TheTravelsketcher’s Tuesday Tip – August 26, 2025


If your sketches are looking flat the dark areas are probably too light; the dark areas give depth and interest, don’t be afraid of them. I am revisiting the issue of getting the dark areas right. In other posts I have revealed that for most of my art life I was afraid of getting the…

TheTravelsketcher’s Tuesday Tip – How to travel with pens


When flying with your fountain pen – keep it full and upright. First my credibility, and some blatant bragging. I spent 25 years traveling the world as a seminar speaker. On Alaska Airlines I hold a Million Miler card. Before I stopped flying on United there were years I logged over 200,000 miles a year…

This week in The Pearl – August 8, 2025


Our week was a bit slower paced, with just enough activity to make it interesting, as well as a lot of cooking. Last Friday we had salad for lunch, always a favorite, we usually construct our own, here is mine. There are a few foods that sound good to me, that should work, yet when…

This week in The Pearl – August 1, 2025


One year a go today we moved into our apartment in Avignon. Tricia has posted many times about Avignon, here is my post from our first week there – it is hard to believe all that has changed. It was a good week here in The Pearl and beyond. Though I have been an Urban…

This week in The Pearl – July 18, 2025


Last weekend, well actually Thursday and Friday, were such a treat. Our friends from Mukilteo, Shirley and Jim, came down to visit for two days. They are Francophiles as are we, they travel to France most every year. We met up with them there on two of their trips. This time together was bittersweet though….