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...
Rehabilitating a Vintage Byer & Hayes Fountain Pen

Rehabilitating a Vintage Byer & Hayes Fountain Pen

About a year ago I bought a vintage Byer & Hayes fountain pen.  It was in good shape with the original clip with the B&H logo.  The main thing I liked was the super-flexible gold nib for sketching.  Unfortunately the bladder rotted and the ink dried up leaving...
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...