I am teaching two workshops this year at the Portland, Oregon Art and Soul Retreat. The first on is on April 11, 2023 and called Watercolor Nature Journaling. I will be teaching techniques for how to paint animals and plants in small format for your journals.
An inspiration for painting can come at any moment. I always take my camera with me. I never know what beauty will show up and inspire me to get my watercolor supplies out and paint. Lately, I have been having fun painting nature: birds, feathers, foxes, bunnies… on a recent hike and morel hunting mission, I am inspired to paint mushrooms! Today!
Where do you find inspiration for painting?
“Nature” is what we see—
The Hill—the Afternoon—
Squirrel—Eclipse— the Bumble bee—
Nay—Nature is Heaven—
Nature is what we hear—
The Bobolink—the Sea—
Thunder—the Cricket—
Nay—Nature is Harmony—
Nature is what we know—
Yet have no art to say—
So impotent Our Wisdom is
To her Simplicity.
Emily Dickinson
A day at the beach refreshes the soul! The sights, the exploring, the fresh air….
IT is a beauteous evening, calm and free,
The holy time is quiet as a Nun
Breathless with adoration; the broad sun
Is sinking down in its tranquillity;
The gentleness of heaven broods o’er the sea:
Listen! the mighty Being is awake,
And doth with his eternal motion make
A sound like thunder–everlastingly.
Dear Child! dear Girl! that walkest with me here,
If thou appear untouch’d by solemn thought,
Thy nature is not therefore less divine:
Thou liest in Abraham’s bosom all the year;
And worshipp’st at the Temple’s inner shrine,
God being with thee when we know it not.
