Hiking & Painting in Nature – Chicago
Yesterday I went on a birding adventure at Red Oaks Nature Center with the DuPage Birding Club. Red Oaks is located adjacent to the Fox River and has an observatory deck right over the river, perfect for viewing waterfowl and migrating birds. When birding, it is helpful to go with a group of knowledgeable people … Continue reading Male and Female Common Goldeneye 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
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
Today, we are going to paint an orange kitty using watercolors. Pretty simple, but the end might scare you. Don't let it! You can do this. I am using Hahnemühle's Leonardo 280 lbs matt watercolor paper, a heavy weight thick wonderful watercolor paper with much texture. In each frame I wanted to have a picture of … Continue reading Let’s Paint an Orange Kitty – Watercolor
93°F Hot Humid Journal Notes: I found a bench in the shade and it's ALL MINE. I claim it. A healthy breeze keeps me comfortable, despite the heat. A charm of American goldfinches keeps my spirits exceptionally high as I notice their hilly flight pattern above my head. Suddenly, a blasting car horn in the … Continue reading All Things Tiny Watercolor
Hi Folks! This is going to be a fun lesson and very easy! No really, I'm serious, very easy!! Have you tried painting with watercolors but were frustrated because you didn't know why it wasn't doing what you wanted? Well, this lesson will take some of the guess work out what's happening. Here is our … Continue reading Let’s Paint a Winter Branch with Watercolors!
Oh tired and sleepy trees - wake up! It's Spring! Winter's death grip has finally loosened up in the Chicago area. Wheeeew...it's been a long one. The grass has responded but the trees are still silent. Maybe this week of constant warm weather will liven them up? Yesterday I went to Papoose Lake because I … Continue reading A Very Late Spring Sketch – Papoose Lake
About a week ago, I made a mid-day hike in the summer heat at Red Gate Woods. Crazy? Maybe. I didn't realize how humid it was until going up several steep hills on the orange trail. When the back of your shirt becomes saturated with sweat...it's humid. Yuck. What was yummy on the other hand, was all … Continue reading Red Gate Woods Sketch
Well, I used the last page of my watercolor sketchbook and of course, as usual, I waited until the last minute (story of my life) to purchase a new one. So when I went to the store, I was kind of desperate. They didn't have the sketchbook I always buy, so I was forced to take what … Continue reading Crappy New Sketchbook watercolor sketch
The wind, being an advocate for winter, wants to strip the autumn trees clean. I the observer, while appreciating the forces of nature, want to retard this process. My power? Watercolors. I cannot bribe one leaf back on a branch, but I can record this day and the brilliant colors left...even if for only a while. That's … Continue reading Autumn Winds Sketch
