Menu

about

what inspires me to make art

Inspiration

Every morning you wake up and look forward to _____.  

If you imagine yourself in paradise, an Arcadian world, it would look like _____ and you would be _____.

For me, I have for 50+ years enjoyed working with small things, especially in outdoor settings. 

Moss Along Trail

My Mom read to me from the “Bookhouse,” a series of hardcover illustrated books full of fairy tales and children’s literature.  The first volume started with a verse from Robert Louis Stevenson that we shared again and again for all of our life together:

“The world is so full of a number of things, 

I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings.”

I hope my (our!) favorite things can inspire you too.

Favorite things

My family and menagerie histories of Roma tales, hoarded heirlooms, and "mini mews."  Collect the seeds of inspiration.

Family

My family and menagerie histories of Roma tales, hoarded heirlooms, and “mini mews.”  Collect the seeds of inspiration.
Outside, every day, rain or shine. Splash of cold raindrops, startled song of a chickadee, warm garden mud in hand.  Plant the seeds of inspiration.

Nature

Outside, every day, rain or shine. Splash of cold raindrops, startled song of a chickadee, warm garden mud in hand.  Plant the seeds of inspiration.
A lifetime in academia.  My Dad taught medical students, my Mom was a middle school secretary, I've taught in high school and universities.  Corridors of inspiration.

Studies

A lifetime in academia.  My Dad taught medical students, my Mom was a middle school secretary, I’ve taught in high school and universities.  Corridors of inspiration.
Responsible collecting, upcycling, land stewardship, and animal rescue.  The values that lead to action.

Matters

Responsible collecting, upcycling, land stewardship, and animal rescue.  The values that lead to action.
That infusion of warmth; thinking about the places, people, and things that make life worthwhile.

Gratitude

That infusion of warmth; thinking about the places, people, and things that make life worthwhile.
Favorite artists and personalities who have shared their unique views of the world.  Colorful, whimsical, challenging, and sensational.

Community

Favorite artists and personalities who have shared their unique views of the world.  Colorful, whimsical, challenging, and sensational.
Any available counter, comfy chair, or sometimes an entire cargo container.  A dedicated space to create dream worlds. 

Studio

Any available counter, comfy chair, or sometimes an entire cargo container.  A dedicated space to create dream worlds. 
Folders filled with papers, bins of miniatures, palettes of paints.  These are the things dreams (and art) are made of.

Materials

Folders filled with papers, bins of miniatures, palettes of paints.  These are the things dreams (and art) are made of.
Collect and make elements, arrange into collages and assemblages, display, and repeat.  This is my process for making art.

Process

Collect and make elements, arrange into collages and assemblages, display, and repeat.  This is my process for making art.
Windy Day at FNWR

My name is Lesley “Mae” Blair, named after my Grandmother Golda Mae and Mom June Rose. My home is a small strawbale on 10 acres of habitat in Oregon’s beautiful Willamette Valley.  My days are happily filled with studying nature, teaching biology, and making art.

Over the past few years I have been integrating more of my art into teaching science.  This has included field journals, organism illustrations, microscopy, habitat dioramas, and video installations.  I hope to make learning science more engaging;  not just educational, but also entertaining.

I started this website hoping to share my work and inspiration with a heavy dose of gratitude.  Ideally this website will be an incubator for new ideas, building on a foundation of nature journaling and science teaching. Thank-you for visiting and come back to see what happens.

Happy adventures!

Photo is by Mark Lavery at Finley National Wildlife Refuge.