This week in The Pearl – October 31, 2025


A good week in and around The Pearl. We did take a couple of drives: Tuesday to Hood River, Thursday to Raptor Ridge. This is a perfect time for drives, the fall colors are perfect. Going through some photos from our recent trip to John Day Fossil Beds triggered an oil painting. Our unit is…

This week – stormy beginning


Sunday we went with Alexis and Joe to Newport on the Oregon Coast, for her birthday lunch. It was a stormy day, with wind gusts in the 50mph range. The rain was coming down at an angle, I even succeeded in slipping on wet grass so spent the day with soaked Levis, it was a…

TheTravelsketcher’s Tuesday Tip


Take notice of the insignificant. “Taking the time to note the character of the less prominent landmarks is a habit… It is only common in three groups of people… artists, experienced soldiers, and indigenous peoples… take time to sketch…” The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs, by Tristian Gooley The less prominent landmarks are often…

Avignon to Dijon


After two months and eight days we left our apartment in Avignon. Our time there was certainly one of the high points of our time in France, memories of Avignon will linger for a long time. It is autumn, so a couple of pieces of art reflecting the season. Be sure to check Tricia’s post…

Fall is on us in Avignon


One last sketch from our trip to Marseille, Notre Dame de La Garde – the view was amazing, thankfully, we took an Uber to the top as it would have been a long steep climb. As I sit at La Cave Des Pas Sages the leaves are changing colors, and the people walking by have…