Category Archives: art journal

VSW: Art Center, Craig Ellwood

Sketch from an image looking back at Art Center spanning the arroyo. To hear about classes, follow me on Facebook! Moleskin A4 Watercolor Journal, with a Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen in medium and fine with De Atramentis … Continue reading →

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Tools: Time to Dream

New Moon, a day of silence. Sundays I talk about tools, and the biggest tool is our own bodies and hearts and minds. (Why do I think this is so dang funny — oh wait — the English call people … Continue reading →

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Happy Year of the Fire Rooster!

Okay, he’s not as fiery as some I’ve drawn but he is what he is and he is also a New Moon Rooster as he was made during my sketch blitz yesterday when I took some silence and set my … Continue reading →

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VSW: Green Hotel, Pasadena, California

Sketch to ink to grisaille to underpainting (for brightness) to final watercolor!. I spent a lot of time in Pasadena and love the Green Hotel! Above, pencil sketches and a relaxed layout of the entry and one end of the … Continue reading →

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Women’s March Portland Oregon

Along the Willamette River, estimates of 70,000 people wearing brightly colored clothing and umbrellas (not a normal sight in Oregon) in the grey rain. Moleskin A4 Watercolor Journal, with a Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Noodler’s Lexington Grey Ink, Super5 Frankfurt … Continue reading →

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Scarlett’s Dress

Two different days, good anti-depression quotes. The one above is coming out of Einstein’s God by Krista Tippett, a very good book. I have no idea where the one below came from. A doll’s dress is in the studio for … Continue reading →

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Inauguration Day

Layers of thoughts written in my journal on one line, watered with my brush to separate…. Hunter Thompson came after. ☾ Nostalgie Sketch Book Journal, with a Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pilot Metropolitan with KWZ Ink’s Foggy Green.       … Continue reading →

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CA Trip: Mitchell Lived Here and Here and Here

A complicated little house not far from the Moreton Bay Fig. Not easy, lotsa mistakes…. Logic (an architectural drawing) is easier. Not my style anymore… and little fun for me! I release those days! Relying on seeing leads to charming … Continue reading →

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Rustic Happy Rooster Cup

Like I said, rooster’s on my mind. We name some of our cups, and we have two sets of Happy Cups. Both have roosters on them, not by design but by happenstance, although maybe roosters = morning = creative time … Continue reading →

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VSW: Pasadena Rose Bowl Parade

Pepé Le Pew was a favorite cartoon of mine… Had to be the first sketch of the New Year in the Virtual Sketchwalk group! I wanted you to see that I had water-colored his black with a dark sepia but … Continue reading →

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CA Trip: Mitchell’s Moreton Bay Fig

Mitchell took me to see his Moreton Bay Fig in Santa Paula.  I understand that. I have relationships with trees too, and this one is amazing. It was planted in 1879 — and yes, it is famous — and grows … Continue reading →

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CA Trip: The Chili Hut

Mitchell’s mom ran the Chili Hut in Santa Paula… When I sketched the building where it was I put a  couple of women in dresses as they might have been then and used a 50’s style car (made up of … Continue reading →

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Bright Ideas, Silver Roses

Going back to my Bright Ideas journal for the 365 drawings a day. I love my Platinum Carbon pen but really, the ink is so reflective that it shines in scans and in photos… I don’t like THAT! That is … Continue reading →

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Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is the 28th, the year of the Fire Rooster. Rooster’s have been on my mind… Colored Verithin pencils, red and blue (not like me to pick THAT), then Loose ink lines with a wet watery brush to … Continue reading →

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Kamala Reflections

My grief when Jai died was overwhelming. I did not write much or draw him after — I have several starts, unfinished. Maybe I am just ready now to deal with the onslaught of grief that has been happening in … Continue reading →

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T. P.

At the New Year we also had a strange experience with toilet paper. Every time I sat I thought about Pema Chodron, and her commentary about staying present and having beginner’s mind with each item — as in, when I … Continue reading →

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The Tele Altar

Across the divide… Cheer!  Happy! Our improvised tele altar after the New Year. Drawing #6 I am losing my mind. I drew this on 7 January, and signed it 7/12/2016… crazy. ☾ Nostalgie Sketch Book Journal, Pilot Metropolitan with KWZ … Continue reading →

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Ruby Hotel, Spokane, WA

Business trip to Spokane Washington and my overriding memory will be cold to the bones and good people and good food.  WHIRLWIND, long days. I was so frozen we climbed into our not-very-good bed upon walking in the door and … Continue reading →

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