Advanced offer for followers


I am in the process of expanding my Etsy site offerings. The plan is to price them there much, much lower than I have asked for in the past, a kind of studio inventory reduction. But, before I do that I want to make them available at the lowest price ever to those who follow…

TheTravelsketcher’s Tuesday Tip – July 29, 2025


The most interesting pieces of art have a focal point, contrast, and depth. Then if there is a story somehow it is even better. These are all areas I have had to learn, even struggle with over the years. Trying to paint some vast landscape without at least an interesting tree or mountain as the…

TheTravelsketcher’s Tuesday Tip


Try painting the darks first. Traditional watercolor practice is to work from light to dark, which makes sense since watercolor is transparent so the dark colors cover light colors. Oil, gouache, and acrylic painters often, usually, start with the darkest areas first, then they lighten as needed. Try breaking the watercolor rule and painting the…

TheTravelsketcher’s Tuesday Tip – the morning after


“ The sole art that suits me is that which, rising from unrest, tends toward serenity.” Andre Gide In our life’s times of unrest, art is a place to seek serenity. As my mind struggles to comprehend yesterday, art gives a bit of calm. The idealism of optimism has faded, but I cling to the…

Lessons From Van Gogh


While we were in Saint Remy we walked the Van Gogh Trail up to the hospital where he lived in 1888 and 1889. I spent a lot of time thinking about his paintings and made a few observations that are helping me, so I thought I would pass them along. These are in no particular…