Sketching Abandoned Steam Locomotives in Maine

Sketching Abandoned Steam Locomotives in Maine

I am a fan of old trains, so in late July I went on a sketch adventure to the abandoned locomotives of the Allagash wilderness.  Deep in Maine’s North Woods sit two rusting 100-ton steam engines, remnants of the lumber industry that once supplied twenty percent of...
My Art Library:  Sketching Before Urban Sketchers

My Art Library: Sketching Before Urban Sketchers

Before the explosion of the Urban Sketchers movement that began in 2007 there was very little published on this topic. On a recent visit to Los Angeles I stopped by my favorite art bookstore, Hennesy & Ingalls, and discovered some treasures I’d like to...
California Sketching

California Sketching

For years Venice beach has been a place for rejuvenation of my creative energies.  Life in Manhattan is perpetually stressed, leading to rigidity and stagnation.  Nothing remedied this better for me than hopping on a plane to California to chill out in Venice. I would...
Returning to Cow Canyon Trading Post

Returning to Cow Canyon Trading Post

My relationship with making art has been complicated, mainly because of my day job as a medical doctor in New York City.  Years ago I maintained a painting studio, but gave up the medium when I moved into a small Manhattan apartment to pursue my training.  But the...
The Thrill of Watching Paint Dry

The Thrill of Watching Paint Dry

In the heat of the southwest desert, among the towering buttes and mesas of Red Rock country, I discovered the thrill of watching paint dry.  I’ve been doing watercolor for years and found the most difficult part is waiting for each wash to dry before proceeding to...
Plein Air Painting on the McKenzie River

Plein Air Painting on the McKenzie River

The wild McKenzie River runs through the Willamette National Forest, west of the Cascade Range in Central Oregon.  Over the July 4th weekend I went there to paint it.  I managed to film my work and post it, and this is the story of my trip. I flew into Redmond and...