Tag Archives: #artjournaling

USk: Dogwood Blossoms

The only thing good about my trip to the dentist were the Dogwoods in bloom. Pink and white blossoms everywhere, and this year the blossoms are heavy in the trees. They remind me of trips to visit Mimi and Pa … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, creativity, direct watercolor, drawing, gouache, ink painting, journal, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, waterbrush, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

I Prefer Painting Over Virtual Artwork

I read a mundane op-ed in the NYTimes this morning from a writer I rarely read — and I won’t mention it because he’s a dweeb and I don’t want to be sued.  But the upshot is that he believes … Continue reading →

Posted in acrylic, art, art journal, creativity, direct watercolor, gouache, ink painting, oil paint, painting, pen & ink, ritual, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

LaLaLand Fires

(Note: Posted late, long after the fires are finally contained… I am running behind on posts and images shared.) How is it that something so destructive and terrifying inspired me to produce a beautiful ink painting? And yet, it did. … Continue reading →

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

VSW: Vietnam End of 2024

I used my A4 Hahnemühle 100# Cotton Watercolour Book which I rarely use, because I prefer to work in the A5 size.  But here I took several photographic images from our Virtual Sketchwalk group, and created a montage: a family … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, journal, landscape, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

VSW: Hawaii, a Friend, and Sea Turtles

A friend recently moved away from Hawaii after many years; she allowed us to create a virtual walk from her many images. Right, her lovely face. BTW, if you want to try virtual walks join “Virtual Sketchwalk” on Facebook. My … Continue reading →

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When Jimmy Carter Died

December 29 2024 Jimmy Carter Died today, at 100 years old, and thankfully, in his own bed.  The man deserved a good death.  I cried, the only time I ever cried for a politician when they died. I am glad … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, current events, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Curry Chicken: Good Food is Good Medicine

One thing that is still available to us during this crazy time is cooking. Good food is good medicine. I think I made that up but who knows? Curry Roasted Chicken, YUM. Place chicken upside down in glass roasting pan.  … Continue reading →

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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 →

Posted in art journal, commission, creativity, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

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 →

Posted in animals, art journal, Cat, drawing, journal, memory, painting, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

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 →

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

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 →

Posted in art journal, commentary, creativity, gouache, journal, loss, meditation, painting, pen & ink, ritual, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in art journal, commission, creativity, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

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: 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 →

Posted in animals, art journal, Cat, drawing, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments