Committing to a leaf a day

Committing to a leaf a day

Here’s an idea—particularly if you’re having difficulty finding time to draw and paint—committing to a leaf a day. I’m suggesting a daily regime of sketching at least one leaf a day. While normal daily commitments can rob us of time to paint,...
An artist’s worst nightmare—a painting lost in transit

An artist’s worst nightmare—a painting lost in transit

Every time I hand a painting to a courier I do so with trepidation. This week my trepidation was justified. I shipped my painting for the ASBA’s Abundant Future exhibition with FedEx Express. En route from my home in Chester Basin, Nova Scotia to The New York...
Don’t leave home without them

Don’t leave home without them

A small sketch book, mechanical pencil, and eraser. These are essential travelling or out-and-about companions for any botanical artist. You know what’s going to happen on that one occasion that you don’t have them handy—you’ll come across that...
Exhibiting abroad—a story about why you should do your homework!

Exhibiting abroad—a story about why you should do your homework!

The invitation: I received an invitation to exhibit in an international botanical art exhibition. I felt flattered. And I readily agreed to participate. Exhibiting abroad is an enticing proposition. I’d exhibited outside Canada before in Bermuda, the US, the UK,...
When is sharp sharp enough?

When is sharp sharp enough?

From left to right: sandpaper block from Faber-Castell; wooden pencil sharpened in the regular way; sharpened mechanical pencil; pencil sharpener; wooden pencil with half inch of graphite exposed; Exacto knife for shaving the wood off the pencil. When I’m...