Diary of a Stealth Sketcher

Mary Ida Henrikson: Why Art Comes First

April 26, 2018 by Carol Lambert 4 Comments

In this chapter of Diary of a Stealth Sketcher I am honored to bring you an interview with guest artist Mary Ida Henrikson.

I met Mary Ida Henrikson in 1970, when she was completing her MFA at Claremont Graduate University. After graduate school, she made her living on the ocean, on the pipeline, and in towns and cities all over Alaska.

Now she resides in her home town of Ketchikan, where she is a loved and respected member of the artist community.

As her writing and paintings attest, she is deeply connected to the ways of life, history, and complex ecosystem of the shores and forests of Southeast Alaska.

Mary Ida Henrikson was in Anchorage this week to launch her book, The Fire Trees of Southeast Alaska.

I interviewed her about that project, her explorations and adventures, and how she has developed as an artist since we met.

Exclusive on the Blog: Carl Ramm, Naturalist Sketching in the Wild

November 30, 2017 by Carol Lambert 3 Comments

In this edition, I interview my friend and colleague Carl Ramm. He shares photos of his work, and I include a link to his safety advice for artists in bear country.

Carl Ramm moved to Alaska in 1983. He and his wife Susan live in King Salmon, AK,

where Susan works for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2014 Carl spent time at Brooks Camp, Katmai National Park, as an artist in residence. He returned the next two seasons to help with the interpretation program on the falls platform. In 2017 he worked as part of the camp’s bear management team.

Bears at Brooks Camp

That Crazy Alaska Purchase: a Political Cartoon for 1867

October 12, 2017 by Carol Lambert 6 Comments

One hundred and fifty years ago, the United States purchased Alaska from the Czar of Russia for $7.2 million dollars.

Settlers were granted citizenship, but the native peoples of Alaska were not. Despite being the true owners, they got nothing.

Americans in 1867 read about the transaction in their newspapers, but their political cartoonists gave them more to think about. They predicted ridiculous expense for taxpayers, bizarre difficulties, and that only a few would profit.

Recently, I was invited to take part in an exhibition about the Alaska Purchase and its effects.

I wondered, if I could time-travel back to 1867, what cartoon would I submit?

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Carol Lambert

Website of Carol Lambert, Artist, Anchorage, Alaska. Paintings, drawings, and prints inspired by Alaska, mythology, nature, and close observation.