Not a journal or diary, not chronological or introspective, the commonplace book is akin to a scrapbook. It’s a way to condense and centralize any information of interest. Observing and recording quotes, ideas, expressions, images, passages from books; segments from … Continue reading
A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to bring the ancient technique of Nature Printing to the members of the Philadelphia Botanical Club and the Delaware Valley Fern and Wildflower Society. The workshop, organized by field trip coordinator … Continue reading
Working on a tiny 6×9 watercolor block loosens the tightness…Choosing a few small objects and holding each one in my hand as I sketch is calming…The unimposing size and familiarity of subject warms my brain, readies me to face large, … Continue reading
Needing a break from agonizing over my painting, I took a detour into flour drawing. I figured it might feel refreshing to experiment a bit so I sprinkled some flour onto a dark, smooth surface and grabbed a pencil. Freeing … Continue reading
I think better with my hands. The mind and hands are co-conspirators when it comes to drawing, painting and printing – so rather than just thinking about what to draw, paint or print, hands that are busy in the process … Continue reading
Sometimes bright, sometimes moody. I see it most nights, way out there, about 240,000 miles away, born from the earth. I paint it and paint it and paint it some more.“Moonlight floods the whole sky from horizon to horizon.” -Rumi … Continue reading
What’s more fun than eating your vegetables? Printing them! Printing veggies is food for a creative appetite. Head to the market this season for carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, celery, or whatever fresh produce looks good for making a cozy home project … Continue reading
While in Princeton, NJ for a seminar on Tuesday I stopped by the University’s art museum to catch “John Constable Oil Sketches from the Victoria and Albert Museum”. A number of watercolor and graphite sketches were also included. Constable’s … Continue reading
in the Japanese garden at Georgian Court College, Lakewood, NJ Find the essence the choiceness the needle the crucial the few the true In ‘The Book of Tea’ Okakura Kakuzo tells us that Laotse, the founder of Taoism, … Continue reading
Spring is here and we can’t wait to print our favorite plants and flowers. Some of my favorites are black-eyed Susan, iris, poppy, rose, and dandelion. Through the winter the produce market has been a haven of fruit and vegetable … Continue reading