Category Archives: virtual sketching

Distress

(This was written the middle of February, when I finally wrote about how I was reeling from the horrific action of the new regime… In the beginning I was frozen, then finally, slowly, I decided I had to step it … Continue reading

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When a Creative is Cut Off from Social Media

I was recently banned from Instagram (hereafter known as IG). I had posted comments on several political posts and I basically just copied my original post and pasted it instead of writing it over and over again.  IG didn’t like … Continue reading

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DEQ

Gads I am glad I took my sketchbook with me when I last had our car smogged. The boredom and tedium of sitting, trying to be alert so I would move forward when they told me to was lifted a … Continue reading

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Yaman the HelperCat

Yaman is his Daddy’s best friend. Where Mitchell is, Yaman is.  If I can’t find Mitchell in the studio I look for our panther-cat to be sitting outside a closed door, waiting impatiently to be let in.  There is jealousy … Continue reading

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2025 1 20 Rump

IMO the flag should be flown upside down and at half-mast for the next four years because we are in distress as a nation.  I won’t be stopping these rants anytime soon and if I do, then you should all … Continue reading

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Home is Burning

Los Angeles is where I was born, at a hospital in Hollywood. I have two places I call home, the West side, which is burning, and Laguna Beach. I have been everywhere that is on fire, and have friends, and … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, current events, landscape, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

How Do I Use My Journals? What Do I Write About?

Facebook recently alerted me to an anniversary of 10 years using watercolors in a sketchbook.  As a result a friend asked me how many sketchbooks have I gone through in ten years.  After counting, I found it is between 6-8 … Continue reading

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How Many Sketchbooks in a Year?

Facebook recently alerted me to 10 years using watercolors in a sketchbook. I had to share that anniversary — it surprised me — and as a result I was asked how many sketchbooks have I gone through in ten years.  … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, commentary, gouache, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

When a Creative is Cut Off from Social Media

This is a journal entry edited and expanded for you all to read; I edited it for readability. Instagram, and Facebook too, have been a game changer for me. I work full-time and run a business with Mitchell restoring/conserving various … Continue reading

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VSW: Two Aussie Birds in Direct Watercolor

From our Virtual Sketchwalk group (on Facebook), Fremantle Austrailia; images offered were mostly by Debi Taylor. We do a different place each month. Pen and ink is my jam… In direct watercolor we use no lines (tho’  I sometimes cheat … Continue reading

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VSW: Direct Watercolor of Fremantle Market

From our Virtual Sketchwalk group (on Facebook), Fremantle Austrailia; images offered were mostly by Debi Taylor. We do a different place each month. Direct watercolor is a challenge for me.  I love drawing with pen and ink…  In direct watercolor … Continue reading

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VSW: Swimming in the Bay, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Our Virtual Sketchwalk group on Facebook visited Croatia, and the green waters of the bay near Dubrovnik win my heart. Inked sketch using an EF Platinum Carbon pen with Platinum Carbon waterproof ink cartridges. Pentel Aquash waterbrushes added definition or … Continue reading

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Laguna: Main Beach and the Sixties

Continuing my sketchbook on early memories of moving to Laguna Beach, California. My first summer living in Laguna, Main Beach, above, was one of my haunts, along with Sleepy Hollow and Woods Cove.  This was when we lived on Cliff … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, journal, landscape, memory, painting, pen & ink, ritual, series, virtual sketching, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Cats: A Dive into Drugs

MY WARNING ABOUT SHORT-ACTING BENZODIAZEPINES: INCLUDING MIDAZOLAM AND OTHER “MEMORY DRUGS” Gibbs had a incident with Midazolam, a drug often used for sedation which led to personality changes.  This led us to taking responsibility for what drugs our cats use, … Continue reading

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Cats: Yaman

PS.  Yaman had a skin issue; that is why the bandage. I’ve been getting questions. I hope this two-page watercolor of Yaman has finally taught me a lesson, and it has nothing to do with the quality of Hahnemühle’s Nostalgie … Continue reading

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St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Hvar, Croatia

Our Virtual Sketchwalk group on Facebook visited Croatia, and the island of Hvar.  I chose to sketch St. Stephen’s Cathedral, located at the eastern end of the city square of Hvar. The eight-hundred year old cathedral is a blend of … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art journal, drawing, painting, pen & ink, pencil, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Kill Winter with Orange

“KILL WINTER WITH ORANGE!” For those of you not involved in the fountain pen community, this is a rallying cry that begins in February, and many posts of orange pens are posted. I’ve been thinking about this concept in a … Continue reading

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Laguna: Cliff Drive

Continuing my sketchbook on early memories of moving to Laguna Beach, California. When I was a girl I was known as Debbie Beck. The first place we lived IN Laguna was in the gold apartments on Cliff Drive, which was … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, journal, painting, pen & ink, ritual, series, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments