(Continuing my posting of sketches from the Monologue Basics A5 sketchbook that I reviewed here.) My husband and I spent five days in Texas last fall visiting friends in San Antonio. I didn’t think I’d have a lot of time to sketch, so I took a minimum of supplies, but it turned out to be […]
Category: Sketchbooks
More Random Sketches
As promised, here are more random sketches from my Monologue Basics sketchbook… I deviated from my usual technique in this marigold sketch. Instead of doing a line drawing, then painting light, medium, and dark glazes of color, I did a quick initial freehand painting with watercolor, then, after the paint had dried, I did my […]
Impressions of the Monologue Basics Sketchbook + Random Sketches
A few months ago, the Monologue company sent me a few of their sketchbooks to try, and I decided to play around with the A5 hardcover to see how it handles the materials I normally use for sketching: ink, colored pencil, watercolor pencil, and watercolor paints. It measures around 5-1/2″ x 8″, and the paper […]
It’s Here! Grab a Copy of “Sketchbook Journeys: Italy”
Ever since I finished my Italy travel journal, I’ve been wanting to publish it as a Blurb book, just like I did with my Ireland sketchbook back in 2011. But it’s been over a year since I put the final brushstroke on that last sketch of Pisa, and this project just kept getting pushed to […]
Fall Harvest Journal Page + Step-by-Step Border
This page from my new nature journal shows a selection of what I collected the other day when I took a walk in the woods near our house. I wanted to see how many “crops” (seeds, nuts, and berries) I could find as fall dwindles down and winter moves in. Ink & watercolor, two-page spread […]
Dogwood Sketch & Time-Lapse Video
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 […]
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 […]
Sketches from “Between the Covers” Art Show
I promised I would show you some of the sketches from the artists who participated in the “Between the Covers” art show that I was involved with at Artbeat gallery. I had a hard time choosing which sketches to share, since there was such a huge variety of styles and subject matter. In the end […]
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 […]
“Between the Covers” Sketchbook Show
Between the Covers: Artists and Their Sketchbooks Artbeat Gallery Opening reception Friday, May 9, 2014 7-9 pm Artbeat gallery will be showcasing the sketchbooks of regional artists for three weeks in May at their Waynesburg, PA, location. The exhibit will give viewers a glimpse into the artists’ creative process – a peek behind-the-scenes to see […]