Tag Archives: Beginnings

Memorials and planting seeds

Here in New Hampshire it is common wisdom that certain garden crops should not be planted until Memorial Day weekend. In the past it was because there was still a chance of a killing frost, even up until the end … Continue reading

Posted in Musings on Life | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Have you ever taken a nap with your eyes open?

That’s pretty much what sketching felt like today. I was gently focused on what I was doing and at some point I thought, “Yeah, I think I’m done.” ( I wish you could hear how I enunciated that ‘yeah’—it was more like ‘yehhhhh-aaaaaah”—it had about four syllables.) When I finished, I took a picture of […]

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Posted in 3- Magic: Art Epiphanies, Pen & Ink, Sketchbooks, Sketching tools, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity), Watercolor | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

The Perfect Time to Travel is…Right Now

I boarded a plane on April 1st, 2020, heading to the UK for a month, thanks to the inspiration of Roz Stendahl. “Are you mad? There is a global pandemic going on!” No worries, it is perfectly safe to travel … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 Fake Journal - "My Wales Tale", Pen & Ink, Sketchbooks, Watercolor | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Musical chairs anyone?

Does anyone else feel like they landed in the middle of a bizarre game of musical chairs, where you had no idea the music was ever going to stop, and then suddenly it did? The dark side of this pandemic … Continue reading

Posted in 3- Magic: Art Epiphanies, Musings on Life, Pen & Ink, Watercolor | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Rationing everything but joy

In these early days of pandemic response, we need to ground ourselves in a clear sense of “First Things First.” Here are some of my recent thoughts. Food: It is easy to snack/overeat when you are stressed or bored and … Continue reading

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Paper-free Sketching

I went for a walk this morning (despite the wind chill of 18°F), because it was sunny and I am eager. Spring Fever has hit me early this year, and nothing says springtime like getting outside again with my sketchbook … Continue reading

Posted in 3- Magic: Art Epiphanies, Pen & Ink, Sketchbooks, Sketching tools, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity), Watercolor | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Let’s sketch together!

Not everyone has that essential itch that leads to compulsively purchasing art supplies and doodling their life away. And even those that have the itch don’t always have it forever; many will be sketchbook artists for a while, then see … Continue reading

Posted in 3- Magic: Art Epiphanies, Pen & Ink, Sketchbooks, Sketching tools, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity), Watercolor | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

“Onward Through the Fog!”

As I said in my last post, sometimes you have to be willing to close one door before you can open another, even if that means standing in the dark hallway alone for a while. The hallway’s not so bad … Continue reading

Posted in Musings on Life, Pencil sketching, Sketchbooks, Watercolor | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Knowing when to quit

My intention when I wrote that title was to simply talk about watercolor painting: specifically, how do you know when to stop fiddling with your painting and call it good. As soon as I typed the title, though, I realized … Continue reading

Posted in Musings on Life, Watercolor | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Who Inspires You?

Ah, the best laid plans, even if written with care and a calligraphy pen in a leather-bound journal, are sometimes no match for distractions no bigger than a bug. Sunday afternoon blog posts every single week? Good idea, great intentions, … Continue reading

Posted in Musings on Life, Sketchbooks, Watercolor | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments