Halloween is two days away. It seems we associate the poor pumpkin to Halloween, yet it is a fitting symbol for all of autumn, a squash as tasty as any, and a delight to paint. The Great British Bake Off (Series 17) started its new season 3 weeks ago so our Friday evenings are booked…
Thoughts from theTravelsketcher – A quick landscape
Often, as travelsketchers, we just need a quick method to capture a moment. So lets look at simpifying a landscape. Consider this sketch that took less than 5 minutes. It easily could have been done without the person, I added that on a whim at the end. Here is the basic technique: Paint sky, distant…
This week in The Pearl – October 22, 2026
Last Thursday we chatted with friends from Normandie in the morning, evening for them of course – always good to catch up. Roscoe is there champagne-colored poodle, when he hears our voices on WhatsApp he perks up and looks at the door, we guess that he thinks we are coming to visit – he is…
Thoughts from theTravelsketcher – October 19, 2026
Alexis told me about a quote she saw on instagram many years ago, I like how it applies to life and especially to art. “Anything worth doing is worth doing half-assedly.” So many people I talk with tell me the reason they have never tried to sketch is because they fear it won’t look right….
This week in The Pearl – October 15, 2026
Last Thursday, after posting my blog, I joined the Plein Air Painters of Portland at Cornell Farms to paint pumpkins. It was my first time with a plein air group, and I did enjoy it so will do again. The painting I did has already found a home, I will be delivering it Saturday after…
