Category Archives: painting

Sweetpeas

I was called Sweetpea by my brother growing up; I didn’t see a wild sweetpea until I moved to Oregon, and now they greet me in early summer and sometimes have a second blooming in autumn. I hear my brother … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, challenge, drawing, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Tools: Watercolors, 5, Violet and Purple!

Each Sunday this summer I am looking at my paint “collection”: Tools: Watercolors, 1, Yellow-Orange; Tools: Watercolors, 2, Red-Pink Tools: Watercolors, 3, Greens to Yellows Tools: Watercolors, 4, Blues to Greens I hated pink and purple as a girl; I was … Continue reading

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Belated Solstice: Black-eyed Susans

Extremely busy week; all work and almost no painting! An exhausting but good week, we are embarking on a new adventure. I’ll talk about it soon; you will get to see what I do when I am using my painting … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, drawing, landscape, memory, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Tools: Watercolors, 1, Yellow-Orange

For the next few weeks I am looking at my paint “collection.” I know better now how to judge what paints to buy, what I might love, and what I have — but it has taken me actually studying (*shudder* … Continue reading

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Tools: Watercolors, 2, Red-Pink

Each Sunday for the next few weeks I am looking at my paint “collection.” OOPS.  I HIT PUBLISH BY MISTAKE AND NO ERRORS. HOW OFTEN DOES THAT HAPPEN? SO THIS WEEK’S WILL BE PUBLISHED NEXT WEEK! Because of this mistake, … Continue reading

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VSW: Hawaii, Oahu Palms

Ink drawing, shadow inks (grisaille), then watercolors. Moleskin 8×11 watercolor journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Lamy Al-Star with De Atramentis Document Black,  Noodler’s inks, and Daniel Smith , Holbein, and QoR watercolors. I started a Facebook group page (you must join … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, drawing, landscape, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Overworked / Failure

Dan recently blogged about failures: “So many people try to hide failure. Sometimes, they want to hide it out of embarrassment and sometimes they want to hide it out of fear. I don’t want to fail, but when I do, … Continue reading

Posted in art, art journal, creativity, making a living, painting, pen & ink, process, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Thursday Doors: The Doe Library’s Leather Doors

My sketch, above of the unpainted and beautiful doors in the Doe Library. The Doe Library in Berkeley still has the solid redwood doors, covered in thick hides with brass details. We were hired to assess the doors, and explain … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

More Trains: Portland Union Station and more

Part two of the response to a friend’s request to post for National Train Day! Part one here! (Go visit him here if you love trains and that will lead you to others who are posting, and the logo also … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, history, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

VSW: Capetown South Africa Beachwalk, 1

I haven’t much time this week. Necessity is making my goal for this sketchwalk to capture the essence of the view, let go of details. What stands out about the view? the buildings? the beach? the sky? the mountain? Capture … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, drawing, landscape, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, timed painting, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Whats on Your Workdesk? Wednesday

I don’t know if I’ll do What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday as a regular thang, but here I am on humpday wanting to post about my new space and I happen upon this weekly challenge….. When not painting *sigh* I … Continue reading

Posted in dunno, making a living, painting, tools | Tagged | 22 Comments

VSW: Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Chicago

Loving this virtual walk in Chicago, I found a lovely Louis Sullivan church I’d not known about. Chicago has to be the Queen City of Architectural Monuments! Playing in virtual sketching gives me the ability to try techniques, and here … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, color, creativity, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

How I Make Creative Decisions

Sometimes it is hard to pick a project, or say no to an opportunity. April is arriving, and I have two art projects on my board in addition to making a living (conserving antiquities — this is what I am … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, creativity, drawing, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Playing with Tracey Fletcher King, 1

The great thing about taking a class is what you might be pushed to do if you follow try to follow almost follow another artist’s instructions. I am taking an online class by my favorite Aussie, Tracey Fletcher King, called … Continue reading

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Drawing Rich German’s Whales

Rich German lives in my home-town, Laguna Beach, and loves the ocean’s creatures.  He garnered international attention from his video of a close encounter with a pod of orcas.  (Board and Rich shown right.)  He garnered the attention of some … Continue reading

Posted in animals, art journal, challenge, drawing, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Kamala Steals the Blanket, 2

I tried this earlier but was not happy with the result, right, and decided to try it again.  I am happier with this one.  She is difficult to capture — black, but not, and suspicious!  I still used the Masking … Continue reading

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Doc Youping Qin

Dr. Youping Qin is my acupuncturist.  My images here are part of a larger set, depicting the history of acupuncture and Chinese immigrants to Oregon.  (This post is about the painting, not the story!) Doc Qin has been a Portland … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art journal, calligraphy, creativity, drawing, making a living, painting, pen & ink, pencil, portrait, process, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Doc Zhou

Wanting to test some techniques for a more serious piece. I’m no portraitist!  But I practice, with a little help from my friends…  This sketch is way too pale to begin… Liking the darker colors… Wanting to frame and brighten… … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, painting, pen & ink, portrait, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments