Hiking & Painting in Nature – Chicago
51°F Overcast, windy, rain. A hawk cry rings out under the heavy damp air. A red squirrel sits to peel the outer layer of a nut, unaffected by the rain. An intruder approaches... another red squirrel. This invasion results in a quick chase around the tree and an angry fast flicker of the tail. The … Continue reading Autumn Rain Watercolor
08-28-2016 (Sun) 88°F Rain. Beautiful rain. Straight down it was...no meandering, no skewing, no divergence, no wind. Tapping on leaves in trees creates a sound as if hundreds are clapping. My spirit is clapping. I try to hear splashes in the puddles but cannot. The clapping overtakes the moment and I get lost in the … Continue reading Rain and a Glimpse of Autumn Sketch
Raindrops pummeling onto the concrete outside my window awakens me from a deep sleep. My eyes open, but I do not want to move. This time is to be treasured. I will not let that voice which asks, "What time is it?", steal this moment. I will not let my cell phone sitting on the … Continue reading Rainy Autumn Morning Watercolor
There's something about a black autumn sky behind brilliant leaves. I love when menacing clouds gather, they seem to illuminate the trees and turn them on....just like a light switch! That special treat is exactly what I experienced at my friend Alanna's house recently. A very short but intense storm swept through with many lightning … Continue reading Autumn Thunderstorm and Tree Sketch
Against the blackened sky The autumn leaves illuminate while Raindrops pelt, weighing heavy, Until the struggle is no more... then A descending swirl - the last dance. Getting swept up in the season last night, I made this sketch. When my daughter came home she yelled, "I HATE THIS WEATHER!" Then slammed the door. "Funny..." … Continue reading Autumn Storm at Night Sketch
Flashes of intense lightning to the north, it came in quickly this time. The lightning is so bright that it reflects off my drapes for it is too powerful to be contained only to the sky. Wanting to go out but in fear, I sit in my room by the window like a coward, a fascinated … Continue reading Last Night’s Thunderstorm – Lightning Sketch
Last Friday I had the chance for a quick escape. I am always amazed at how quickly my mood can be uplifted, just by sitting for a few moments in nature. Anyway, the sky was heavy and the ground soaked from an afternoon passing storm. Sitting in the car, searching the landscape for something to … Continue reading Stormy Spring Sketch
I'm alive! As you may have heard, much of the United States was bombarded by strong storms recently. In my area we received 20.9" of snow in a 24 hour period. This produced white-out conditions for hours and staying off the roads, if you could, was imperative. 200 poor motorists were trapped on Lake Shore Drive … Continue reading Blizzard 2011 Chicago Sketch
Not feeling well, but desperately wanting to sketch, I stopped by Lake Katherine to do a quick one while sitting in my car. The snow was falling at different rates; sometimes slow and then all of a sudden quick and hurried, just to return to a quiet, slower pace. I love snow. Try watching snow fall while … Continue reading Snow Flurry Sketch
2010 left with a bang...literally. The last day of the year woke me up with thunder, lovely winter lightning and thunder, how rare! As a result, when I looked out the window in the morning, every evergreen blade held a beautiful sparkling jewel. Oh, how lovely! Like diamonds glistening in the morning sun. The Christmas lights … Continue reading Nature’s Jewels
