Tessera

Mari Stauffer Howard

@maridara.bsky.social

Visual artist & illustrator…cat mom…happy wife…human rights & justice, climate justice. Iban/Swiss/American #decolonize ✨Art✨Cats✨Music✨ Foraging✨ Nature✨ Cosmos✨Gardening✨🛸✨ 🎨: https://www.maristaufferart.com

154 Posts493 Follower 1109 Folgt

Mari Stauffer Howard @maridara.bsky.social · 21h ago

✨For The Frames: Turkey Tail mushrooms (Trametes versicolor)✨ Ink pen & watercolor on Arches hot press paper. "Fungi make worlds. They also unmake them. There are lots of ways to catch them in the act."-Merlin Sheldrake #watercolor #penandink #mushroomart #fungiart #maristaufferartdotcom

Photograph of a rectangular watercolor painting of brown, ochre. And white turkey tail mushrooms on a bluish grey log, with a wash of ochre colored leaf duff in the background. The frame is white with some greyish brown wood texture showing through, and is in front of a backdrop of bay trees.

Mari Stauffer Howard @maridara.bsky.social · 6d ago

Work In Progress: new piece For The Frames-Trametes versicolor (Turkey Tail mushrooms). Pencil & ink done, color (watercolor) next... #wip #workinprogress #watercolor #fungiart #mushroomart #turkeytailmushroom #trametesversicolor #natureillustration

Photograph of a black and white ink drawing of turkey tail mushrooms growing out of a log. The drawing is being held up in front of a backdrop of a forest of trees.

Mari Stauffer Howard @maridara.bsky.social · 3w ago

For The Frames: ✨Amanita muscaria✨ (Micron drawing pen and watercolor on Arches cold pressed watercolor paper). #watercolor #penandink #mushroomart #fungiart #natureillustration #amanitamuscaria #flyagaric

Photograph of a small watercolor painting/illustration of an Amanita muscaria mushroom, growing out of a cluster of pine needles. The mushroom cap is red with white spots and the stem is off white. The painting is in a picture frame that is light colored:off white with a brownish linear pattern and texture. The photograph is taken under a forest canopy, and the green trees are visible in the background.

Watercolor painting/illustration of an Amanita muscaria mushroom, growing out of a cluster of pine needles. The mushroom cap is red with white spots and the stem is off white. There is no background and the subject is also drawn with black artists pen for the details of lighting and shading etc.

Mari Stauffer Howard @maridara.bsky.social · 3w ago

First from my new project, For The Frames (creating pieces for thrifted frames): ✨Black trumpet duo. (Micron drawing pen and watercolor on Arches cold pressed watercolor paper). Really enjoying incorporating pen lately! #watercolor #penandink #mushroomart #fungiart #natureillustration

Photograph of two small black picture frames, each containing a watercolor illustration of black trumpet mushrooms. The frames are sitting on a surface outside, with green forests in the background.

Photograph of a watercolor of a cluster of three black trumpet mushrooms growing out of the ground, which has tan oak leaves scattered about…colors are browns and blues.

Photograph of a watercolor of a cluster of five (three large and two very small) black trumpet mushrooms growing out of the ground, which has tan oak leaves scattered about, and a small fallen branch behind the mushrooms…colors are browns and blues.

Mari Stauffer Howard @maridara.bsky.social · last mo.

New project: creating pieces for thrifted frames. First two: Black trumpets (Craterellus calicornucopioides). Ink is down, next is the color. #wip #workinprogress #mushroomart #fungiart #natureillustration maristaufferart.com

Photograph of a hand in the lower left of the frame, holding up a paper pad with two separate black ink drawings, each in its own drawn rectangle frame, of black trumpet mushrooms, growing out of the ground with various tan oak leaf litter.

Photo of a black and white (black ink on white paper) realistic drawing of three black trumpet mushrooms growing out of the ground, with tan oak leaves scattered about.

Photo of a black and white (black ink on white paper) realistic drawing of a cluster of five black trumpet mushrooms growing out of the ground, with various tan oak leaves scattered about.

Mari Stauffer Howard @maridara.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Finished this one today: Trametes versicolor (Turkey tail mushroom)…a very cool growth pattern spotted during a past forest foray! #watercolor #mushroomart #fungiart #fungiillustration #natureillustration #mushroomillustration

Photo of a watercolor painting depicting a turkey tail mushroom growing on a branch. The colors of the mushroom are rings of browns and ochres and greys. The colors of the branch are greys and ochres, and the background is mostly a wash of browns.

Mari Stauffer Howard @maridara.bsky.social · 4mo ago

💕Happy 13th Birthday to our boys, brothers Tindu (left) and Manul! So grateful for these sweet, wise, and loving kitties, our babies, and thankful for their good health!💜 @joho1564.bsky.social

Photo collage of two pictures of two different (brother) grey tabby cats, with a black background peppered with colorful shapes that look like confetti.

Mari Stauffer Howard @maridara.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Fun little (bird’s nest) fern today🌿 #patiostudio #penandink #inkdrawing #drawing #botanicalillustration #sciart #maristaufferartdotcom

Photograph of a sketchbook with a black ink drawing of a fern plant on the page. Behind the sketchbook is the blue sky and some trees, denoting the outdoor forest scenario of the photograph.

Guild of Natural Science Illustrators @gnsiart.bsky.social · 5mo ago

There is one more month to see "The Art of Nature," an annual exhibit at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History! This year's exhibit features 52 local artists in a variety of mediums. santacruzmuseum.org/exhibit/thea... #SciArt

Mari Stauffer Howard @maridara.bsky.social · 4mo ago

I had a lovely time at the Fauna First Friday at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History! I'm grateful to be in the company of so many wonderfully talented artists and illustrators. And, of course, THANK YOU to my two helpers for everything! @joho1564.bsky.social

A woman sits at a table displaying her greeting cards, prints, and stickers of her mushroom & bird paintings, and pen and ink drawings of cats and aliens. The setting is a shady garden.

A man and woman sit at a table in a shady garden. They are helping to sell prints, greeting cards, and stickers for the artist whose works are featured on the merchandise.

Mari Stauffer Howard @maridara.bsky.social · 5mo ago

John @joho1564.bsky.social and I in our happy place…mountain forest time!

Photograph of a man and woman posing in front a mountain river, with the green mossy bank visible on the other side of the water.

John Howard @joho1564.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Looking for morels, found a ken doll head @maridara.bsky.social #mushroom #wildmushroom #fungi #wildfood #california #foraging #hiking 🍄 🍄‍🟫 #weirdfinds

John Howard @joho1564.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Found some morels, ate some morels. So delicious! @maridara.bsky.social #mushroom #wildmushroom #fungi #wildfood #california #foraging #hiking 🍄 🍄‍🟫 #cookingsky #foodsky🧑‍🍳👩‍🍳👨‍🍳

John Howard @joho1564.bsky.social · 5mo ago

@maridara.bsky.social and a Morel! #mushroom #wildmushroom #fungi #wildfood #california #foraging #hiking 🍄 🍄‍🟫

John Howard @joho1564.bsky.social · 5mo ago

@maridara.bsky.social, Heidi and I in Santa Cruz for Heidi’s birthday:) #santacruz #ocean #birthday

John Howard @joho1564.bsky.social · 6mo ago

@maridara.bsky.social got her painting in the art of nature show at the Santa Cruz natural history Museum again! So proud❤️ #art #artsky #painting #mushroom 🍄‍🟫🍄 #santacruz #nature #history

John Howard @joho1564.bsky.social · 6mo ago

@maridara.bsky.social and I in our happy place. #nature #hiking #beauty #rainforest #mountains #santacruzmountains #waterfall

John Howard @joho1564.bsky.social · 6mo ago

@maridara.bsky.social and I in SF on a beautiful day. #sanfrancisco #coittower #baybridge #beautifulday #northbeach

Mari Stauffer Howard @maridara.bsky.social · 6mo ago

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

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.

Mari Stauffer Howard @maridara.bsky.social · 6mo ago

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

John Howard @joho1564.bsky.social · 7mo ago

@maridara.bsky.social and I lovin it #hiking #forest #nature #santacruzmountains

Mari Stauffer Howard @maridara.bsky.social · 7mo ago

My latest fungi watercolor-Apricot Jelly (Guepinia helvelloides). First time finding this rare one! #watercolor #watercolour #fungi #fungiart #fungiillustration #mushroomart #mushroomillustration #natureillustration #apricotjellyfungi #maristaufferart #guepiniahelvelloides

Watercolor painting of an orange/peach colored jelly mushroom growing out of brown, grey, and rust colored redwood duff.

Photograph of an orange/peach colored jelly fungus growing out of grey and brown redwood duff.

John Howard @joho1564.bsky.social · 7mo ago

@maridara.bsky.social and I lovin’ it❤️ #california #hiking #mountains #beautiful

John Howard @joho1564.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Trumpeting. #mushroom #wildmushroom #foraging #california #hiking

John Howard @joho1564.bsky.social · 7mo ago

@maridara.bsky.social and sone trumpets. #mushroom #wildmushroom #foraging #california #hiking

Mari Stauffer Howard @maridara.bsky.social · 8mo ago

All done. Ramaria apiculata (Green-tipped coral mushroom). #watercolor #watercolour #greentippedcoralmushroom #ramariaapiculata #natureillustration #illustration

Watercolor painting of a yellow coral mushroom with green tips, growing out of a dark almost black ground full of oak and madrone leaves, with an acorn on the ground in front of it.

Becky Levine @beckylevine.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Just bought some of @maridara.bsky.social's awesome notecards--the drawings are from her #inktober work. I love these so much! Check out all her available cards and other art at www.maristaufferart.com

Five notecards - all ink in black & white. Each one has an illustration of one or more beings from some other planet, with a cat. 1) Inside/on an infinity symbol. 2)Dancing to music from a space ship radio. 3) Trying to read a book on which the cat is sitting. 4) Meditating with cat on head 5) Reading a book called Cats of Earth, in front of a cat.

Mari Stauffer Howard @maridara.bsky.social · 9mo ago

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

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.

Mari Stauffer Howard @maridara.bsky.social · 10mo ago

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 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.

Mari Stauffer Howard @maridara.bsky.social · 10mo ago

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 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.