Pink flyer image advertising for The Art Of Nature exhibit at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, from March 28 to May 31, 2026. There’s also a small image of a watercolor painting of a manzanita bolete mushroom growing out of the tan oak and madrone leaf duff.

Very honored to have my
Leccinum manzanitae (Manzanita bolete fungi) painting selected to be a part of this year's Art Of Nature exhibition at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History!
More details to come
#santacruzmuseumofnaturalhistory #fungiillustration #leccinummanzanitae
#maristaufferartdotcom

Photograph of an unfinished watercolor painting (mostly blue, grey, and brown colors) of a turkey tail mushroom growing out of a log. The painting is on a block or pad of paper and is being held up in front of a backdrop of a sunny forest.

Work in progress: Trametes versicolor
#turkeytailmushroom #trametesversicolor #wip #workinprogress #watercolor #watercolour #fungi #fungiillustration #natureillustration
#maristaufferartdotcom

Watercolor painting of a reddish capped bolete mushroom growing out of brown, reddish brown, and grey leaves. The background is a blurry view of thin green forest.

Color photograph of a reddish capped bolete mushroom, growing out of a thick layer of brown, reddish brown, and grey leaves. The background is the green foliage of a tan oak forest.

All done! Finally got around to painting one of my absolute favorite mushrooms.

Manzanita bolete (Leccinum manzanitae)-watercolor.
#leccinummanzanitae
#manzanitabolete #mushroomillustration #fungiillustration
#fungiwatercolor #mushroomart #natureillustration #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing of a grey alien standing up, proudly holding up a basket of foraged wild mushrooms with one hand. Next to the alien is their friend, a black cat, sitting on top of a large mushroom and looking up at the basket, very pleased.

Color photograph of a grey cat sitting on a patio table outside, on a patio surrounded by forests. Next to the cat is the author’s sketchbook, open to a completed ink drawing. The cat appears happy that the author is finished with her drawing and can now pay more attention to him.

Finally all caught up, last day!

INKTOBER DAY 31: Award
(Pic 2: Tindu is happy to divert my attention back to him)

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktoberaward
#inktoberawardday31
#inktoberaward2025
#inktoberday31 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing of a flying saucer, with a grey alien and black cat piloting it. They are hovering above another flying saucer that’s empty, and has a “for lease” sign on it. The background is black space with stars, in a circular shape, and there are a few stars outside of the circle.

Almost there...:)

INKTOBER DAY 30: Vacant

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktobervacant
#inktobervacantday30
#inktobervacant2025
#inktobervacantday302025
#inktoberday30 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing of a classroom setting where a black cat is the teacher, pointing at the chalkboard. On the chalkboard, it says “lesson 29: how to keep us happy”, and there are drawings of an empty food bowl with a line through it next to a food bowl full of food with a positive checkmark that the Cat teacher is pointing to. There are three students sitting on the ground attend, attending the lesson and they are all gray alien children.

Getting there!

INKTOBER DAY 29: Lesson

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktoberlesson
#inktoberlessonday29
#inktoberlesson2025
#inktoberlessonday292025
#inktoberday29 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing with a circular frame drawn in, of a black cat and its friend, a gray alien, peering over some rocks and looking at some fossilized fish skeletons.

Getting caught up slowly:)

INKTOBER DAY 28: Skeletal

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktoberskeletal
#inktoberskeletalday28
#inktoberskeletal2025
#inktoberskeletalday282025
#inktoberday28 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing of an onion sprouting in a glass container in front of a circular window, showing a space scape outside with a spiral galaxy.

Still catching up...letting Inktober slide into November.
Happy Halloween!🎃

INKTOBER DAY 27: Onion

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktoberonion
#inktoberonionday27
#inktoberonion2025
#inktoberonionday272025 #inktoberday27 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black-and-white drawing of a Mobius strip. Sitting inside the Mobius strip is a gray alien, and it is tapping on the surface above its head where there is a black cat, the aliens friend on the other side, the top.

Still catching up!

INKTOBER DAY 26: Puzzling

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktoberpuzzling #inktoberpuzzling2025
#inktoberpuzzlingday262025 #inktoberday26 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing of a sketchy style sun, being orbited by a small flying saucer that is in silhouette in front of the face of the sun.

Another fun and quick one, still catching up!

INKTOBER DAY 25: Inferno

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktoberinferno
#inktoberinferno2025
#inktoberinfernoday252025
#inktoberday25 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing of a flying saucer, being piloted by a laughing Grey alien, with its friend, a black cat, peeking out from a port hole in the side of the flying saucer with a bull horn yelling and just being rowdy in general. in the background is a night sky with stars and a crescent moon.

Catching up still, quick fun one...

INKTOBER DAY 24: Rowdy

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktoberrowdy
#inktoberrowdy2025
#inktoberrowdyday24
#inktoberday24 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing of a flying saucer landed in a large field at night with a crescent moon in the sky. Inside the flying saucer are a gray alien and it’s Friend, a black cat, who are marveling at all the fireflies ascending from the grass into the sky.

Still catching up...

INKTOBER DAY 23: Firefly

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktoberfirefly
#inktoberfirefly2025
#inktoberfireflyday23
#inktoberday23 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black-and-white drawing of a small button mushroom growing out of a mossy hill in the foreground and in the background are a gray alien face and it’s friend, a black cat, staring at it and both faces much larger than the tiny mushroom.

Catching up…

INKTOBER DAY 22: Button

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktoberbutton
#inktoberbutton2025
#inktoberbuttonday22
#inktoberday22 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drying of a flying saucer with a boom box suspended and it’s beam and below that are a gray alien and it’s buddy a black cat dancing. There are many musical notes emanating from where the boombox is suspended above the dancers.

