Inspiration from Afar

An artist is an explorer. -- Henri Matisse

My dear friend is traveling in Sedona, Arizona, and sent me a photo of the rocks in the sunlight there.  The text that accompanied the photo spoke of new watercolor paints & paper, and a new pair of hiking boots to explore the "incredibly inspiring" area.  The photo & story lit my imagination, and I was inspired to paint the scene. I send gratitude back to my friend, who had serendipitously left this quote in my kitchen recently:

By doing what you love, you inspire & awaken the hearts of others.  

So true!

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

Reconnecting at Breakfast

This morning I woke up and this is what I saw out my kitchen window:



As I ate oatmeal and drank hot tea, I picked up a few Micron pens and my colored pencil set to sketch.




The holidays can take us away from our routines, and finding just a few minutes for a sketch reconnects us to nature, to what is deeply meaningful, calming and real.  As your pen travels down the contours of an elegantly twisted Black Cherry tree, you connect with the tree's essence and native beauty, and you are reminded that you, too are part of Creation.  This feeling of community with nature heals me, settles me, and lights that spark of joy in my heart that I am a living being on this amazing planet.

May you find a moment to reconnect through art today.

2020 Nature Calendar is Done!

I just picked up the copies of my 2020 pen & ink nature calendar!  Hubby & I made it down our country roads and back just before the snow & ice storm swept into the area.

My intention from the start was to have a calendar that recipients could paint or color if they liked.  So I had the copies printed on white card stock.  The minute I got my calendars home, I broke out my paints and played a bit. 

Why does this make me so happy? 

Painting Inspiration

This time of year, I find myself drawn to wise quotes by famous people.  After hours of selecting, writing and illuminating quotes with illustrations of wild creatures for my 2020 pen & ink calendar, I'm sensitized to the words' deeper meanings.  The more you sit with something, the more secrets and nuances it will yield for you to pluck and take to heart.

Here's some painting inspiration that hangs over my kitchen sink.

2020 Classes

The new program guide for the Community College of Beaver County is out!  Follow the link below to see the course listings for my upcoming classes: Figure Drawing, Pen & Ink and Papermaking Studio on page 3 of the tabloid:
https://www.ccbc.edu/college-catalogs

Select the bottom catalog of the two entitled "Continuing Education"

Registration begins January 6th!

Figure Drawing Update

I recently had the good fortune of drawing two young models who held beautiful poses.  Their creativity and professionalism inspired me.  Here a few images from the session.

5-minute poses

15 minute pose

Creating A Pen-and-Ink Calendar

Every year about this time I am busily sketching out calendar pages for a gift I give family and friends.  I am lucky to have a dear friend, who is also a nature photographer.  He gives me free choice of all of his amazing nature pics.  Like a kid in a candy shop,  I peruse hundreds of photos and pick out those that speak to me, selecting quotes to mingle between the drawings. 

Here's a glimpse at part of my 2020 calendar: