Hiking & Painting in Nature – Chicago
Black squirrels are not common in Chicago. I've only seen two in my lifetime, so you can imagine how jubilant I was to find one running in my own backyard. Happy like a little child. Nature has that way about it....to make you young again when you least expect it. To catch you off guard … Continue reading Black Squirrel White Snow Watercolor
If you're lucky enough to live in an area where you have both downy and hairy woodpeckers, you may be hiking in the woods and see one of them. They look identical except for the fact that one is small and one is large. But how can you quickly tell who is who if they … Continue reading Quick! Downy or Hairy?
Snow is softly falling and I have the privilege to watch without interruption, to watch without keeping track of time, to watch without any obligations for the remainder of the day. For once in a long time I can be instead of do. I do not have much experience being. I am only familiar with … Continue reading Snow on Sage Watercolor
There is something sad about this incomplete pine. Or maybe it's not sad at all, but I'm looking through sad eyes. I'm still processing the loss of a friend and I'm not going to lie, it does not get better with time. Especially when I pick up a paint brush and do the very thing … Continue reading Incomplete Pine Watercolor
Not only are the reeds frozen, but the animal tracks are too. Frozen in time. They tell a story which I love to read when hiking in nature. I have to put the pieces together from this story... whose tracks? When were they made? Did the animal have the silver moon as a guiding light? … Continue reading Reeds Frozen in Time Watercolor
Let's go hiking and painting at Churchill Woods. Come on... I'll bring Oscar Mayer the dog and you bring yourself! It will be fun. When Oscar Mayer stops to do his business, I stop to notice nature up close. Here we have lichen growing among moss on tree bark. Very delicate and very beautiful. Delicate? … Continue reading December Tree Overlooks Snow Crested Bank Watercolor
Reblog Post from: Millionaire’s Digest Magazine 1. Unsplash Did you know Unsplash adds 10 new royalty-free photos every 10 days and they’re almost always of breathtakingly attractive beautiful landscapes. Just scroll to the bottom of its home page! 2. Picjumbo Picjumbo is a personal favorite of mine due to its easy navigation and extremely high-resolution … Continue reading Need Copyright Free Reference Photos for Painting?
When creating with pastels, what's the difference between oil pastels and soft pastels? Let me show you! First off, simple and to the point: oil pastels are like oil/wax sticks, soft pastels are more like chalk sticks. I am using a white Ampersand Pastelbord for both paintings. The pastel boards feel like sand paper. I … Continue reading Difference Between Oil Pastels and Soft Pastels
Did you ever receive an original painting or drawing as a Christmas card? If you did, how did it make you feel? I bet it made you feel extremely special. Just knowing that the person who sent it to you didn't grab a generic one from a box, but actually sat down and took the … Continue reading Let’s Paint an Easy Christmas Card! Yes you can do this!!
Setting Sun Mild 59°F As the sun sets it casts an amber glow to everything it touches. The dried grasses blaze and pine boughs glisten. A radiant moment indeed. Friday I caught this moment and simplified it. Instead of painting every single thing in my view/picture, I painted what was necessary to capture the mood … Continue reading Elegant Pines of a Setting Sun Watercolor
