Hiking & Painting in Nature – Chicago
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!!
Yes, it will be easy. Yes, you CAN do this! So let's get started and learn a simple way to paint an oak leaf using watercolors. But first, let me show you my palette so that you have the names of the colors. The bottom colors are hard to see, they all look dark, but … Continue reading Let’s Paint an Easy Oak Leaf!
Do you want to go on a hike with me at McClaughrey Springs Woods? We'll find some woodland wildflowers and after that, I'll show you a real easy step-by-step watercolor sketch. I know you can do this one! I'll give you techniques to take a complicated landscape and create a simple watercolor for your journal. … Continue reading Sketchbook Hiking: McClaughrey VIDEO
One of my all-time favorite wildflower is the Woodland Phlox. In many photos you usually see this plant as a blue cluster, however the ones I see in the woods are purple not blue. Here is my reference photo: Isn't it a beauty? OK here we go, let's capture this wildflower in watercolors... Step … Continue reading Let’s Paint Woodland Phlox!
This is going to be a step-by-step demonstration on how to do a watercolor sketch. Sketches are quicker and looser than paintings. It's great to make a sketch when you just want to get the main idea down without a ton of detail. You can easily take your watercolor journal and watercolor paints on the trail … Continue reading Let’s Paint a Spring Trail!
About three years ago I went hiking at Bull Frog Lake, right before evening in January. I came upon a scene that made me pause for a moment and fall in love. Winter's intense setting sun was casting long shadows from the trees in the woods. Right on que it seemed, three crows in the distance began … Continue reading Let’s Paint Winter Woods!
Oh Boy! You're really going to love this step by step watercolor painting of how to paint the male chickweed moth because it's sooooo EASY! Don't worry...I promise. Step 1: Make a rough sketch in pencil on 140lb. cold press watercolor paper. Step 2: I like the color pink and he does too so just … Continue reading Let’s Paint the Chickweed Moth!
I'm so excited for autumn (my favorite season), that this next painting came right out of my head. OK, this one is easy for everyone, I promise! You can do this watercolor painting, no problem, just in time for the harvest too... Step 1: Make a rough sketch on watercolor paper with your pencil. This … Continue reading Let’s Paint the Harvest Moon Kitty!
The day I went hiking and discovered the phoebe nest with babies, I also found this guy beside the stream: It is a Comma Butterfly sitting on the mud next to the stream, and that is exactly where my, "Butterflies of North America" book, by Brock & Kaufman, said I can find one! Why is … Continue reading Let’s Paint a Comma Butterfly!
Before we begin, let me show you what else I found in the Teason Woods, part of Chicago's Cook County Forest Preserves. Starting on the yellow trail heading west, I immediately encountered a scarlet tanager: here is another view: Isn't he sooooo beautiful? I just love him. So bright and tropical looking! I did not … Continue reading Let’s Paint a Phoebe Nest with Babies!
