I liked the contrast between the somber winter colors and the pink rose.
One of my favorite types of painting days is to get out into a great location with friends. If I can get into the moment and just paint what captures my eye, without thinking too much, then the day is perfect.
I had just finished a different painting when I looked over and noticed how the two pups were defending us from frogs—and how engrossed my two friends were in their work. My gouache and red pastel pencil were ready, so I turned the page in my sketchbook and jumped in. I like how I caught the alert dogs and the artists’ focus on their paintings.
I hope 2026 is filled with many such sketches for you, me, and all of us—Happy New Year!
This is based on a friend’s photo. I loved the many dark, murky colors in the bouquet, and it was a perfect candidate for gouache on black paper.
I enjoyed making this card very much because I got to use so many of my favorite art media. Last June, I drew and painted a mourning dove from my backyard in gouache. This month, I used Procreate to modify the post for a linoleum print. After carving the linoleum, I printed it and painted the sky with gouache. Finally, I returned the image to Procreate to prepare it for display on my blog and as a card for family and friends.
In addition to wishing all of us peace in the coming year, I wish you artists an abundance of time with your favorite art forms.
Happy Holidays, Everyone!
A few days ago the San Diego Watercolor Society met in Point Loma for our annual holiday evening paintout. There is so much excitement at the skating rink, it is full of kids speeding about, families helping their little ones on the ice, and spectators enjoying the scene. Once the sun goes down the palm trees sparkle and the lights gleam. People love this event and so do I.
In 2023, I painted the whole scene from a rooftop. Then, last year, I stood by the rink fence and watched young people fly by. This year, I set up about 10 yards from the edge and focused on a little girl and her mom waving at the skaters.
Sometime in the late afternoon during a road trip, I snapped a photo that caught the action of the light and shadow with the road.
I recently drove across New Mexico and was inspired by the sky, mountains, and trees along the highway near Albuquerque.
Deliberate Sketching 