Category Archives: sketchbook

Gratitude Journal: Music, Ice Cream, Pema Chodron & K.D. Lang

I missed Ani Pema Chodron’s talk with K.D.Lang due to the medical debacle. I kept praying that they would allow us to go back and see it. YAY!  Sound’s True reposted it! I sketched while listening to it.  I was … Continue reading →

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USk: Pyramid Juices + Schoolhouse Electric

Schoolhouse Electric is on Nicolai St. It’s been revitalized with a barista and a great home furnishing and lighting store. It was a hot day to sketch. Pyramid Juices was once made in Ashland Oregon before it was bought out … Continue reading →

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USk: MPF Conservation’s NW Neighborhood

I haven’t sketched outdoors much lately.  I wondered what I might make of our buildings. Our studio is in an industrial area in NW Portland. This is the approach from the freeway. We share space in the building with Portland … Continue reading →

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Gratitude Journal: One

Now that I have published the Healing Journal I can move on to happier things, or at least a different reality than the awfulness of the first quarter of this year! Mitchell brought me beautiful sunflowers, my favorite. The card … Continue reading →

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4th of July: The best part was the morning

We went to the PSU Farmer’s Market on the 4th of July, arriving when it opened as we wanted to avoid heat and crowds. It was lovely, cool under the canopy of trees and on the cool lawn.   We bought … Continue reading →

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Challenges Saved My Sanity

During this medical debacle, challenges saved my sanity.  When you just can’t think of anything to draw and you are stuck looking at the same things day in and out, challenges can prompt giving you a drawing to do without … Continue reading →

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June Challenge, Week Two

I am in the home stretch of this frigging stupid stent and frankly, what has helped keep me sane is these crazy challenges on Facebook.   I am heavily drugged on pain killers and frankly, that does not make me creative.   … Continue reading →

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My Loverman

In all this waiting-for-kidney-stone maladies to heal (the surgeon tore my ureter) I have been creating a healing journal.  I’m not sure I can share it in its entirety, but will at some point share within my comfort zone.  It … Continue reading →

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June Challenge, First Week

I’m participating in another keeping-me-sane while recouping challenge! This months prompts are really good, and I am working small and fast. Selfie started it, and this is one from an image we use in the business.  Shell game was next. … Continue reading →

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May Challenge, Wrapping up

Let’s start with an image I like. This was not from the EDM prompts (which continued to be pretty boring) but from a friend’s prompts for herself this month — a vegetable in season, and these are special because they … Continue reading →

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May After Surgery: Recouping, In Pain, and Bored

I guess it is good to be able to say I am bored. Drawing this EDM challenge has not helped all that much because it is a bit like a coloring book, not what I am interested in.  On the … Continue reading →

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May Sketches: Heading Into Surgery

Tough week, as I head into my LAST surgery for kidney stones. At a client meeting in Washington, I painted a bit with my feet up. The moon looked full out our window early morning. We have names for our … Continue reading →

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May Sketches, Cinco de Mayo

My month of fake journaling has come to an end, and sadly (in terms of sharing) my next projects is top secret.  Someday I’ll post it, but not for a LONG time.  I am participating in a month long challenge … Continue reading →

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IFJM 30: Rome, Our Last Day

April 30 From my journal:  “Hard to believe it is our last day.  We thought to go to Vatican City, but we saw the lines and decided, another trip. . .  and back to Castel Sant’ Angelo, or the Roman … Continue reading →

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IFJM 29: Genoa to Rome, A Slow Drive on the Coast

April 29 From my journal:  “Last day in Genoa, and we wandered into the Mercato Orientale . . . a well-kept tourist secret.  We wandered the stalls, bought more chocolate (we ate what we bought in Nice — oops!), bought … Continue reading →

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IFJM 28: Genoa, the Painted City

April 28 From my journal:  “Genoa, a key city in the novel.  The colors of the city are like Pompei, bright almost garish painted facades.  So many influences . . .  Arab? Roman?  We haven’t had enough time as we … Continue reading →

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IFJM 27: Highway 101 in Italy

April 27 From my journal: “The yum shop! Breakfast of brioche + yummies + cheese.” “Another day of pure vacation as we head to Genoa . . . one of our takeaways brings us to remembering Eddie Izzard talking about … Continue reading →

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IFJM 26: Nice! I Fell in Love Again!

April 26 From my journal: “Everything is so close.  It took no time to get to Nice, and we decided to stay close to the water all the way to Genoa.  I had us stop at the train station, where … Continue reading →

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