After a morning spent sketching at Saint Paul-de-Mausole monastery, my students and I enjoyed a wonderful lunch at our hotel, then we gathered for class outdoors under the shade trees in the courtyard. (This post is a continuation of my travel journal postings from a trip to Paris and Provence. As I finish up the […]
Category: Sketching
France Sketchbook – Day 5 – Lavender Field at St. Paul de Mausole
Ah, the lavender fields of Provence! Ink & watercolor in a handmade 6″ x 8″ sketchbook with 140 lb. Kilimanjaro paper They really are pretty as a picture. The colors, the fragrance, and the beauty of it all are simply unforgettable! During our first sketching session in Saint Remy, my students and I spread out around […]
France Sketchbook – Day 5 – Saint Paul de Mausole Monastery
Two-page spread, ink & watercolor in a 6″ x 8″ handmade hardbound sketchbook filled with Kilimanjaro 140 lb. watercolor paper When I woke up that first morning in Provence, I didn’t know what the day would hold, but the sun was shining, the cicadas were buzzing, the lavender was blooming, and all was right with […]
France Sketchbook – Day 4 – Provence
After three days in Paris, we were finally heading for Provence! We all met our tour director, Jackie (from French Escapade) and her assistant, Marie, at the train station in Avignon. It was a relief to finally turn over all the decision-making to someone else! I knew they would have things well in hand, but […]
“Fickle February” Sketch + Step-by-Step Swirly Vine Border
Last month it seemed like the weather just couldn’t make up its mind. We experienced snow, rain, ice, fog, sleet, high winds, and warm sunshine here in western Pennsylvania. After the weeks of extended cold in January, I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw crocus leaves pushing their way up through the melting […]
Super Simple Slip-On Sketchbook Cover
Have you ever heard of oilcloth? It’s a finely woven cotton fabric that has a waterproof vinyl coating applied to one side. I happened to spy some cute oilcloth on the clearance table at Hobby Lobby the other day and thought, “Wouldn’t that make a great sketchbook cover?” So, I snapped up a half yard […]
How to Paint a Snow-Covered Evergreen Tree – Technique #2
(This is the second in a series on how to paint a snow-covered evergreen tree. Read about Technique #1 in this post.) Snow-covered evergreen trees are a complex subject to paint. There are so many branches and layers and angles – how do you know where to start? This technique breaks the painting process down […]
How to Paint a Snow-Covered Evergreen Tree – Technique #1
It’s been snowing and blowing for weeks here in western Pennsylvania, with temperatures below zero some nights and highs in the teens. What better time, then, to paint snow-covered evergreens? I have two different techniques for painting snow on evergreen trees. Here’s a condensed version of the instructions for Technique #1 – click to enlarge […]
Travel Sketching Supplies
I’ve done a lot of traveling in the past few years, and I’m happy to say that I think I’ve finally figured out what sketching supplies to pack, whether I’m heading down the road or across the Atlantic. I thought you might like to see what’s in my bag…. My travel sketching supplies (click to […]
The Greek Isles: Naxos and Santorini
Blue Domes of Santorini – 6″ x 5″ ink & watercolor sketch on Kilimanjaro 140 lb. watercolor paper After leaving quiet, laid-back Amorgos (read about it in this post), we moved on to the island of Naxos. It was a place that seemed “just right”. Not too big and touristy but with more shopping and […]
