Hiking & Painting in Nature – Chicago
In the Midwest where chill reigns for a quarter of the year, you will find a solemn hearth if you're lucky in the midst of the woods. Not every preserve has one, but when you happen to spot one, it's like a treasure. This one is located at Knoch Knolls Park in Naperville, IL. On … Continue reading Hearth in the Woods – Watercolor Sketch
Well friends, here it is! Finally! Sit back and relax and enjoy a short hike at Spears Woods before we do a step-by-step watercolor sketch demonstration. Why are we hiking before we paint? Well, I really want to invite the viewer to make a connection with nature and become familiar with the location we decide to sketch. … Continue reading Sketchbook Hiking: Spears Woods VIDEO
Just a few bird pictures from my hike last weekend, here we have a tiny little chickadee and an incoming downy woodpecker. Now that's odd. It's not everyday you find a bagel in a tree. Someone left this bird treat on a branch for easy bird access. By the looks of it, some winged friend already … Continue reading Birds and Bagel
Last weekend while hiking, I came upon some benches that had walnuts on them. I did not put them there. Feeding the wildlife is prohibited in the Cook County Forest Preserves, it's a definite no-no. But boy did I get to see some up close birds! My favorite of the bunch: white-breasted nuthatch. Hey...Look at me … Continue reading Woodland Birds
Last Saturday, this was the scene from my window. Oh how happy I was! You may be thinking, "So what? You have birds that visit your feeder." This scene however, with a chickadee, a white-breasted nuthatch, and a male downy woodpecker happened at the same time! 99% of the time when I look out the window … Continue reading Birds at My Feeder Sketch
