The medieval town of Certaldo is just a few miles down the road from Fattoria Bacio. It’s so perfectly preserved that visiting it is like stepping back in time. Certaldo is a lesser-known Tuscan hill town, so we almost felt like we had it to ourselves yesterday when we visited. We spent hours wandering about, […]
Category: Sketchbook Journaling
The Perfect Plein Air Sketching Setup
I’m always on the lookout for new ideas to simplify my plein air/travel sketching kit and when Marc Taro Holmes first introduced the idea of using corrugated plastic boards as a base for his palette, sketchbook, and tools, I thought it was a great idea and have been using it ever since. (Corrugated plastic, sold […]
Beach Flip
It’s been a busy summer, hasn’t it? I’m really not ready to say goodbye to warm days, big blue hyrdangea blossoms, and fresh veggies from the garden, but there’s definitely a hint of autumn in the air and I have to say I love having four seasons to experience every year. There’s something wonderful to […]
Last Sketch from Maine: The Sisterhood
When you spend a week with someone, you really get to know them. Luckily, all the women I went to Maine with were absolutely WONDERFUL! Each one of them added something special to the group, and it was really hard to say goodbye to all of them at the end of the week. Our time […]
Sketches from Maine: A Sailboat, Lighthouses, and More Rocky Coast
The end of our vacation week was fast approaching, and there were still so many things we wanted to do. A few of us decided we’d like to try a little sailing, so we booked our places on the schooner Olad out of Camden. It was a windy day with lots of sunshine, just perfect […]
Sketches from Maine: Heart-Shaped Rocks and Sparkling Water
I’ve just about finished my Maine sketchbook. There’s one more page I want to add at the end to wrap it all up. Meanwhile, here are a few I thought you might like to see… (All sketches were done in a 9″ x 6″ Stillman and Birn Alpha series sketchbook) I’ve collected heart-shaped rocks for […]
Update! New California Workshop Now Open for Registration
I’ll be flying off to teach in California in less than two weeks! After all the rainy weather we’ve had here recently, I’m really looking forward to sunshine. Lots of it! And palm trees and sandy beaches and the crashing surf of the Pacific Ocean. Bring it on! I’ll be teaching at San Clemente Art […]
Sketches from Maine: Part 5 – Weather Vanes and Lobster
Aren’t weather vanes cool? I just love them and decided to start taking pictures of all the different ones I came across on our trip to Maine earlier this month. There are so many nice old ones on historic homes and businesses in New England. (All sketches were done in a 9″ x 6″ Stillman […]
Sketches from Maine: Part 4 – Sea Glass
I’m hooked on huntiing for sea glass. Every summer when we go to Maine, I spend hours along the shore with my eyes trained on the ground, looking for the perfect specimen. 9″ x 6″, watercolor and pencil in a hardcover Stillman and Birn Alpha series sketchbook Large chunks are exciting… but the colors […]
Sketches from Maine: Part 3 – Rain and Sunshine
I’m glad I took the time to keep a written record of our week. It’s so easy to forget about everything that happens on a vacation if you don’t write it down. I usually did my journaling in the evening before I went to bed, putting everything down on the page in pencil rather than […]
