We all know the importance of practicing…but, what shall we practice? That’s always a question, and it’s often answered with … More
Month: June 2018
If It Isn’t Fine…
Two years ago I posed a question about art — what makes a work a piece of art? With over … More
Artist Unknown
This is a real long shot… here’s the story. My husband recently found this watercolor painting in the trash at … More
Why Landscapes? Why Not!
Many times during my art journey I’ve wondered where I might end up. What sort of artist did I aspire … More
Painting Rocks – A Different Way
Today I want to showcase the talents of my daughter, Elisabeth Sherwood, and share her new-found passion for painting “friendship … More
Rocks Revisited
When I first began learning to draw, I sat outside and patiently drew a couple of rocks sitting in a … More
The Great Mysteries of Art
I’ve always loved reading stories about art sleuths. You know, those dedicated individuals who track down stolen paintings or other … More
The Road to Transformation
I browsed around a bit this morning and found this quotation from Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love: Ruin is … More
Field Trip
What student doesn’t look forward to a field trip? It’s true even for self-taught students of art. On Wednesday, I … More
Sketchbooks are for Sketching
I’ve often recounted the story of buying my first sketchbook, how odd it felt to walk through the art supply … More
Art and Illusion
If I were an art teacher — which I’ll never be — the first thing I would teach my students … More
Setting the Tone
Lately I’ve been pondering an art question: Why do we tone canvases with acrylic before painting? Now, first, let me … More
Young Artist at Work
I’m never too trusting of internet quotes, but we’ve all heard the one attributed to Picasso: “Every child is an … More
This Is What an Artist Does
Yesterday morning marked another step on my journey as an artist. I took my portable easel, put my oil paints … More
The Cranky Art Teacher
Yesterday morning I was feeling fairly satisfied with my painting progress. I’d added the finishing touches to one picture, and … More
If You Don’t Try…
Earlier this morning I finished the painting I’ve been slowly — and intentionally — working on. It was a nerve-wracking … More
A Change of Clothes
First, a quick joke. This was one I heard as a girl, and I could really relate to it: Two … More
Easy…Like Sunday Morning
I’ve done a bit more work on the painting I started yesterday morning. I’ve been learning so much lately, and … More
Heavens Above!
I started a new oil painting this morning. It’s going to be a bit of a practice painting, a chance for … More
Painting with Intent
Earlier this morning — I’ve been up since about 3:30 AM — I put the finishing touches on a new … More