Author: Rebecca
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As summer winds down, my thoughts turn to preparations for next year’s garden. As a painter of the natural world, gardening provides me endless inspiration and reminds me of the beauty and interconnectedness of all living things. I strive to create a little oasis that supports local wildlife and pollinators. In designing wildlife gardens, it’s…
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Building a Wolf Portrait in Layers Beginning a new wildlife painting is an exciting moment full of potential. This portrait of a delighted black wolf started with careful graphite studies, mapping out proportions before applying the first strokes of paint. I laid in the initial structural underpainting using thinned layers of sepia and burnt umber.…
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I’m delighted to share some recent sketches from my ornithological studies. Songbirds are a constant source of fascination and inspiration in my artistic journey. Their radiant forms, intricate details, and diverse behaviors offer endless opportunities for observation and learning. In these pages, I aimed to capture local species like the Northern Cardinal and Chickadee with…
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As an artist who has long found inspiration along the Mississippi River, I’m compelled to reflect on the living legacy of its incredible backwaters and sloughs. For many years I’ve walked the banks and bluffs, observing these habitats flourish through seasons and years. Though I have occasionally paddle the local waterways, more often I’m content…
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Though now confined to the studio, visions of grizzlies (and other wild creatures) still dance in my mind’s eye, itching to be painted. I take thousands of reference photos during my encounters, but draw as much from memory—recollections of chance meetings with the bears in their wilderness habitat or rescue animals in sanctuaries. I had…
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As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, the landscape transitions into the rich, warm hues of late autumn. The trees shed their emerald leaves, revealing branches laden with jewel-toned fruit. Crimson crabapples and wild cherries ripen amidst the muted browns and grays of the season. I’m currently working on a watercolor painting…
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I find that gardening complements my creative practice beautifully. Not only does being outside amongst the plants inspire me and bring wildlife in, but nurturing my garden is an act of artistry in itself. There’s something very satisfying about digging in the soil, planting seeds, and watching nature flourish thanks to a bit of care…
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When it comes to watercolor painting in fine detail, the surface you paint on is crucial for achieving the best results. I recently had someone ask me what type of surface I use for my watercolor paintings, so I thought I’d share some tips on choosing the ideal painting ground. The most important factor to…
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I’m currently working on a new small-scale portrait of a mountain lion, done with watercolor paints. I’ve just finished the initial underpainting stage, where I sketch out the basic forms and apply sepia texture and small wash areas to give the painting some basic structure before starting to layer on color. For this piece, I…
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As I walk the trails near my home, I’m often greeted by the sight of wild turkeys roaming the woods and fields. This spring and summer has brought an especially memorable flock. A mother turkey with eight young poults has made regular appearances during my hikes. The mother is very protective, keeping the little ones…