-
Travel Journal: Wandering through Le Marché aux Puces de Saint Ouen Paris, France
There is something so romantic about going to the flea market in Paris– oh the treasures you might find! Here is a travel story about visiting the famed markets in Paris, France.
-
Art School: Create a Toile Pattern Inspired by Ireland
Here’s a peek at one of the projects in my book Anywhere, Anytime Art: Illustration. This project was inspired by a trip to Ireland! Follow along and create a quaint, Irish toile pattern with me! Enjoy. For more information about the book and where to order, see my Anywhere, Anytime Art: Illustration page.
-
Art School: How to Draw an A Frame Cabin
I love the coziness of an A frame cabin in the woods! I can’t think of a better place to be snowed in than a small A frame with a small living room, kitchen and bath on the bottom floor and a loft bedroom up a ladder. With plenty of food and fire wood, I would enjoy spending hours reading and sketching with a nap somewhere in between! Here’s a simple drawing tutorial to create your own A frame cabin in the winter. Here’s a process video to watch the drawing in action.
-
Finding Inspiration: Tips for Using Pinterest Effectively
To me, Pinterest is the mother of online inspiration! I absolutely love the platform. Well before Pinterest was ever a thing, I was that person who had a bulletin board pinned with inspiring images and ephemera. Illustrated post cards from a trip, tiny paper ornaments, decorative business cards, magazine cut outs, my board was and still is always filled. So, when Pinterest was first announced, I eagerly requested an invitation so I could create potentially a million little inspiration boards like the one I had at home! Lo and behold almost 10 years later and I still use the platform almost daily for inspiration. I use Pinterest in 4 ways-…
-
Digital Travel Journal: A Trip to the Coast
I feel so lucky to live so close to the coast yet don’t seem to get there nearly enough. In only 10 minutes, I can be on a rural road heading over the hills that separate the SF Bay Area with the Pacific Ocean. The 2 lane highway starts along serene Crystal Springs Reservoir, the water source for San Francisco and much of the Bay Area. It’s only a short way up the winding road through a magical cypress grove until you hit the summit at Skyline Boulevard. A large cemetery is at the top, where one can see heavenly views to the ocean on a clear day! Heading down…
-
Art School: How to Draw a Mask
Masks are a part of many celebrations around the world, namely Carnevale in Venice, Italy; Carnaval do Brazil; and Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Some believe masks were a pagan practice to ward off evil spirits, but now they are more worn for anonymity and decoration. Enjoy this tutorial and have fun designing your own decorative mask for any occasion.
-
Travel Journal: My Favorite Corner in New York City
New York City is like a second home to me. Although I only lived there a short time in my life, the experience was like no other. Here’s a travel journal of my favorite corner in New York City.
-
Art School: How to Draw a Historic Home – Betsy Ross’s House, Philadelphia
If you are ever in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a visit to the House of Betsy Ross, famed seamstress of the first American flag is a must see. Located on Arch Street in Old Town Philadelphia just a few blocks from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, the house is a classic Pennsylvania colonial style. Historians still debate is this is the actual home where she resided, but even if it is not, it is still a gorgeously maintained example of a home from early American history, 1740. Vary the details of the house slightly and draw several in a row to create your own colonial street scene.
-
Travel Journal: Wandering San Francisco’s Chinatown
Whether you are a tourist or a tried and true local, a day in San Francisco’s Chinatown is always an adventure. No matter how many times I’ve explored this neighborhood, I’m always surprised at how many more details I can see. We spent half a day wandering Chinatown, not nearly enough time but still was able to capture some classic scenes of the area. One might find themselves in Chinatown from any number of streets, but the grand entrance is on Grant Avenue at Bush. As soon as you pass the Dragon’s Gate, you see how different the neighborhood feels, from the ornate street lamps, to the festive red lanterns…
-
Creative Inspiration from Sara Midda
I’ve been a huge fan of Sara Midda and her gorgeous art for many years. I first came across her work when my parents lived in St. Remy de Provence, France in the mid-90’s. Her book, South of France, A Sketchbook, is dreamy journal of her own experience of living a year in Provence. Her journal is filled with tiny thumbnail drawings of her moments. She has a spread of postage stamp sized loose watercolor paintings of mas’ (Provencal farm houses) and typical Provençal buildings in golden hues. She paints snapshots of everyday activities like an evening in the park playing pétanque. She discusses (and paints) the fruits and vegetables…
