Three Twisted Trees — A Study in Symbolism

Maybe one of the reasons I’m so in love with tonalist art is that almost all of the landscape paintings predominately …

Drawing is Fundamental

Years ago literacy campaigns often used the slogan “Reading is fundamental” with emphasis on the FUN part. As a strong …

“Through the Trees”

I love coincidences. They always seem to be a sign to me, a definite indication of something I should learn …

A Little Bit Creepy

The challenge of depicting trees in my landscape art has become even more interesting now as I move away from realism toward a more impressionistic style of art.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree

Nope, I’m not drawing dogs — although our stuffed puppies do make excellent subjects. From time to time I will …

Become One with the Tree

Recently I’ve been looking again at works by my favorite landscape artists — Thomas Cole, Asher Durand, Frederic Church and …

Some Things are Better Left Undone

I know I’m not the only one who tends to “overwork” paintings. Whether it’s in watercolor or oil, I’m constantly …

Just Doodlin’

I’ve always enjoyed doodling. I think most of us have fun just picking up a pencil or pen and doodling …

A Scene from Childhood

I’m finding that I have an “old-fashioned” spirit when it comes to painting, and that’s how this painting feels to me.

Will I Ever Learn?

Will I ever learn to create the landscapes I want? Will I ever be able to paint trees that make me smile? Or will it always be a struggle for me?

Next on the Agenda

Recently, I’ve started practicing trees, and while I can do them fairly well in practice, I don’t seem able to get them the way I want when I try to include them in a landscape.

Slowly but Surely

With each painting I do, I realize how far I’ve come in a very short time, and yet I also realize how very far I have to go.

Something Different

I did do a watercolor for today, but I wasn’t happy with it. The colors looked horrible together, and I …

Whatever Works

As artists, we each have our own approach to drawing, painting, and other forms of expression. We have our own …

Know When to Say When

Why is it that so often the hardest part of painting is knowing when to stop? Why do we sometimes keep dabbing …

Just Pull Out the Trees

I recently bought a beautiful book called The Art of Watercolor, one of many art instruction books published by Walter …

Being Both Student and Teacher

I heard an amusing joke recently. If a home-schooling mother talks to herself, is she crazy? Or is she just …