Everyday things, collected over time, tell the story of our lives. They’re reminders of the people we love and places we’ve been. It makes me happy to use things that hold memories for me, like these coffee mugs, which I painted the other day in my 7″ x 10″ Canson Montval watercolor sketchbook. Watercolor with […]
Category: Sketchbooks
A Very Happy Ending
For the past month, we’ve been having issues with our well. We think it all started with a lightning strike that fried the entire system – the well pump, storage tank pump, and all the wiring. After having everything replaced, we thought we were all set. Until I turned on the faucet one day and […]
Sketching While Out and About
I’ve been working on some very detailed painting projects lately, which I’ll share with you soon, but it’s gotten me in the mood to do something looser and quicker. So, this morning when I had to drop my van off at the Chrysler dealer for yet another recall repair, I brought my sketchbook along for […]
Weird Proportions, Funny Noses, Crossed Eyes… It Isn’t Easy Drawing People!
My sketchbooks are filled with pictures of flowers, landscapes, and everyday scenes from around my home. They even include quite a few sketches of our cats and dogs, but one thing that’s glaringly obvious is that I don’t draw people. There’s a whole big part of my life that I’m afraid to draw. I can […]
The 5-5-5 Sketch Challenge
I often take time on a Sunday afternoon to go for a nice, long walk with our golden retriever, Buckley. We both love it, and it’s a great way to get some exercise and spend time outdoors. A few weeks ago, I decided I’d throw my sketchbook and a few basic supplies into my backpack, […]
Dabbling in Gouache & Shifting My Focus
I’m always on the lookout for an excuse to buy art supplies. There’s something so exciting about testing a new set of markers, opening up a fresh sketchbook, or trying out a new paint color. A world of possibilities awaits! I think it all goes back to those childhood days when nothing made me happier […]
Tropical Muffins with Coconut-Macadamia Topping
These muffins define the word scrumptious! They’re so moist and delicious, with a flavor that’s a combination of banana-nut bread and a yummy piña colada! I clipped the recipe from a Cooking Light magazine a few months ago and have been wanting to try it ever since. This morning I had some bananas that were […]
A Funny Thing Happened While I Was Out Sketching
It was a gorgeous Sunday afternoon in early March when I set off down the road from our house to do a little sketching. I wanted to add a page or two to my Greene County sketchbook and thought I’d meander along the back roads until I found just the right spot. I didn’t have […]
My Homemade Sketch Kit for Painting On the Go
On my way to the grocery store this afternoon, I decided to dawdle a bit and stop to sketch this hot pink house that I pass every time I go to town. Watercolor, pen & ink, 3-1/2″ x 5″ I did a light pencil sketch first, just to make sure I had the proportions right, […]
A Case of Mistaken Identity
It was a startlingly bright afternoon last November, when I gave in to my longing to leave my work and head outdoors to do a little sketching. After several cold, drizzly days, the warm afternoon and deep blue sky were calling me. I grabbed the backpack that I keep stocked with sketching supplies, hopped in […]
