Madeline Island Sketchbook
“The lake is the boss.” – Julian Nelson, Commercial Fisherman on Lake Superior When I read that statement in the National Park brochure for the Apostle Islands, it gave shape to everything I would see and learn during my week on Madeline Island, Wisconsin. I was there to teach a workshop for Madeline Island School of the Arts, and my class outings took us to forests, cliffs, and dunes on the lakeshore, and to the local historical museum in the tiny town of La Pointe. The lake—big, cold, deep, and windswept—influences it… Read More
The Earth in the palm of your hand
“A map says to you…Read me carefully, follow me closely, doubt me not. I am the Earth in the palm of your hand.” So wrote Beryl Markham (1902-1986), the first person to fly solo, non-stop across the Atlantic from Britain to North America in 1936. She wrote about her adventures in her memoir, West with the Night. I love the perspective that sketching a map can give you. It is a wonderful way to learn about the places you visit and to record your experience. Teaching a class this week on how… Read More
Sketchbook Harvest
I picked up my first quart of local strawberries a few weeks ago and have been supporting our farm stand at least once a week since. Although I wanted to set some aside to draw, we kept eating them before I could manage it. This week I finally showed some restraint. And here you have it: twelve local strawberries with personality; the way a strawberry should be. I also made time to sketch peas in our garden this week. The yield won’t amount to much, but I enjoy them equally for drawing… Read More
Portugal, Part 3: Cultural Heritage
In the Alentejo region of Portugal, the sweet clanging of livestock bells became part of the soundscape of our workshop at Sofia in Monsaraz. Sheep grazed under the olive groves just beyond our hotel, and we passed them each day on the way to and from the workshop site. I had read about these bells before the trip, so I was thrilled to find an exhibit about them at the Museum of Natural History and Science in Lisbon. Chocalhos, the traditional livestock bells of Portugal, are UNESCO listed for their Intangible Cultural… Read More
Portugal, Part 2: Olive Trees
Portugal’s Alentejo region is known for its olive groves, olive oil, and ancient trees. During my recent workshop at Sofia in Monsaraz, our group passed century-old olive trees lining a farm road on our daily walk between the hotel and the retreat site. I loved imagining their many years in the sun: sheltering sheep, bearing fruit, and growing more gnarled year by year, until each one developed its own distinct personality. I could draw olive trees for days and never tire of them. But time was short, so I only had the… Read More
Portugal, Part 1
I’ve just returned from a fascinating and rewarding trip to Portugal, where I taught a workshop at Sofia in Monsaraz. It was my first visit to the country, and I was captivated by the artistry on display in both Lisbon and the more remote Alentejo region, where we traveled for the workshop. Ceramic-tiled buildings, patterned stone walkways, ornate religious vestments, hand-loomed rugs, colorful pottery—I wanted to draw it all. I don’t often create such an elaborate opening page for a trip, but inspired by tile motifs and frequent sightings of House Martins,… Read More
Enough said.
“There is a sweetness of May verging on June that no other time can equal.” – Hal Borland Tips and Techniques– I’ve sketched allium for several years now and it’s always a pleasure. Poppies are usually next, with numerous flower heads ready to unfold in a week or so, but I’ll miss them this year while traveling and teaching in Portugal. I look forward to returning with a sketchbook full of new sights. (Sketched in Handbook Journal Co. 140lb watercolor journal, with a Micron 005 pen and QoR watercolors.)
What color is that shadow?
Have you ever looked closely at shadows? As the days grow brighter in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s a great time to notice their patterns and colors. Even if you’re not an artist, take a moment this week to study a few shadows and ask yourself: what color is that? You may be surprised by the answer. Not all shadows are the same. Some are gray, but many carry subtle color influenced by the object, the light, or the surrounding environment. That’s the kind of nuance artists love—and often find elusive to capture…. Read More
More color please!
The reopening of our local farmers market for the season was cause for celebration—along with renewed healthy eating and a bit of indulgence. It’s been a long time since I’ve used this much color in my sketchbook. Let’s have more of it! Tips and Techniques– I almost passed up this sketch because my weekend was packed with travel and activities. But I didn’t want to let the moment go, so I set a timer for 10 minutes, grabbed a size 08 Micron pen, and got to work. I’ve found that using a… Read More
Magnolia study
What makes your top five list of spring flowering trees? The Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is right up there on mine, even though I don’t get to see it unless I’m traveling to the mid-Atlantic or Southeastern U.S. where it grows. But what a beauty! Its huge white flowers are set off by glossy dark leaves and, later, its bright red fleshy seeds are eaten by birds and other wildlife. Tips and Techniques – I painted this study while preparing for the first session of my upcoming online class, Savoring Summer Sketchbook… Read More
Drawn In 