Cowling Creek, Suquamish. photo by John F. Williams

“The Salty Crew”. watercolor on paper by Karen Parker

“When the Stars Align”. acrylic on panel by Karen Parker

Coastal bluffs.  photo by Mikaila Wireman

These coastal bluffs are the embodiment of movement itself: the rock formations have taken on the form of the very waves that have contoured them over decades. At Teddy Bear Cove, the tides shape the geology of the region dramatically over time. Rising and falling each day, the waves carve through the stone over the course of decades.

Solitary kayaker.  photo by Mikaila Wireman

Despite the calm evening stillness of the water in the bay, movement abounds in this scene. A maple tree stands tall over grasses rustling in the gentle breeze, its branches formed by the passage of time, the changing temperature of each season, and the varying length of daylight throughout the year. Through the apparent stillness, a solitary kayaker moves effortlessly through the gentle water, sending ripples out behind him with each stroke.

Gulls at sunset.  photo by Mikaila Wireman

Through the rustling of the tall grasses and the gentle lapping of ripples on the shoreline, we hear the calls of seabirds in the soft evening light. Rustling wings race through the sunset as each gull dives into the water or catches insects in flight.

In the depths of the forest.  photo by Mikaila Wireman

Taken in the depths of the forest, this scene shows the dramatic upward movement of the evergreens and deciduous trees native to the region. From a fallen fir, shrouded in moss, shoots a sapling up and into the light. Across the dark forest interior, sunlight moves quickly and quietly, providing brief periods of warmth and light energy necessary for new plant life to grow.

Karen Parker is an artist living in Sequim. As an outdoorswoman and former naturalist, she continues to be inspired by the world around her, which is reflected in her work. Karen wants her creations to be recognizable enough that people can both appreciate them and learn more about nature, as well as go discover sights for themselves.

Jaime Webb is an environmental educator who lives in Bremerton. He loves hiking, taking photographs of nature, and painting.

Mikaila  Wireman moved to Bellingham to attend college, and fell in love with the beauty and nature of the Pacific Northwest. Although she has moved around at several points in her life, she has always found her way back to this corner of the country. She is an artist, an advocate for wild creatures and wild places, and an outdoor enthusiast.

Table of Contents, Issue #19, Spring 2023