Category Archives: Writing

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

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

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 →

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

Welcome to Week 5 of “The 8 Secrets of Watercolor Success”

Posted on August 19, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

Have any of you noticed a pattern to these watercolor secrets so far? In these first five tips, the water and the watercolor have not yet touched the paper! There’s a reason for that. Once you learn these secrets, this … Continue reading →

Posted in Look at That- Second Edition, Second Edition of Look at That!, Uncategorized, Watercolor | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

You never know when watercolor will save your life

Posted on August 11, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

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”

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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Welcome to Week 3 of “The 8 Secrets of Watercolor Success”

Posted on July 28, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

Secret #3 – How wet is your brush? In all of these secrets we are learning to ask three essential questions: You might have the exact right color mix, but until you also have the right amount of water in … Continue reading →

Posted in Look at That- Second Edition, Nuts & Bolts & Magic, Second Edition of Look at That!, Watercolor | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Welcome to Week 2 of “The 8 Secrets of Watercolor Success”

Posted on July 21, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

Last week I shared Secret #1: Give yourself the gift of creating a “Sketchbook Watercolor” habit. The next seven secrets are about how and when to add more water to your watercolor practice. Some of these simple essentials may be … Continue reading →

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