5 FEB 2020 LAGUNA BEACH

Californian Wildlife Biro Drawing Workshop
Blue House, Laguna Beach
5 February 2020

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

This workshop was a wonderful opportunity for Jane to work with residents of the beautiful city of Laguna Beach, where art and nature are treasured. Celebrating incredible Californian wildlife, an inspirational group of women attended the workshop, many of whom hadn't drawn since school. The drawings they created were astonishing and a joy to see!

Image: Goff Island, Laguna Beach

The presentation for this workshop explored the enormous variety of Californian species. From coast to mountains to desert, California is brimming with endemic and iconic species. The state has 321 endangered species so this workshop highlighted ways to combat the bio-diversity crisis:

LOOK AFTER YOUR OWN BACK YARD! Looking after local environments can help biodiversity flourish, no matter where we live. Plant pollinator-friendly plants from seed in gardens, pots and window boxes. If you don’t have a garden, volunteer for community urban or woodland planting schemes or beach clean-ups. Our gardens, parks and wild spaces can become a network of nature reserves. STOP using pesticides, nature will look after itself with birds and other insects eating greenfly on your roses! Embrace endemic weeds as the wildflowers they are and let them grow

REDUCE CONSUMPTION: CHOOSE products that are sustainably and ethically sourced. RECYLCLE; EAT less meat; TAKE less car journeys; USE less water & power

TELL others about climate emergency and biodiversity crisis – WORD OF MOUTH is key

CONTACT your local Senator and voice your concerns about the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis

DONATE to or RAISE funds for conservation organisations to help them help wildlife

Image: Heisler Park, Laguna Beach

One of the most endangered species in California is the gray wolf and the presentation included information about the famous wolf known as OR-7 who journeyed from Oregon to California in 2011. Sadly since this workshop OR-7's daughter OR-54 was killed. Read more here:

www.cbsnews.com/news/or-54-endangered-gray-wolf-that-wandered-8712-miles-found-dead-in-california/

Slide from presentation with information about gray wolves in California

Discussing the phenomenal journey and presence in California of OR-7 during her presentation also reflected the work of the Wolf Conservation Center, New York who Jane has supported since 2012 to producing fundraising artwork:

American Dream 2014 colour Biro drawing, Jane Lee McCracken for Wolf Conservation Center

DRAWING SELECTION Selected for this workshop were endangered, endemic or iconic Californian species:

Gray Wolf:

Conservation Status CA: EN

Population CA: 7-10

Mountain Lion:

Global Conservation Status: LC

Population CA: 4,000 - 6,000

Canada Lynx:

Conservation Status CA: VU

Population CA: UNKNOWN

Tule Elk:

ENDEMIC SPECIES

Conservation Status CA: UNTHREATENED

Population CA: 4,000

Northern Spotted Owl:

Conservation Status CA: VU

Population CA: 560 pairs

Desert Tortoise:

Conservation Status CA: VU

Population USA & Mexico: 100,000

Black Bear:

Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN

Global Population: 10,000 - 15,000

Each drawing created by these amazing women is made using their own unique style. It's often daunting putting pen to paper with no pencil guidelines or erasers but fears were overcome brilliantly and all attendees made the beautiful drawings below. A huge thank you to Kirsten Rogers for hosting this event and to all who participated and celebrated the astonishing wildlife of this state: