Category Archives: 3- Magic: Art Epiphanies

No need to be in a city to be an “Urban” Sketcher!

Posted on October 6, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

For centuries painting outdoors has been referred to as “en plein air” painting. It is a French term that literally translates as “in full air,” and is used to describe artwork created outdoors, through observation of the scene in front … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, Book #2: Double Take, Pen & Ink, Seeing and looking, sketching, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity), Watercolor | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mining “Double Take” until New Year’s Day

Posted on September 22, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

At the bottom of every blog post, for the last 8 years, there has been a tag line that reads: About Bobbie Herron: I live surrounded by watercolor brushes and paints, fountain pens, sketchbooks, and journals- often wanting more than … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, Book #2, Book #2: Double Take, Pen & Ink, Pencil sketching, Seeing and looking, sketching, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity) | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted on May 5, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

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

Learning to Trust Your Creative Instincts

Posted on January 8, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

Sometimes when I am in the middle of painting a watercolor, a voice inside nudges me to take a photo midway through. Perhaps I have hit a place of hesitation, and I want a record of what it looked like … Continue reading →

Posted in photography, Seeing and looking, Sketching tools, Watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Your artistic license is mandatory.

Posted on November 25, 2023 by Bobbie Herron

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

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

Posted on October 21, 2023 by Bobbie Herron

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

What does global warming have to do with watercolor? 

Posted on July 22, 2023 by Bobbie Herron

(Note: This isn’t a quick read, but it’s well worth your time.) Marc Taro Holmes gave me my first glimpse of this connection between art and climate change when he published his seminal work, “Apocalypse Variations” in 2019. The art in this … Continue reading →

Posted in 3- Magic: Art Epiphanies, Beauty, Look at That! book, Musings on Life, Seeing and looking, sketching, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity) | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Say no… so you can say yes.

Posted on April 24, 2023 by Bobbie Herron

Your time is precious. Sometimes my time feels so precious, and I have so many creative ideas, that time flies between blog posts as it has done lately. (Your overflowing inbox appreciates that though, I’m sure!) This is why it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in 3- Magic: Art Epiphanies, Beauty, Musings on Life, My Story, Writing | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Perspective difficulties? Try planting fence posts!

Posted on February 23, 2023 by Bobbie Herron

If you’re struggling with getting the perspective right when you’re drawing buildings, take it from me, you’re not alone. I’ve been drawing buildings in urban scenes and country scenes for decades, and my success in achieving credible perspective has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, Look at That! book, Pencil sketching, Seeing and looking, sketching, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity) | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

More from my hero, Danny Gregory

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Bobbie Herron

In my book, Look at That!, on pages 55 and 67, I gave kudos to Danny for being a wonderful creative mentor to hundreds of wannabe artists. Then in my second book, Double Take, I pretty much gave Danny credit … Continue reading →

Posted in 3- Magic: Art Epiphanies, Beauty, Cartoons, Musings on Life | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments