Category Archives: pen & ink

Dan’s Maddie

I love this picture of Maddie flying with her ears in the air, and wanted to try to capture it.  A challenge for me.  I decided to pair it for Dan with one of her puppy pictures. Goal was to … Continue reading →

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Bright Ideas, Week 10

I think I am going back to posting sketches from my Bright Ideas journal on one day…  I like them all lined up at once and really, they are not special enough each for its own post… Usually! I tried … Continue reading →

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Bright Ideas: Laura Perry

This pair of earrings brings back a host of memories from childhood fo a beloved babysitter who became a friend.   We laughed and enjoyed each other so much! Her home was a trailer at the loveliest trailer park in the … Continue reading →

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Bright Ideas: Parker Palmer Depression

Parker Palmer, writer and activist, became known to me through his writings about depression.  I  find him grounding and thought-provoking.  His thoughts on the current state we find ourselves in are most comforting: “How do I stay engaged and whole … Continue reading →

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Dan’s Squirrels

Commissions are harder because I have a happy outcome in mind. I can see the person who the piece is for and see that smiling face and… My Monkey Mind Critic kicks in… Black animals are the hardest…. black cats, … Continue reading →

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Subzero Chili with Beans

Drawing from Jan 9…  Just posting all out of order! Ice and snow and we lived on this in the studio….  though not really subzero here! Recipe, rough, approximate, because I rarely use a recipe… 2 big onions, chopped 1 … Continue reading →

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Campbell Valance

The embroidered velvet drapery at the Campbell House sticks in my mind… Amazing detail, lovely graceful, beautiful patterns. I’ve taken to playing with it in ink: I am still reading Krista Tibbett’s book, Einstein’s God.” Okay, I didn’t mean to … Continue reading →

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Cat Cozies

Gads.  I’ve been putting this off long enough. Blankets and stolen sweaters that reminded me of Jai and/or Kamala. Cried through washing them.  The clean stack made me cry more. And old throw that was bleached then I tried to … Continue reading →

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Bright Ideas: Hopeful In Bad Times

“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in … Continue reading →

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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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#18 on the Top Sketch Websites!

Top 50 Sketch Websites & Blogs For Sketchers & Artists Woot!  I made #18 on the top sketch blogs for sketchers! I am not usually interested in awards but this is comparing me with some people who I think are … Continue reading →

Posted in class, creativity, drawing, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , | 29 Comments

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 →

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

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 →

Posted in architecture, art journal, drawing, ink painting, journal, landscape, memory, painting, pen & ink, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments