Plumas Arts organizes local galleries and downtown Quincy businesses together for Art Walks several times a year. On these wonderful nights a downtown nightlife revolves around gallery openings and artists.

Temperatures Friday, Feb. 5, may be chilly, but smiles will be warm as friends and neighbors gather around the Plumas Arts Gallery, Eagles Nest and Main Street Artists Gallery.

Wood has a bachelor's degree in illustration and design from Tyler School of Art, part of Temple University, in Philadelphia, Pa. Throughout her career she has designed everything from corporate logos to decorative tins, gift bags and china.

Her longest running project was to paint illustrations for Lenox China's Colonial Bouquet Collectorís Plate series, which features the state flower and native flowers from each of the 13 colonies, arranged in colonial period containers.

She has also painted a great deal for sheer pleasure, with shows of her work in the Philadelphia area and Moab.

"The beauty of nature has a powerful effect on me. It makes me glad to be alive, that I can see and smell, taste and hear such delights. I am amazed by the profusion of beauty that can be seen in nature, even in fleeting things, like frost patterns and sunrises. They speak to me of a great generosity and kindness in our maker."

"When I see something beautiful, I feel the need to show someone else, or if thatís not possible, to describe it as best as I am able, either with words or photos or, best of all, with paint."

Wood's favorite medium is watercolor. She paints out of doors, on location as much as weather permits. An avid gardener and naturalist, Wood will show paintings of flowers and landscapes she has loved, as well as some photography.

Wood loves to see kids making art, especially her own 13-year-old Brian and 9-year-old Sylvia. She has done watercolor workshops in schools to introduce kids to the fun of painting. Her husband, Dave, works for the Forest Service.

For the Art Walk, Main Street Artists will have a group show by its member artists. The show will hang for the month of February. The gallery will resume individual shows in March, starting with Michael Kerby. For more information, contact Lara Eichenberger by email or Carla DeBoer at the Eagle's Nest, 530-283-9374.