Category Archives: Beauty

Secret #6 – “Don’t push me!”Guide the Bead Instead

Create a Bead, then guide it for juicy, brush-mark-free painting success. So many beginners will try to paint with watercolors the same way they would with other paints, like acrylics or oils. Their watercolor paintings end up looking dry and … Continue reading

Posted in Beauty, Look at That- Second Edition, Second Edition of Look at That!, Sketchbooks, Sketching tools, Watercolor | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

You never know when watercolor will save your life

Maybe that’s an extreme statement, but on Thursday I acquired a rotten mood that I just couldn’t shake. I had had a long, frustrating appointment in the morning, and despite being an evolved human with a regular meditation practice, I … Continue reading

Posted in Beauty, Look at That- Second Edition, Second Edition of Look at That!, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity), Watercolor | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Welcome to Week 4 of “The 8 Secrets of Watercolor Success”

Secret #4 – How dark is your mix? (Or “How to Stop Wasting Paint”) See page 77 of the newly released Second Edition of Look at That! Step 1: Prewet your Palette Cover (i.e., mixing area) Really? That sounds silly. … Continue reading

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Part 1 of 8: The Secret of Water(color)

Right now, my favorite chapter in my new book, Look at That! – Second Edition, is Chapter 6, called “Introducing…WATER!” The key to effortless watercolor painting, surprisingly, has nothing to do with paper, or paint or brushes. Nope. The Secret … Continue reading

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Publication Week is Here!

Yesterday I received the proof copy of the hardcover version of Look at That!- Second Edition, and if I do say so myself…it is GORGEOUS! Here are the details: On Wednesday June 5th, the eBook will be available. If you … Continue reading

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“Look at That!  Second Edition” is almost ready!

What a roller-coaster ride it has been! This delightful book is the high point of my entire long life, and I am so proud of it. Here’s what you can expect: Stats: This Second Edition  is twice the length of … Continue reading

Posted in 1- Nuts: Graphic Styles, 2- Bolts: Sketching Tools, Beauty, Cartoons, Design Basics, Look at That- Second Edition, My Story, Nuts & Bolts & Magic, Pen & Ink, Pencil sketching, Second Edition of Look at That!, Seeing and looking, Sketchbooks, sketching, Sketching tools, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity), Watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Only 16 “Look at That! ™ Art Pouches” left!

I have been busy at work since you last heard from me in January. Here are the highlights: Yesterday I uploaded images of the last of my handwoven, handsewn, designed-by-me Art Pouches. The sixteen pouches that are available now are … Continue reading

Posted in 2- Bolts: Sketching Tools, Beauty, Look-at-That! Pouches, Second Edition of Look at That!, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Your artistic license is mandatory.

I have heard people say, apologetically, that they took “artistic license” when they changed a scene they were trying to draw or paint. I get it, but they’re wrong to apologize. The truth is, your artistic license needs to be … Continue reading

Posted in Beauty, Books I Love, Design Basics, Seeing and looking, Watercolor | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

I never have to sit waiting for the pencil to start

I just spent a chunk of time trying to open a properly-saved file on my computer that, for some reason, now needs to be recovered. Couldn’t do it. That file was a blog post draft in MS Word, so instead … Continue reading

Posted in Beauty, Musings on Life, Pencil sketching, sketching, Watercolor | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

“Look at That!” Second Edition will arrive Spring 2024

On August 27th, 2023, I wrote an enthusiastic post about the work I am doing on a revision of Look at That! So clear-headed. So excited. So methodical. Then Life happened. I can smile as I write that now. Long … Continue reading

Posted in 3- Magic: Art Epiphanies, Beauty, Book #2: Double Take, Look at That! book, Look at That- Second Edition, Musings on Life, Seeing and looking, sketching, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments