Hiking & Painting in Nature – Chicago
Last Wednesday I stopped by Arrowhead Lake for just a few moments of nature tranquillity. This sketch may not look tranquil (the sky unleashed freezing rain, ice, and snow) but I was the only one in the parking lot. Yessssss. The mallard ducks didn't mind the weather either; the female followed the male all the … Continue reading Arrowhead Lake Sketch
The free November sketch class at the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center was a hit! As we took a short hike around the slough, we noticed something not seen last month. Can you find it in this picture? HOT DOG...it's a beaver lodge!!! Wow! Look at that structure. Beaver lodges can be made up of … Continue reading Sketch Class Results November 2010
11-21-10 (Sunday) 55°F low clouds, rain Spears Woods Heavy clouds are so low, I can't tell where the distant tree tops end and where the sky begins. It is mild and raining. The rain makes a wonderful tap, tap, tap, sound on my rain coat which is amplified under my hood. The wet earth creates … Continue reading Spears Woods Watercolor
Just a friendly reminder that this Saturday (November 27, 2010) is another free watercolor sketch class at the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center in Willow Springs, IL. Class will start at 9am and end at 12 noon. Dress for the weather!!! We will try to paint outside however, if the weather is too unbearable we … Continue reading Free Sketch Class Saturday
To play in the midst of mystery, when fog descends and things are not what they appear to be....oh how much fun there is to be had in nature! In the Chicago area during the early evening hours, we were greeted with a dark gray, misty atmosphere. Leaving work early, instead of feeling the dread … Continue reading Misty Sketch at Swallow Cliff
I'm really not a morning person on my day off, so when I stepped out the door to walk my doggie for a morning piddle, my eyes opened up real wide when I saw this beautiful sky. Suddenly, I was AWAKE and excited to paint! I ran in the house, threw doggie a treat, and … Continue reading Morning Sky Sketch
Last month at the art fair, my hubby had the chance to take a picture of a great horned owl that was being displayed by a naturalist. How beautiful and majestic! Let's have some fun by trying something new.... We are going to paint the owl on velour paper. Velour paper feels like suede and … Continue reading Let’s Paint a Great Horned Owl!
11-07-2010 (Sunday) 60°F sunny, windy Bullfrog Lake The sun is warm when the wind stops. For one second, I get a really sweet smell...but I don't know what it is or where it is coming from. Then it vanishes. The wind is so strong that the few oak leaves remaining make a sizzle noise. Pssss...sizzzzle. Two chickadees on … Continue reading Fight For Life Sketch Bullfrog Lake
Nov. 3, 2010 54°F, clouds coming from the west, wind Turtlehead Lake I find a group of trees along the orange trail that holds my attention, I make myself comfortable and sit right down. The sun at my back is starting to fade as a thin layer of clouds arrive bringing with it a stronger wind. I … Continue reading Trees of Turtlehead Sketch
As you may already know, Let's Paint Nature has been running for two years. The primary goal of this site is to offer free art lessons in the hopes of helping people become closer to nature. As of today, the "Learn How" page has 49 free step by step painting demonstrations. Yesss! We're going to … Continue reading We’re Going Video Baby!
