art

please enjoy some black bear illustrations

drawings for school (and fun.)

go outside

2024 foraging highlights & allium pesto

reflections, ideas, and a recipe.

garden & forage

2024 foraged dyes: megapost

experiments with foraged dye materials including oak galls, walnut, and sumac.

garden & forage

foraged dyes: process tl,dr

the basics of how to open up a world of color at your fingertips.

do crafts

woodworking highlights

some projects from over the last few years.