RAMBLING  SKETCHER

I realized I was LONG overdue for an updated kit post. I get asked a lot what I carry around while sketching, so if you're interested, here's everything I use! The Original Woodward and Father board is the one that I carry with me most. The Yoobi pen case was found at Target, and the "Well-Behaved Women" pouch is from the Strand. I had been using a larger pen case that I loved for a while (it was actually a travel wallet), but it was a little cumbersome, and I like that with

Last week I went with a friend to dinner at Freeman's, one of my favorite restaurants. I decided to do a sketch before dinner, of the restaurant itself! I did this as the sun set, so the lighting changed drastically in the 40ish minutes I was working on it. I'll definitely go back at some point and do a nocturne of it, only starting to paint when it's fully dark out. After dinner it was late, but I wasn't tired and didn't have to be up the next day, so I wandered over and ske

The Final Day! I had left this open for whatever I wanted to do. Matt had flown home, so I was left to my own devices. I had been considering going back and doing another hike in the Rocky Mountain National Park, but decided I was hiked out. Spending the day exploring Denver and Boulder was much more appealing! I googled a bit to give myself some kind of plan, and decided to start at Union Station in Denver. I definitely want to do a studio painting of the great orange letter

The day began with a goodbye brunch at the bride's parent's house, which sported gorgeous panoramic views of the surrounding mountain vistas. Of course, sketching ensued. Matt and I decided to go hiking after, and I learned that when we both say "I'm tired and want to take it easy" I still need to ask him the difficulty of the hike he's about to take me on. Hint: it was a difficult one. Halfway up we started to hear thunder in the distance. Me: "If it starts pouring on us, yo

Wedding festivities time! Did I mention my real motive for a Colorado vacation was that I had two friends getting hitched in Boulder? I was a bridesmaid so had a couple of days of wedding activities baked into my sketchcation. On Day 8 of my vacation, it was Day 1 of wedding festivities! After waking up, I finished writing my rehearsal dinner speech. I may have been a bridesmaid, but I actually have known the groom a year longer, and was there when the bride and groom started

It was time for my second National Park! I had strategically gotten an airbnb near Estes Park, which contains an entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park and has a lot of great hikes. When I drove over, I got a great view of Estes Park in the valley and the mountains in the distance. Time for another car sketch! (Don't worry, I do all of these from places they make for cars to pull over and enjoy the view. Very safe!) After my sketch and finding breakfast in town (it was deli

On my schedule, Day 6 was a big question mark. Other than the five-ish hour drive to get myself from the Sand Dunes to just north of Boulder, I had left the day open. I could do more sand dunes, some nearby falls, or hit some other places as I drove north. I decided to do a quick sketch of the Dunes from my patio, and start my drive. Once I was on the road, fog descended. I should have known then my best bet would have been sketching the falls in the sunshine I had just left.

Day 5: All Sand Dunes. All the Time. Naturally, I had checked the weather several times the week prior. All 60's and 70's. How warm was it on my sole day at the sand dunes? I checked my phone when I woke up: 32. It was actually freezing. I was not the only one at the sand dunes who was displeased. I don't think it went over 45 all day, especially considering the brisk winds. I settled in to do a few sketches across the Medano Creek from the dunes; I liked the purpley blue ref

Time to head south! On this leg of the journey, I was on my way to Great Sand Dune National Park, which I believe (parents can fact check me) is my first National Park! I decided to stop at Royal Gorge Bridge and Park along the way, which is the tallest suspension bridge in the US! It's terrifying! I took the gondola over (which was a lovely, enclosed space) and walked back over the bridge. In this case, my fear of open spaces was joined by my fear of dropping things from gre

Colorado Springs: The Sequel! I decided to stop in neighboring Manitou Springs in the morning; it was super cute and had been too busy for me to stop there for lunch on the day prior. I did a quick sketch in the beautiful morning light before embarking on the day's adventure: Broadmoor Seven Falls! The falls are a nice 20 minute drive south of Manitou Springs, made a little longer because they have recently changed parking and now have everyone park off-site and get shuttled