Hiking & Painting in Nature – Chicago
I am happy to present: A Year in Review...the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center Sketch Classes. I am so very proud of every single person who showed up to paint. Some were afraid, not having painted ever in their lives. Some were confident being seasoned artists. All were one however, not viewing one as better than … Continue reading A Year in Review – The Little Red Schoolhouse Sketch Class
Well, this year I have not noticed any migrating birds at my feeder yet. Humf. Looking through my sketchbook, I could tell that the Eastern Towhee usually pays me a visit around the 3rd week in March. Here is 2009's sketch. Where are you Mr. Towhee? I'm checking the ground beneath my feeder everyday and you're not … Continue reading Male Eastern Towhee watercolor
This is a picture I took about two years ago at Spears Woods. I'm not 100% sure this is a poplar tree, but I love its shape. It's super tall and it's the only one like it around. One interesting thing I learned is that all planted poplar trees are male, so they do not … Continue reading Let’s Paint the Poplar Tree!
As a child, I grew up next to a small empty lot in the city. It was my special "field" where I spent much time exploring. I use to think it was so gigantic (it's really not). I would walk around studying plants in my field and my all time favorite was Queen Anne's Lace, an … Continue reading Winter Queen Anne’s Lace
Lately, I've been trying to loosen up with my watercolors. The background of the blue jay represents what I'm talking about. I feel sometimes, as if I am too stiff while painting with watercolors. I mean, that's their true character...loose and free, and so let them be, loose and free! I have to remind myself...stop … Continue reading Christmas Bird Watercolors
Keeping with the spirit of Halloween, I painted a spooky owl under crescent moon on a cold autumn night. And for a little fun, let's listen to him call.... (sound from CGEffex at http://www.freesound.org) Isn't nature fun?
09-18-2010 66°F thunder storm, cool breeze Bullfrog Lake Goldenrods nod in the meadow after a quick but intense thunderstorm rolls through, leaving every blade of grass and every turning leaf heavy, with large drops of rain. The storm has scared off people as Bullfrog Lake is barren, quiet, and peaceful. A fog lingers at the edge of the forest. Do … Continue reading Bullfrog Lake After Storm Watercolor
Oh boy! You are really going to love this step-by-step watercolor demonstration on how to paint a female Eastern Pondhawk Dragonfly (Erythemis simplicicollis) because it's so darn EASY! I know you can try this one home...come on...just try it! Here is my reference photo, not the greatest I know, but hey, I really did meet this … Continue reading Let’s Paint an Eastern Pondhawk Dragonfly!
This next step-by-step watercolor painting is completely made up. I have been under the weather for several days now, a week actually, and I just was not healthy enough to get outside. While I may be sick, I'm never too sick to pick up a paint brush...he, he, he... I did this painting last week … Continue reading Let’s Paint Autumn Trees in Cold Rain!
Remember we saw the blue dasher at Papoose Lake a few weeks ago? Let's have a lot of fun by learning how to paint this dragonfly using watercolor paints... Here is our reference photo. Isn't he handsome? Step 1: Make a rough sketch on 140lb. hot press watercolor paper using graphite pencil. Step 2a: Wet … Continue reading Let’s Paint the Blue Dasher Dragonfly!
