Tag Archives: Community

Art History: Is it about the Artist or about the Art?

Posted on April 9, 2026 by Bobbie Herron

(From the “Don’t Get Me Started!” series.) I need to make peace with how “Art History” is taught. In America, college “survey courses” are offered to the general student body to ensure that all students are exposed to topics they … Continue reading →

Posted in Design Basics, Musings on Life, Pencil sketching, sketching, Watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Power and Purpose of Curiosity

Posted on March 16, 2025 by Bobbie Herron

This month we are taking a fresh look at “Desert Island You,” exploring those values that remind you who you really are, free of the influence of loved ones or society. What do you like? Where do you find meaning? … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, Musings on Life, My Story, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity) | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Power and Purpose of Story

Posted on March 9, 2025 by Bobbie Herron

What is a story anyway? Just because you’re talking doesn’t mean you’re telling a story, right? Here is Dictionary.com’s definition: Story: a narrative, either true or fictitious, in prose or verse, designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the hearer or … Continue reading →

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Prepare to March On

Posted on February 23, 2025 by Bobbie Herron

Face it, we are all going through some interesting times right now. 2025 arrived with a crash of cymbals. Many of us have struggled through (and barely survived) wildfires, blizzards, floods, civil unrest and more – all during the past … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, Musings on Life, My Story, Watercolor | 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 →

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Who have I dismissed lately?

Posted on November 24, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

This post is about Belonging… and its darker side, Tribalism. My self-described tribe is a motley crew. Many are (or were) teachers, therapists, nurses, musicians, artists, or writers. What they all have in common, and the reason they are my … Continue reading →

Posted in Book #2: Double Take, Musings on Life, My Story, Pen & Ink, Writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Why not me? Why not you?

Posted on November 17, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

August 11th has been a powerful day for me… several times. In 1973, it was the day of a horrific car accident where my brother and I were both badly injured. Fast forward 41 years to 2014, August 11th was … Continue reading →

Posted in Book #2: Double Take, Look at That! book, Pen & Ink, sketching, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity), Watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Resilience and Positive Resignation

Posted on November 10, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

This week’s column links two entries from “Double Take,” from May and July 2017. Both entries explore how, when faced with adversity, some people fail miserably at giving up. You read that right. Some people call it “perseverance” but I … Continue reading →

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The best creative partner just might be your notebook.

Posted on November 4, 2024 by Bobbie Herron

I was in the middle of drafting this post when a dear friend emailed me a link to an article in the NY Times. The article entitled, “How the Humble Notebook Became an Essential Creative Tool,” begins with the sentence, … Continue reading →

Posted in Book #2: Double Take, Sketchbooks, sketching, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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