Tag Archives: art

Sumac, Horses, and Crickets

Posted on July 13, 2025 by Bobbie Herron

1964: The summer breeze is a blend of fresh hay, saddle soap, and the sweet smell of horse sweat.  At Chestnut Bay Stables, learning to be safe and responsible in the barns and on the trails long precedes any time … Continue reading →

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Planting future seeds of creative momentum

Posted on April 28, 2025 by Bobbie Herron

“Not every day is meant for painting.”What?? Blasphemy! The garden metaphor is helpful. If we were watering, fertilizing, weeding, and bothering our plants every day, they would ask us to leave. They might stop thriving, or wilt, or even die … Continue reading →

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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 →

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Curiosity + Looking = Unexpected Aha Moments

Posted on March 18, 2025 by Bobbie Herron

Here’s your mid-week dessert, a bit of combined brain and eye candy. Watch and listen to my mentor Oliver Pyle (whom I mentioned in my previous post) as he guides you into a world you may have never seen, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, Design Basics, Seeing and looking, sketching, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity), Watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Power and Purpose of Beauty

Posted on March 2, 2025 by Bobbie Herron

As we continue to March On, rediscovering the power and purpose of who we really are, let’s begin by looking at this thing called Beauty. If you want to get into a deep debate (even with just yourself), try defining … Continue reading →

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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 Value of Intermittent Persistence

Posted on January 19, 2025 by Bobbie Herron

I offered weekly posts here every Sunday from June 26, 2024 through the end of the year. For someone who has trouble with self-discipline, that was a real feat. But then, once again, Life’s vote was stronger than that of … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, Musings on Life, My Story, Seeing and looking, sketching, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

What’s Your Nugget?

Posted on January 1, 2025 by Bobbie Herron

Yesterday I began searching Double Take for the best story to end this three-month series of essays. Here it is— it’s about Endings and Beginnings, and is also a gentle challenge to you and to me. Are you facing something … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, Book #2: Double Take, Look at That! book, Seeing and looking, sketching, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a 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

Watercolor is a gentle medium. No way around it.

Posted on September 15, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

Look at this Winslow Homer boat on a stormy sea. Observe closely, this is watercolor… … and then imagine it in oils. There’s no comparison.  If you want to calm yourself and create something of beauty or even release bittersweet … Continue reading →

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