Dear Reader, The Saddle Shop, poured watercolor 16x20" As we settle into July, I thought I'd share a look back at everything that came to life in the studio during June. After a busy spring of exhibitions and travel, I returned to the cabin where I've been spending nearly every day in the studio. Surrounded by the quiet of the lake, the changing skies, and long summer days, I've been able to immerse myself in painting again—and it has been exactly what my creative spirit needed. June's work...
10 days ago • 2 min read
Hello Reader, One of the things I love most about being an artist is that a painting often begins in a very specific place, but once it leaves the studio it takes on a life of its own. This week, two of my paintings are on view in Idaho, each telling a different story about the places and people. The Great Escape, poured watercolor on panel, 30 x40" The Great Escape is currently on exhibit as part of the Idaho Cowgirl Congress at the Sun Valley Museum of Art in Ketchum. The exhibition brings...
24 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, Last week, I wrote about the faces we remember and how the features that make us unique are often the very things that deviate from the "ideal." This week, my portrait students and I are painting a young girl. At first glance, you might think a young face would be easier to paint. After all, there are no deep wrinkles, laugh lines, weathered skin, or years of life etched into the face. The skin is smooth. The transitions are soft. The features are delicate. But in many ways,...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, I've spent the last few days settling back into my cabin in Northeast Washington for the summer. After a busy year of travel, teaching, exhibitions, and deadlines, it feels good to once again be surrounded by the forests, mountains, and water that inspire so much of my work. Yesterday I was finally able to sit down and paint. As I watched the light move across the landscape outside my window, I was reminded of a question I hear often from artists: Why do some landscapes seem to...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hello Reader, This week I begin a new portrait painting course, and as I've been preparing lessons, I've found myself thinking about faces and what makes them memorable. There are formulas for drawing and painting portraits. Artists learn proportions, measuring techniques, and guidelines that help us place the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears in roughly the right locations. These "maps" are incredibly helpful. They give us a place to start and help us understand the landscape of the face. But the...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, Summer is one of my favorite times to paint. The light seems to linger a little longer, colors feel richer, and there is something about slowing down and stepping outside that helps us notice the beauty around us. I'm excited to share my upcoming summer watercolor offerings! Whether you're interested in learning to create expressive portraits, glowing landscapes, or strengthening the foundations that make paintings successful, there is something for every stage of your watercolor...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, I’m currently writing this from a coffee shop in Springfield while waiting and hoping to make it home tomorrow after my flight was canceled. At this point, if all goes wrong, you may still find me wandering the streets of Springfield with a paintbrush in hand and searching for inspiration. As I sit here reflecting, I wanted to share a little about my experience at the Plein Air Convention because it truly was four full days of inspiration, connection, laughter, and paint. The...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Dear Reader, A few years ago, I went to the Plein Air Convention for the first time—not as an instructor, but as a student. And truthfully, that experience stayed with me more deeply than I expected. It reminded me how important it is to slow down.To be patient enough to really see what is in front of me. There is something about painting outdoors that asks you to be present in a completely different way. The light shifts, the wind moves through everything, people pass by, and the scene never...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Hello Watercolor Enthusiasts, Thank you so much to those who joined me live yesterday for my Art School Live demo with Mandy Theis! We had such a wonderful time talking about values, color temperature, and how I approach poured watercolor through layers of light and dark. During the demo, I worked on a new piece inspired by Victoria Falls titled Luminous Descent. One of the biggest themes of the session was how temperature can influence our perception of value — and how strong values are...
2 months ago • 1 min read