almost like Christmas!

We arrived home from our camping trip to find a pile of mail and packages, among which was this Lumos Pro Duo pen from Tom’s Studio in the UK. It seemed like the package was delayed in customs forever! I ordered the pen and 2 bottles of water-based ink; they also sent me a “cheeky little ink sample” in a rich teal color, and the pen came with its own sample of ink and eleven interchangeable tips, plus they stuck in a tea bag so I could enjoy a cup of tea while trying out the pen!

Most of the tips are various sizes of tips like the disposable Pigma Micron pens, plus there are brush-like tips which are the ones I will mostly use.

I took four Pitt Brush Pens on our trip for getting shapes down quickly as an under layer for colored pencils. But they were bulky in my Mini Sendak tool roll, and when they eventually run out they will be disposed of. This one Lumos Duo fiber tip pen is refillable and has two tips in one pen — easy to fit in one pocket of the Sendak with two ink color choices, plus the extra tips fit in the zippered pocket.

I chose a pale earthy coral color and a light gray — a warm and a cool base for whatever colored pencils I choose to layer on top. 

Also in the mail was a parcel from UK illustrator, Kriksis, that was also delayed in delivery by the US. I ordered a couple of zines from her, one full of sketches she did in the forest that I particularly wanted. And we also received a few household items ordered from Amazon.

I can’t wait to fill the pen and try it out — just as soon as I get through the small mountain of laundry and give the dog a bath!

tree forms

While here in the woods (our RV is literally surrounded by trees on 3 sides!), I have been slowly collecting sketches of the more unusual tree forms. Lots of post oak, cedar elm, and bald cypress in unusual growth patterns. The main tree on the left seems to be standing tiptoe with a patch of grass growing underneath it! I’ve included a photo of it from the other side.

The trees in the center share a large common root between them. The front one also seems to be parting its “skirt” to reveal an underlayer. The tree on the right has what appears to be a wee doorway at the end of one of the roots.

Drawn with Pitt Artist brush pens and colored pencils; fountain pen ink and gouache for the bluebonnet bloom.

early morning at Fort Parker

This morning, after a gentle rain most of the night, Butters and I took a walk down the road at Fort Parker State Park where we are camping. We spied this heron who decided with a very loud squawk that it did not wish to have its photo taken.

Further down the road, we found it again. Nearby ducks left in a hurry but this time the heron stayed, posing for me as it munched on fish. Perhaps it felt more protected under the trees.

bluebonnet time

On Thursday I got together with a good friend but we spent more time catching up with each other than sketching. She happens to live surrounded by the most beautiful of Texas wildflowers but I only sketched a couple of them while we chatted; the rest, I drew from photos later at home, including some fun decorative bits from her new kitchen.

The second photo shows only a small portion of their land of wildflowers.

a little bit of play

Here, I was trying new ways of sketching some wildflowers seen on a walk yesterday.

First, simply drawing with Pitt Artist brush pens. Then, details in colored pencils but it didn’t show well on this toned paper.

So I broke out my safari green Lamy filled with Noodler’s El Lawrence green ink. Overworked, probably, but I had fun trying.

peach blossoms

A couple of weeks ago I snapped photos of trees in our front pasture while out with our corgi, Butters. But I didn’t get around to sketching from one until today. This is the baby peach tree’s blossoms; I was too late to get shots of the apple trees.

bits of last week

Just some bits of nothing much sketched in my journal . . .

My vision has been a bit fuzzy lately. I have glaucoma and early macular degeneration, for which I am under treatment and have regular checkups. I was relieved at last week’s check that the slightly out-of-focus fuzziness was part of the seasonal allergies I’ve been going through. Very irritated dry eyes (which sounds weird when my eyes water so much!) and lots of oak tree pollen. Hot compresses and extra eye drops, including one for allergies — simple fix!

I also played around with new palette arrangements, just for fun. And tried out my new Kaweco Brass Sport fountain pen. As reliable as my beloved Liliputs but slightly chunky and heavier, better for benign tremor shaky hands.

an old stone house

For the first few years after moving to Brenham, Texas, we often drove around the small communities nearby exploring. This sketch is from a photo taken 7 years ago in Belleville, where we found several old historic homes. Just around the corner from this native stone cottage is an original dogtrot log cabin, photo shown below. It is currently being used so doors have been modernized.

De Atramentis Document brown ink, watercolor, and colored pencil in a Seawhite Travel Journal.

another early cuppa

It was very early in the morning, only me and the cats stirring. Butters, our corgi, actually gave me a dirty look when I turned on a small lamp as she moved from the couch to her darker kennel!

This time, I had a cup of my new favorite black tea, Taylor’s of Harrogate spiced Christmas tea. Drawn with an odd assortment of tools in my tiny 2” sketchbook.

nothin’ but us chickens!

Yesterday we took our corgi to the vet’s for her yearly checkup and a vaccination. We must’ve been taken to the chicken exam room (yes, our vet has a chicken specialist on staff) judging by the chicken decor! 

My Duke 209 fude fountain pen was still causing me problems, even after repeated cleanings and changing ink brands. Seemed like a good excuse to buy this Sailor fude de Mannen pen . . . Besides, it comes in BROWN! Perfect for using with brown ink. Like the navy version, this one has a 40° bend which I prefer over the bamboo green 55° degree nib. I found the pen at Jet Pens.

sketchbook play

It began when I pulled my favorite fude nib pen (Duke 209) from the antique tool box where emptied & cleaned fountain pens sleep. I wondered how this very lightweight pen would work with the progressing tremor in my hands. I filled it with new-to-me Rohrer & Klingner Lotte Sketch Ink and drew some sketch tools.

My hand didn’t shake much, but the pen nib fought with me the whole time! I remember its lines as smooth and effortless, not skipping and dragging. Was the CP paper of the Seawhite Travel Journal to blame? Or the ink? I cleaned it and refilled with my old ink, De Atramentis Document Grey. Seems much smoother now, but I’ll try it on other papers to be sure.

As long as this mostly-gouache palette was out, I wondered if gouache could be used in ink & wash like watercolor. I had just baked another loaf of sourdough so I sketched it with the fude pen, then added thin layers of gouache over the dried ink. Seems to work fine.

We don’t actually eat that much bread, so I cut fresh loaves I bake in half and pop half in the freezer for later. 

no one to sketch

I walked into the clinic this week determined to actually draw people, something I tend to avoid.

Too bad we were the only ones in that particular waiting area.

I drew Bill’s foot . . . as he kept bouncing it up and down.

 

camping at Cagle

This week we have been once again camping in the Sam Houston National Forest. Not too hot, not too cold — just right for leisurely walks on nearby trails. There are several items we forgot to pack or didn’t think we’d need and wish we had, but it’s been a relaxing, enjoyable time. Today, lots of new campers are coming in for the weekend just as we are getting ready to head home. Being retired means not needing to plan around working hours!

At the campsite next to ours, we found an arrow made of pine cones, leading up to a hidden painted rock that someone left as a surprise. I took a photo and left it for the next person to find.

the gulf, revisited

Two weeks ago I posted a 2” gouache sketch I did from a photo taken on Mustang Island. This past week I repainted the scene, this time using Japanese Gansai watercolors. These were purchased years ago but seldom used. Recently I replaced the brighter colors with muted ones that I’m preferring these days. After the initial painting, seen in the second photo, I added a bit of colored pencil. The previous tiny sketch is shown in the third photo.

overworked

This sketch of leaves (and acorn) seen on the lane while walking my corgi began well enough with a watercolor wash. I removed the masking fluid and added a bit of colored pencil — still going well. I wish I had stopped there.

Instead, I added shadows with the nearest dark pencil, which happened to be a water-soluble Inktense pencil in Bark. I meant to leave it dry but somehow a drop of water hit one bit, so I wet all shadows. Which ruined the light, delicate look I was going for.

tiny house, c. 1840s

This sketch didn’t turn out quite like I had planned, but I’m calling it done and moving on. It’s drawn from a photo I took in 2018. The cabin had a spindly live oak growing behind it with skinnier branches than normal.

The photo was in with others on my phone taken in Old Baylor Park but after I wrote the text, I’m not so sure if that’s where we saw it. It might have been in Round Top.

(watercolor & colored pencil)

drawing my not drawing

Yesterday I listened to a few past videos of Natasha Newton, including a Zoom drawing session recording from 2024. Participants were given a photo of the chosen scene, to be sketched in a certain limited time.

But instead of drawing along with the group, I drew the scene on my iPad, along with the hot cup of cocoa I was drinking and a picture of my closed sketchbook. Just for fun.

back to my nature journal

Almost two weeks ago, as the recent cold snap arrived here with a drizzly sleet, Bill noticed an odd red mushroom and brought it inside for me to sketch, which I did in gouache. Then I set this small nature journal aside — until today.

After watching a recording of Art Toolkit’s workshop on garden journaling with Bethan Burton, I added some sketches from two of her garden photos. I like her style of an ink line drawing with only a small focused bit with color added.

I found James Gurney’s quote online; it seemed to fit the 2-page spread.

tiny bits of gouache

Today has been a cold, sleepy sort of day. I pulled up a photo I took on Mustang Island over ten years ago and tried to paint it in gouache in my 2” sketchbook. Warm memories, though I remember there was a cold October wind blowing.

another cup of tea

Today, a simple sketch of my early morning hot tea — this time, my favorite gunpowder green tea. Sketched with Pitt Artist Pens and a few Derwent Drawing pencils. The other items on the kitchen counter were drawn with a Liliput fountain pen and De Atramentis Document blue gray ink.

Benign Tremor makes my dominant hand shake and is making me look for new ways of sketching. Brush pens and pencils are easier to control than paint brushes for details. But I can still use watercolor in large areas, which is the best way to use granulating pigments!

the freeze is on the way

We have been having a strange winter season so far, even needing to run the air conditioner just a week ago! On Monday, there were new blossoms on the baby peach tree. The leaves of the Mexican sycamore we planted this autumn have not yet fallen; in fact there are fresh green ones!

But a freezing winter storm is streaming towards us — and across half of the country today. The confused trees are in for a shock.

a new brush pen

I just received a small order from jetpens.com which included a new Pentel Pocketbrush pen with sanguine ink. So I grabbed a couple of oak leaves as Butters and I walked back from the mailbox (our mailbox is about a block away — at least that’s how it feels sometimes) and sketched them, then added gouache and a smidgen of colored pencil.

My original Pocketbrush pen with black ink is probably about 18 years old now, purchased in Kansas City on my way to sketching with a buddy in Excelsior Springs, MO. And it is still going strong with a great brush tip!

early morning view

The past few years I have reversed my long-held habits and have become an early riser, usually while it’s still quite dark. A quiet time to sip a cup of hot tea, read, or play a word game on my phone. Our corgi, Butters, and one of our cats, Bardie, love to go explore outside in the morning before it gets light. This is the view we had one morning last week, a wee sliver of a moon over the Arizona cypress tree we planted a few years ago.

The teacup and saucer are the only real cup and saucer I own; I normally use a large mug. I don’t usually use tea bags, but I bought a gift tin of Yorkshire Gold tea bags just for the tin, which features ink drawings by Yorkshire artist John Harrison. The bags have no string and tag; instead, I use a beaded chain with a small clip to hold the corner of the bag.

(watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil in a Seawhite of Brighton travel journal)

✳️ A bit of artistic license was employed in this sketch: the oak tree, which still has some brown leaves hanging on, was moved closer to the cypress to fit the square format and the crepe myrtle we planted was completely ignored. Those pine trees in the far distance are actually much taller than I drew them, and I left out the long driveway with its 12 live oaks and some additional fencing. Trying to simplify!

my Monday, SRO

Just a quick scribble sketch done while waiting through early jury selection process . . . All seats were taken, all hallways filled, standing room only.

We are now on lunch break; I live too far from the county seat to go home so I’m eating a snack in my car and posting this until time to return to the courtroom.

So much fun. (Not!)
 

brotherly mushrooms

These two small mushrooms were seen while Butters and I walked the front pasture — the smaller one seemed to lean into the larger one as if seeking its protection.

(watercolor and colored pencil)

mending time

Time to tackle the small pile of mending that’s collected on my dresser. Which means, time to procrastinate and draw it first. 😂

I was wanting to use the large blue tote bag for Bill’s hospital visits last year (there’s always something extra to stash in my bag) but what I thought was leather straps when I made the bag were not — and they were splitting apart. Real leather straps were hard to find; many were on Etsy but shipped from Eastern Europe or Asia. So I set it aside and ordered the green bag on Etsy (the actual color is an earthy deep forest) which is also bigger than I normally carry.

The green bag has just the right type of pockets, but one inside side pocket tended to gap so I thought a snap might help. And of course, as soon as I ordered it, I found real leather straps to replace those on the knit bag!

early morning walk

Our temperatures are still mostly in the 70s but mornings have been foggy. This is the view during a recent morning walk.

I need practice trying to write with a tiny paintbrush. Very wonky!

distractions

Yes, I love to sketch. I love playing with fountain pens, watercolor, gouache, and pencils. But there are many distractions — many are simply the stuff of normal daily life and some are a bit more intense. 

Routine tests last summer in preparation for back surgery showed that my husband had only one kidney . . . and things weren’t working properly. He’s had to be on a catheter since then, through a successful back surgery. There was a surgical fix for his prostrate but, for that, we switched to a different hospital. The surgeon placed him “top priority” on the list due to having only one kidney and being on a catheter. There was still a glitch or two, but thankfully the surgery, performed New Year’s Eve, was a success and the catheter is gone.

I planned on sketching in waiting rooms and his hospital room, carrying tools and sketchbook with me. But somehow, I just couldn’t focus. I _did_ manage to begin knitting a top though. And even sketching the early results, though the body of the top is curling at this stage.

For this sketch, I lightly drew the shapes with colored pencil, then painted with gouache. A thin ball point pen was used for the knitting needle’s cable, and a bit of colored pencil was added on top.