Category Archives: Nuts & Bolts & Magic

Taking stock of the soup we are in

A year ago today, on Christmas Eve, I was in the midst of my second right-eye retinal hemorrhage. For decades I have had no sight whatsoever in my left eye, so this new development was pretty scary. I hadn’t driven … Continue reading

Posted in 1- Nuts: Graphic Styles, Musings on Life, My Story, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity), Watercolor, Writing | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Dowsing for the Ultimate Watercolor Secret

This morning I was working on a lesson plan for my next  Sketchbook Adventure Club class this Saturday (theme for the day will be ‘Watercolor 101’), and honestly, I was struggling. I had way too much to say, insights into … Continue reading

Posted in 1- Nuts: Graphic Styles, Musings on Life, Sketchbooks, Watercolor | 3 Comments

My roots are made of celluloid

I was born in the early 1950s and cannot remember a time when I wasn’t swooning over cartoons. The ones that my generation grew up with were crafted by Warner Brothers’ Looney Tunes, Disney, and Hanna-Barbera. These were our versions … Continue reading

Posted in 1- Nuts: Graphic Styles, Cartoons, Musings on Life, My Story, Watercolor | 7 Comments

I just finished a sketchbook

When you are using a 160-page sketchbook, as well as two other ‘specialty’ sketchbooks, all at the same time, it is a big deal when you Finish A Sketchbook. Why three at once you ask? Simple. 1) I want one … Continue reading

Posted in 1- Nuts: Graphic Styles, Musings on Life, Pen & Ink, Sketchbooks, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity), Watercolor | 3 Comments

Globetrotting as a Local Sport

Living about an hour away from a large, relatively old city means I can go there, I don’t have to go there, so I rarely go there. You can know intellectually that you are near a goldmine, but gee, it takes effort to grab … Continue reading

Posted in 1- Nuts: Graphic Styles, Pen & Ink, Sketchbooks, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity), Watercolor | 2 Comments

It’s all about the P.A.U.S.E.

Two days ago I taught my last marathon art class for the foreseeable future. It was not my last art class, not by a long shot. But I won’t attempt to do another five-hour-straight “everything you need to know to … Continue reading

Posted in 1- Nuts: Graphic Styles, Pen & Ink, Sketchbooks, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity), Watercolor | 3 Comments

Manage my satisfaction, not my life

If you’re anything like me, sometimes you find yourself stunned at the end of another week, saying, “Where the heck has the time gone, and what on earth have I accomplished?” For about a month I have been experimenting with … Continue reading

Posted in 1- Nuts: Graphic Styles, Musings on Life | 6 Comments

“Why not do it now?”

The other day I found myself at one of those betwixt times, several to-do tasks completed and a little gap of time before an afternoon appointment. No time to start a new project, but too much time to waste on … Continue reading

Posted in 1- Nuts: Graphic Styles, Pen & Ink, Sketchbooks | Leave a comment

I’m just sittin’ here, taking notes…

That’s all my artwork is. My hieroglyphic representation of “Whoa, look at that! No, zoom in. I mean it, REALLY look at that!” First, a place to sit. Then slowly scan the area until the skip happens, when my glance … Continue reading

Posted in 1- Nuts: Graphic Styles, Pen & Ink, Sketchbooks, Watercolor | 6 Comments

That Dang Adolescent Period

A few years back I came across a great video on the importance of doing watercolor value studies. I wish I had saved the link because I would love to give this man credit for changing my life. The big … Continue reading

Posted in 1- Nuts: Graphic Styles, Watercolor | Tagged , | 11 Comments