I spent a relaxing morning sketching in the garden. I always have trouble just sketching versus producing a finished painting. I want to keep on painting until it's really a good painting - when what I need to do is a loose quick sketch. I have three ways to force myself to just relax and experiment: 1. ...

Trees and skies are always such a nice warmup!

Nothing too bold, just barely touched with golden light against the blue sky.

Blue sky with tracings of trees contrasting. So simple and so perfect. And sooo hard to paint! I'm having fun!

It's going to be a beautiful spring. I'm enjoying the last of the daffodils in my garden

Use a big brush and work on the entire painting at once. Start with at least an approximately 11″ x 14″ sheet of paper and a #30 Round brush. I’m a big fan of tiny sketchbooks you can carry around everywhere, but not for the first 10 paintings or so. And keep the same proportions. [...]

Ocean Surf on Little Moose Island, Schoodic Peninsula, Acadia National Park, Maine    

A step by step demonstration of a lovely bridge in Venice!

A fun birthday notecard sketch for a good friend. Little sketches like this are fun to do, great to give and a perfect place to experiment!