Category Archives: 2- Bolts: Sketching Tools

What if you could turn restlessness into productive joy?

Posted on April 6, 2025 by Bobbie Herron

The essay theme for April is Transforming Spring Fever into Joyful Focus. Week One, what habits might give you the most immediate and reliable satisfaction? Next, how do you refill your energetic/ creative fuel tank? How often are you doing … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, Musings on Life, Sketchbooks, Watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Emulating the Masters Again

Posted on January 26, 2025 by Bobbie Herron

As I mentioned last week, I am navigating a couple of medical challenges that leave me with very little energy to do extra things, even those things that normally rejuvenate me. Then I glimpse my sketchbook on the table…. next … Continue reading →

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The best creative partner just might be your notebook.

Posted on November 4, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

I was in the middle of drafting this post when a dear friend emailed me a link to an article in the NY Times. The article entitled, “How the Humble Notebook Became an Essential Creative Tool,” begins with the sentence, … Continue reading →

Posted in Book #2: Double Take, Sketchbooks, sketching, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

How to Double the Fun when Travel Sketching

Posted on October 27, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

(This is the next in the series of excerpts from my illustrated memoir, “Double Take.”) Planning a vacation? If you’re like me, the minute you buy your plane ticket or book your B&B, it feels like you’re almost on your … Continue reading →

Posted in Book #2: Double Take, Pen & Ink, Seeing and looking, Sketchbooks, sketching, Travel Adventures, Trips to the UK, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity), Watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is Community the only art tool you’re missing?

Posted on September 29, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

For the next ten weeks I’ll be sharing excerpts from my illustrated memoir, “Double Take,” published in 2022. Enjoy! June 17, 2014 – sketchbook journal entry I only pretend to like Art Instruction. What I really crave is Art Community. … Continue reading →

Posted in Book #2: Double Take, Pencil sketching, Sketchbooks, Sketching tools, Watercolor | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Your 8-Week Water Detective Certificate is almost ready!

Posted on September 8, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

What do you think of the seven secrets presented so far? Has anything surprised you? Isn’t it great to know that you were never missing an exotic watercolor tool, and that instead all you needed was a little more information … Continue reading →

Posted in Look at That- Second Edition, Second Edition of Look at That!, Sketchbooks, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity), Watercolor | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Secret 7:  How to Become a Water Detective

Posted on September 1, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

For a moment, let’s step back from thinking about watercolor painting and instead ponder how water behaves under all circumstances. There are three ways that water moves all on its own, in every circumstance, unless a physical barrier stands in … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, Look at That- Second Edition, Second Edition of Look at That!, Sketchbooks, sketching, Watercolor | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

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

Posted on August 26, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

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 →

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

Posted on August 4, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

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)

Posted on July 14, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

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 →

Posted in Beauty, Look at That- Second Edition, Second Edition of Look at That!, Sketchbooks, Watercolor | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments