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Mari Stauffer Howard

@maridara

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

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Posts 13.11.2024
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Latest posts by Mari Stauffer Howard @maridara

Thank you!🤗

10.03.2026 01:50 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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.

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

09.03.2026 20:14 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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.

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

07.03.2026 17:27 👍 8 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Thank you, love!

04.03.2026 04:41 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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@maridara.bsky.social and I lovin it #hiking #forest #nature #santacruzmountains

25.02.2026 11:02 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Watercolor painting of an orange/peach colored jelly mushroom growing out of brown, grey, and rust colored redwood duff.

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.

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

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

13.02.2026 05:05 👍 14 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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@maridara.bsky.social and I lovin’ it❤️ #california #hiking #mountains #beautiful

13.02.2026 01:57 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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Trumpeting. #mushroom #wildmushroom #foraging #california #hiking

03.02.2026 08:30 👍 10 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 1
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@maridara.bsky.social and sone trumpets. #mushroom #wildmushroom #foraging #california #hiking

05.02.2026 11:34 👍 9 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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.

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.

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

31.01.2026 04:42 👍 14 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0
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.

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.

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

05.01.2026 01:20 👍 5 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0

Thank you so much, Becky! I’m so glad you enjoy them:)

06.01.2026 16:16 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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.

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.

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

11.12.2025 02:27 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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.

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.

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

11.11.2025 16:52 👍 8 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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.

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

05.11.2025 00:13 👍 9 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
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.

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

04.11.2025 01:21 👍 5 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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.

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

03.11.2025 01:09 👍 6 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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.

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

31.10.2025 23:45 👍 7 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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.

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

30.10.2025 01:49 👍 8 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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.

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

27.10.2025 22:51 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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.

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

27.10.2025 21:35 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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.

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

25.10.2025 23:35 👍 9 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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.

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

25.10.2025 21:18 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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.

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

25.10.2025 02:24 👍 11 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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.

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

21.10.2025 21:08 👍 6 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Photograph of a cute gray cat sitting on top of a sketchbook, interrupting the artist.

Photograph of a cute gray cat sitting on top of a sketchbook, interrupting the artist.

Photograph of a gray cat's paws stepping on an incomplete sketch in a sketchbook.

Photograph of a gray cat's paws stepping on an incomplete sketch in a sketchbook.

Tindu: artist’s “assistant”🩶
#cat #cats #catssittingonthings

20.10.2025 12:33 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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.

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

19.10.2025 18:01 👍 6 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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.

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

18.10.2025 19:35 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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.

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

18.10.2025 03:50 👍 11 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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.

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

17.10.2025 18:56 👍 9 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0