Vinalhaven Sketchbook 2025
Ah…the rocky coast of Maine…and the island of Vinalhaven, specifically! Visiting once a year for a week hardly feels like enough. But I’ll take it, and I’m happy to share some of the magic with you through my vacation sketches.
Beloved by many, the Lane’s Island Preserve is simply one of the most beautiful places on the island. A large meadow and bayberry thickets ring a tidal cove and lead to an extensive rocky shoreline. With a bit of scrambling over granite boulders and rockweed, you can reach numerous tidepools, which I love to sketch. Unfortunately, the tide was coming in, so I didn’t have time to draw them. Instead, I kept my feet on dry ground and admired a thicket of bull thistles (Cirsium vulgare) that attracted numerous bees and a common yellowthroat.
Spruce forest gives way to panoramic views of islands and ocean, and fascinating bedrock geology at the Tip Toe Mountain Preserve, managed by the Vinalhaven Land Trust. While poking along the shore, the remains of a gull’s breakfast caught my eye (and nose), which led to a closer inspection and sketch of what amounts to a gull’s dirty dishes.
Vinalhaven’s Lower Mill River Preserve is a hidden gem of spruce woods with granite boulders and fern meadows that lead to shallow bays and quiet saltwater coves. There are some beautiful old spruce and birch trees here, which I was determined to sketch, despite the mosquitoes, which greeted me quickly and kept me company the entire time.
Hummingbirds frequented the feeder outside our windows all day long! How could I not include them with our bird list from the week?
Drawn In 
I love the negative spaces!
What a wonderful place! Not sure what “negative spaces” means… but if it refers to the way you painted the ferns and the seaweed, I love it, too!
Thanks much!
Vinalhaven Island is certainly a naturalist’s haven! Beautiful sketches and paintings, Jean. I love how you always add action to your work, both through illustrations and in narrative. And there’s the timely and perfect touch of humor …… Dan’s comment on the gull’s ’dirty dishes’ cracked me up. I just don’t understand why you cannot be allowed to gather items for your collection! Hahahahah!
Beautiful work, a wonderful week, thanks for sharing!
Thanks Barb. That crab did not smell good AT ALL, and I completely agreed with Dan on that point. I’ve learned the hard way over the years what to keep for painting reference and what to leave behind.
Wise woman!
Jean, I always look forward to receiving your emails with your beautiful sketchbook entries. Thank you for sharing your talent and tips. You have a way of making the ordinary truly extraordinary!
That is a wonderful compliment, Betty! Thanks so much.
I loves these pages, Jean. The woodland scene makes me feel like I’m there.
I’m glad to hear that. It was early morning and overcast, and very quiet (except for the buzzing of mosquitos). It’s a pleasure to be out in the preserve and I’m glad this page captures that.
Thank you, Jean, for sharing your journey. I love your style of ink & watercolor sketching. You are so inspiring!!!!
Hi Pam– Nice to hear from you. Glad you are along to share the journey!
Oh These are absolutely gorgeous!!!!
Thank you!
Absolutely stunning, Jean! I’m in awe. The first, with the bird, I can’t get over it.. it’s so beautiful!
Hi Liz…thanks so much! Hope you’ll be coming out of winter and into spring soon!
Such beautiful work, you do inspire me. I don’t however need to be inspired to fill my pockets with flotsam, that just happens naturally. 😉
Collecting comes naturally. But I have gotten better about knowing what to leave behind. I’d rather have those things between the pages of my sketchbook than on windowsills and shelves….though some have a temporary home there until I get to sketch them.
These entries are gorgeous! And i also love your explanations and tips – you have a beautiful way with writing as with your paintings! Btw- could you please tell me what sketchbook you are using ? I am looking to switch mineas i am not happy with it ! thanks in advance.
Meera
Hi Meera- Thanks for being in touch. I am using the Handbook Journal Co 140lb Watercolor Sketchbook. The paper is a good compromise for both ink and watercolor.
thank you ! I have not tried that – I guess next experiment 🙂
These entries are gorgeous! And i also love your explanations and tips – you have a beautiful way with writing as with your paintings! Btw- could you please tell me what sketchbook you are using ? I am looking to switch mineas i am not happy with it ! thanks in advance.
Meera
The pages made me speechless.. they are so beautiful… The realism you did by handdrawn, it is magical 😍
Thanks for taking the time to send a note! Much appreciated.
It is such a great pleasure. You’re welcome 💖