Slowly catching up…

INKTOBER DAY 21: Blast
@inktober @inktober2025 @inktober @inktoberofficial
#inktober #inktober2025
#inktoberblast
#inktoberblast2025
#inktoberblastday21
#inktoberday21 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing of two flying saucers, one piloted by a black alien and white cat & the other piloted by a gray alien and black cat. Each saucer has a tractor beam to the same suspended mushroom they are both trying to levitate to their ship. There’s a cluster of mushrooms below, where the suspended mushroom came from, and pine trees in the background, with stars in the sky.

Catching up…

INKTOBER DAY 20: Rivals

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktoberrivals
#inktoberrivals2025
#inktoberrivalsday20
#inktoberday20 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing framed in a triangular shape, of a flying saucer, landed on an iceberg in the sea of iceberg with mountains in the distance. Piloting the flying saucer are a great alien and a black cat, and there is a polar bear standing on its hind legs, greeting them, leaning against the flying saucer.

INKTOBER DAY 19: Arctic

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktoberarctic
#inktoberarctic2025
#inktoberarcticday19
#inktoberday19 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing of a black cat’s paw, shaking the hand of a gray alien with a collective speech bubble for both of them that expresses the “No Kings”sentiment in an image of a crown with a line drawn through it.

INKTOBER DAY 18: Deal

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktoberdeal
#inktoberdeal2025
#inktoberdealday18
#inktoberday18 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing of a flying saucer, piloted by a gray alien and a black cat, making an intricate sacred geometry design with its contrail.

INKTOBER DAY 17: Ornate

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktoberornate
#inktoberornate2025
#inktoberornateday17
#inktoberday17 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing of a piece of cherry pie that has been smashed by a cat, and there are paw prints of cherry pie, leading away from the piece.

Catching up...

INKTOBER Day 16: Blunder

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktoberblunder
#inktoberblunder2025
#inktoberblunderday16
#inktoberday16 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drying of a big ragged hole in the clear sunny sky, showing a black space escape with a Saturn like planet inside the hole. Zooming out of the hole is a flying saucer, piloted by a gray alien and a black cat, leaving a black speckled contrail in its wake.

Catching up still...

INKTOBER Day 15: Ragged

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktoberragged #inktoberragged2025
#inktoberraggedday15
#inktoberday15 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing of a flying saucer hovering above the ocean at night with a beam coming down that is lifting a trunk that’s closed and covered in seaweed and dripping. Inside the flying saucer are the two pilots, a gray alien and a black cat.

Catching up...

INKTOBER DAY 14: Trunk

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktobertrunk
#inktobertrunk2025
#inktoberday14 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing of a clear daytime landscape with rolling hills and some clouds. Ripping four tears in the sky are four black cat claws, and the tears reveal a black night sky with stars behind.

Catching up...

INKTOBER DAY 12:
Shredded

#inktober #inktober2025 #inktobershredded
#inktobershredded2025
#inktoberday12 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch
#maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing of a grey alien and black cat. Shown from behind, they are sitting with a small table between them, looking out the window of their spaceship to the view of a spiral galaxy in space, and each raising a glass of wine to salute the view.

INKTOBER DAY 13: Drink

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktoberdrink
#inktoberdrink2025
#inktoberday13 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #stipplingart #ilovestippling #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing of a grey alien and its buddy, a black cat, studying a book-field guide to the bees of earth-behind a large beehive sitting on the grass, with many bees buzzing around.

INKTOBER DAY 11: Sting

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktobersting
#inktobersting2025
#inktoberday11 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing of a gray alien in a room, holding a broom about to sweep up, spilled catnip, while a black cat lies on the ground, obviously high on the catnip. On the wall behind them is a framed photograph/selfie of the alien and cat.

Still catching up…

INKTOBER DAY 10: Sweep

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktobersweep
#inktobersweep2025
#inktoberday10 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing of a flying saucer, piloted by a black cat and a grey alien, lifting a huge pumpkin in a net, which bears a ribbon that says “Biggest in the Milky Way”. The background is rolling hills and a black/night sky with stars and a crescent moon, in a circular frame, with some pumpkin vines creeping out of the frame.

Catching up…
INKTOBER DAY 9: Heavy

#inktober #inktober2025 #inktoberheavy #inktoberheavy2025 #inktoberday9 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing of a ufo piloted by a grey alien, flying in an upward spiral towing a black cat outside, who is having lots of fun being flung around. There are clouds in the background, in an otherwise clear daytime sky.

INKTOBER DAY 8: Reckless

#inktober #inktober2025 #inktoberreckless #inktoberreckless2025 #inktoberday8 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing centered within a drawn circular frame, of a grey alien and black cat in diving in dark/black waters in scuba gear and full clear helmets. The cat is peeking over a rock to observe three starfish.

Catching up...
INKTOBER Day 7: Starfish

@inktober @inktober2025 @inktober @inktoberofficial

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktoberstarfish #inktoberstarfish2025
#inktoberday7 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white drawing of a flying saucer with a grey alien and black cat as occupants, beaming light beams through the clouds below. The background is an inverted black triangle.

INKTOBER DAY 6: Pierce

#inktober #inktober2025
#inktoberpierce
#inktoberpierce2025
#inktoberday6 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom

Black and white ink drawing of a grey alien, seated on a tree stump, feeding a deer an apple. At the alien’s feet is its friend, a black cat.

INKTOBER Day 5: Deer

#inktober #inktober2025 #inktoberdeer #inktoberdeer2025 #inktoberday5 #penandink #drawing #inkdrawing #penandinkdrawing #sketch #maristaufferartdotcom