I’ve painted quite a few fall leaves in the past couple of weeks, but I was especially struck by the deep, rich colors of these leaves from the Kousa dogwood tree in our yard. It seemed like every possible autumn color was right there in the leaves on this one twig – deep burgundies, rich […]
Category: Nature Journaling
Nature Sketching
In September 2015, I’ll be teaching a four-day workshop called “Sketchbook Journaling in Nature” at Touchstone Center for Crafts. Touchstone is a residential learning center located in the Appalachian mountains about 60 miles south of Pittsburgh. We’ll be visiting during one of the prettiest times of the year and will have plenty of opportunities to […]
September Garden
With the cooler days we’re having now, I was feeling a little sad to see summer on its way out. I really enjoy all the flowering shrubs and perennials that brighten up our yard in the summertime, and I’m just not ready to say goodbye to them yet. Then I started looking a little closer […]
Mushroom Sleuthing
I was on a quest. A mushroom quest. As I rambled through the woods, I had noticed a few colorful little gems peeking out from under the carpet of dried brown leaves beneath my feet, and that only made me want more. Aquabee Super Delluxe sketchbook, 9″ x 12″, watercolor and Sakura Pigma Micron 01 […]
Bleeding Heart Sketch with Watercolor Calligraphy
Every spring I’m tempted to sketch the bleeding heart plant that grows by our front porch, but I’m usually so busy weeding, pruning, mulching, and planting that I never get around to it. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in the spring with all the yard work and gardening I have to do, but this year […]
Sketchbook Journeys – Italy: Day 13 (Tuscan Wildflowers)
Springtime in Tuscany…what could be prettier? 10″ x 7″, ink & watercolor in Stillman & Birn Beta series sketchbook As we drove through the countryside on our way from San Gimignano to Lucca, the scenes we passed were enough to keep a constant smile on my face. Olive groves, vineyards, villas, and bright green hillsides […]
Redbud Sketch
The two redbud trees on the south side of our house have been blooming for weeks, and they give my heart a little lift every time I glance out the window and see them. The colors change depending on what time of day it is, and I can never decide if I like the rich, […]
Remembering Last Summer
Last July I sketched the gorgeous Asiatic lilies growing next to the patio in our back yard. They only bloom for a few short weeks, but their delicate beauty and sweet scent bring a smile to my face very time I walk outside. They’re just so beautiful! 5-1/2″ x 8″, ink & watercolor in Stillman […]
Quick Sketching in the Winter Woods
If you’ve been reading my blog for long, you may remember a post I wrote last spring about my 5-5-5 Sketch Challenge. (Walk for five minutes, draw for five minutes, then paint for five minutes.) Last weekend, I thought I’d give it a try again, this time without my sidekick, a big, sloppy golden retriever […]
Step-by-Step Watercolor Painting: “Autumn Glow”
It was one of those absolutely perfect fall days when I grabbed my sketch kit and headed out across the fields. The sky was a brilliant blue, and the trees in the woods fairly glowed in the sunshine. Fall was almost over, and I was determined to hold onto it the only way I knew, […]
