Frozen
With much of the U.S. locked in single‑digit temperatures and snowstorms, it felt like the perfect moment to embrace the cold and venture into the depths of our freezer— which had evolved into a gigantic, cluttered heap of unidentifiable objects. I decided to make the most of this otherwise uninspiring chore by sketching my findings, partly for posterity and partly to prove I survived the expedition. When I unearthed seven bags of peas and corn, I knew I’d made the right call. And so, at the risk of oversharing, here’s the inventory…. Read More
Snow Caps
It felt so great to get outside to sketch yesterday afternoon, even in snow. I’ve painted these flowers in summer, fall, and now winter. They look rather handsome in their snow caps, don’t you agree? Tips & Techniques– Take the bare minimum of art supplies– pencil or pen and sketchbook– outside when it’s cold, and choose a subject that you can sketch quickly. I used a Micron 005 sepia pen in my Handbook Journal Co.140lb watercolor journal. Inside, I painted with QoR watercolors, using predominantly cobalt blue and raw sienna for the… Read More
Zooming Out, Looking Ahead
The “research phase” has officially begun for my summer workshop, Drawn to Nature, at Madeline Island School of the Arts on Lake Superior, July 20–24, 2026. I’m starting with the wide view—looking at the Great Lakes as a whole—before narrowing in on Lake Superior and the many things that make Madeline Island so special. Drawing a map always helps me focus. It gives me a sense of the land, water, and geography that shape a place. From there, I begin layering in plant communities, wildlife, and human history—the roots from which cultural… Read More
Winter Birches
“It was one of those winter days that suddenly dream of spring.” – Shirley Jackson You know those days—when the sun comes out and the wind drops, when you can see a bit of color in a shadow, and hints of grass show through melting snow. When geese are flying overhead in magnificent noisy flocks. We were lucky to have a few days like that recently. Not warm enough for a real thaw, but welcome just the same. Tips and Techniques– Use the negative shapes between trunks and branches when drawing trees…. Read More
Nests Nine and Ten
I sketched 10 bird nests in the last year. Some with just ink, some with watercolor. Some from collections, some discovered in the wild. Does 10 seem like a lot—or like it hardly scratches the surface? Nests nine and 10 are drawn from the same Red-winged Blackbird nest, collected in 1896 in Phelps, New York. I discovered it during a recent visit to the New York State Museum ornithology collection. I love these nests for their intricate weave of cattails and marsh grasses and for the way the larger strands illuminate the… Read More
The Gift of Time
I had a lot of fun drawing art supplies this week. During the busy holiday season, it’s been great to take time to sketch something every day. As I worked, I thought about my favorite tools, but also about how much more important time is to developing art skills. And so, while I hope that Santa slips a new paint brush or pen into your stocking, my greater wish is that you find time for regular creative practice in the New Year. Take a class, treat yourself to a weeklong workshop, or… Read More
Winter’s Cache
Last week’s snowfall coated nearby fields and hedgerows and, lucky for me, left little clumps of snow atop of bird nests that were formerly hidden. I waded into the shrubby field adjacent to our house to have a look around. It didn’t take long before I found several nests amidst the waist-high goldenrod, thorny vines, shrubs, and pioneer white pines. This one had been repurposed by mice as a larder of bittersweet and rose hips. Though not an unusual practice, it was a rather colorful surprise and quite worth the cold feet… Read More
On My Desk
Feathery milkweed pods sit on my desk this week next to a stack of field guides, a large tome on the beginnings of modern natural history, and flyers for holiday strolls. Rounding out the desktop: pens, ink cartridges, notes with art class ideas, receipts, and the usual assortment of brushes, pens, and paints. Outside my window: gray, cold December. Tis the season for messy desks, indoor confinement, and more project ideas than time. Amidst the clutter, I’ve been putting a new fountain pen with an extra fine nib through the paces to… Read More
Cold Day, Warm Light
Though no longer cloaked in their brilliant red of June, poppy seedheads have their own naked beauty in November. I was so pleased to sketch these, backlit by the afternoon sun, at the Botanical and Nature Sketching Retreat at the Ashokan Center a few weeks ago. I didn’t have time to paint them there, but thanks to Faye of Flowers by Faye I got to take them home. Now, the seedheads sit on my windowsill where, even as the weather turns cold, they continue to bring warmth to the room and remind… Read More
The Last of the Zinnias
The leaves are mostly fallen, and November has turned cold. Still, I haven’t found time to fully put the garden to bed. I’ve left some coneflowers for the birds to pick over and the zinnias are mostly standing upright and brown. I love their curling leaves and stray petals, now dried and drooping or sticking out every which way. They gave me one last chance for a sketch before meeting the compost pile. Cold as it was, it was good to be outside, remembering summer, and savoring this last moment in the… Read More
Drawn In 