A Stormy Start to a New Journal

Starting a new nature journal can feel like starting a journey of infinite possibilities, but also can feel like a perfect, blank book that you don't want to make the first mistake in.  Thursday afternoon, David and I went out on a hike and I took a brand new nature journal with me. About 2 miles in, we found ourselves slogging through a summer rain shower.  By the time we made it back to the Adirondack shelters in the park, we were soaked to the bone, and my brand new nature journal was no longer crisp and fresh, but soggy-edged and mud-splashed.  Somehow, this felt like the best of both worlds -- still open to infinite possibilities, but also not so precious that I couldn't make mistakes.  A great start.

Celebrating Color in Summer

The joy of new paints is trying out the colors and exploring what you can do with them.

The page "Things Leaves Do" was inspired by nature journaler Hannah Hinchman, author of A Trail Through Leaves: The Journal as a Path to Place.  She fills illustrated journal pages with topics like "Things Snow Does."

Painting Grandmother Oak

At the foot of my country driveway I can see a massive oak tree I've long admired and wanted to draw.  I call her Grandmother Oak.  One recent summer morning, I toted my paints and pens down to the spot, sketching her first in my nature journal, and then trying to capture her with watercolors.  The gift of a painting done on a summer morning, aside from the experience of painting, is that you get to carry the memory of that time and place with you through the winter every time you look at your artwork.

Nature Journal Update: Day Lilies

I recently watched a YouTube video about adding a simple background to nature journal sketches of plants and animals to help capture the place and moment.  I thought I'd give it a try, and I love the added depth of the page.

Click here to see John Muir Laws' YouTube video that inspired me.

Finished 3 Fabulous Feathers!

I couldn't be more delighted with my new Schmincke watercolors.  Here's the finished study of a Crow feather, an Owl (?) feather and a Downy Woodpecker feather.  Of course, the real feathers that I found out on hikes and around my farm weren't purple and blue, but I decided to take a colorist's approach to the black, earth-toned and black-and-white, feathers, respectively.

New Paints!

I allowed myself a luxury over the 4th of July weekend:  A new set of Schmincke Horadam Aquarell watercolors.  They arrived Tuesday evening from Jackson's Art supplies in London, and I have been amazed and delighted by the intensity of the colors and the ease of painting with them.  A wet brush picks up the gorgeous colors easily.  Here are some samples of my early color tests.

Figure Drawing Update: Amelia

Our last Osher Figure Drawing class we got to draw model Amelia once again.  She gave us some beautiful poses, including this one at the end of class.  A wonderful way to finish out the summer semester!

New July Figure Drawing Classes!

Figure Drawing with Betsy

Would you like to connect with humanity & improve your drawing skills? Join me for this Zoom class in drawing from life.  Each week as we draw a live nude model, I will demonstrate techniques for gesture drawing, shading, drawing hands and feet, & handling foreshortening. Beginners are encouraged to join us!

Fridays, July 24th & 31st, and August 7th and 14th from 9:30 am to noon.

Cost is $96.  Enrollment minimum 5 students to run the class.

To register email me at betsybangley@gmail.com.