The 7″ x 10″ Canson watercolor sketch book that I used for my travel journal contained 20 pages of 140 lb. watercolor paper. I used both sides of the paper, which gave me 40 pages to fill during my 2-week trip. The whole time I was in Ireland, I had a niggling worry in the […]
Category: Sketches
Sketchbook Journeys – Ireland: Days 4-6
Dunluce Castle was our last stop in Northern Ireland. The crumbling structure looks as if it might tumble down the cliffs into the churning waters of the Atlantic during a rough winter storm. When I did this little sketch of the castle, I framed it with a Celtic border, drawn after we were out of […]
Sketchbook Journeys – Ireland: Days 3-4
I wanted to stop and visit every cute little town we drove through in Ireland. They all looked so inviting, with their colorful buildings, interesting shops, pretty houses, and window boxes filled with cascading flowers. We did make a stop in Ballycastle, where I sat in the warm sunshine on a stone wall, balancing my […]
Sketchbook Journeys – Ireland: Days 1-3
The last line has been drawn, the last brushstroke painted. My Ireland sketchbook is complete! I still want to dress up the cover a bit when I get a chance, but I’m so anxious to share my sketches with you that I just couldn’t wait any longer! 7″ x 11″ watercolor sketchbook (In case you’re […]
Tomato-Mushroom Chowder
November weather puts me in the mood for soup – how about you? When it’s cold, gray, and drizzly outside, I love to fill the house with the aroma of sautéing vegetables and herbs. The anticipation of sitting down to a steaming bowl of chowder makes me feel all warm inside, and somehow that dreary […]
“Our Town: Monday Morning” Watercolor Painting
A few years ago, I did a sketch of the main street of our little town, and it’s been so popular at the gallery where I sell my work that I decided to do a whole series of “Our Town” paintings. Here’s the second in the series, completed just a few days ago … “Our […]
My Sketchbooks Make Their Television Debut!
A few weeks ago, out of the blue, I received an invitation to appear on a local cable television show to talk about my art. I was happy to have an opportunity to share my work, although I was a tiny bit nervous about appearing on camera. Everything worked out just fine, though, and I […]
Hand-Painted Tile Fireplace Surround
One of the features of our house that I like the best is the kitchen and breakfast area. It’s the space where everyone gathers to eat, play games, and just hang out. The breakfast room opens onto the sunroom, which offers great views of our yard and the fields and hills beyond. The color scheme […]
Hand-Painted Blue & White Tile Backsplash
When we were building our house eleven years ago, I had my heart set on having a classic blue and white kitchen. I found some beautiful, hand-painted blue and white Delft tiles at a local tile and stone shop, but when I started adding up the total cost to do the entire 30 linear feet […]
Holding Onto Summer
It was a perfect summer morning when I stepped outside onto the patio to give our little grey kitty, Genevieve, a scratch behind the ears. The temperature was just right and a gentle breeze ruffled the leaves on the trees. The deep blue sky was dotted with puffy white clouds. Birds were chirping and flitting […]
