TheTravelsketcher’s Tuesday Tip


A pencil is good for more than just laying out a sketch, with ink it works well for shade. I use a Blackwing and a 5mm 4B in a lead holder.

The Pearl, a world away from La Thebauderie


Tuesday we got the fobs, they don’t use keys these days, to our apartment in the Pearl District of Portland, a world and two centuries away from La Thebauderie in Normandie. Tricia’s view today, and her views two years ago. We like the Pearl, it has a bit of a Paris feel. The streets are…

TheTravelsketcher’s Tuesday Tip


Don’t apologize or use disclaimers (excuses). “I just did a quick sketch.” This is a phrase I see quite often in posts, but I know that what tempts me to use that phrase is the sense that what I sketched is not very good and I hope I will be forgiven for it not being…

What a week in Portland and the world


Eight days ago we drove from Seattle to Portland, the last leg of our journey from France to the US. Portland will be our home now. What a change for us, it was almost 38 years ago that I moved from my hometown of Portland to Seattle for a job, married Tricia, and settled in…

Back in the PNW


For those unfortunate folks who have never had the chance to visit Oregon or Washington, PNW stands for the “Pacific Northwest” – this is arguably one of the most beautiful parts of our world. Our journey from Avignon began on October the eighth, it took us to Dijon in the wine country of Burgundy, on…