As a kid, I remember squirming with anticipation during the climatic moment of truth in vintage Clint Eastwood westerns. The camera zooms to a closeup of Eastwood's eyes, followed by unbearable tension as the day of reckoning swelters beneath a desert sun. With eyes narrowly focused, the legendary Clint Squint always spelled doom for the … Continue Reading ››
Autumn brings us Halloween, the time of year when our thoughts are haunted by ghosts and goblins. But for those of us who are learning to draw, the zombies of perfectionism can be the most terrifying creatures—every day of the year!
Our notion of having to make the … Continue Reading ››
Every time we open our urban and field sketchbooks to draw, we're faced with the same challenge: to swiftly transform flat 2D pages into believable 3D environments the viewer can walk into.
For the ranch buildings, shown above, I lightly sketched dominant angles (no longer visible, but indicated with … Continue Reading ››
In the opening scene of the classic comedy What About Bob, we see a perplexed Bob Wiley, played by Bill Murray, contemplating his fate of stepping outside the door of his apartment and onto the streets of New York. He quickly becomes overwhelmed by his … Continue Reading ››
Which pencil should you use for drawing? That is the question.
During the early 17th century, as Shakespeare's Prince Hamlet first gazed upon a skull and questioned what to be in life, the country of England was busy mining a valuable carbon material. This dark, powdery material eventually … Continue Reading ››
Micron pen sketch along the Emma McCrary trail, Santa Cruz, California.
On urban streets or nature trails, where I enjoy sketching swiftly, I often find myself struggling with how to show realistic depth in my drawing. I’ve come up with a few strategies that use … Continue Reading ››
A drawing road trip is great for trying new tools and exploring techniques
Several decades ago, as an avid surfer, nothing excited me more than packing my surfboards and heading up the coast to discover new places to ride waves. Recently, I decided to conjure … Continue Reading ››
I love to eat tortilla chips and guacamole. And I love to sketch. On Saturday, the two pleasures collided unexpectedly, making for a gratifying creative experience.
It started while preparing an afternoon snack.
12:14pm: Two halves of a perfectly ripened avocado lie open on the studio table. Without warning, my … Continue Reading ››
Autumn brings us Halloween, the time of year when our thoughts are haunted by ghosts and goblins. But for those of us who are learning to draw, the zombies of perfectionism can be the most terrifying creatures—every day of the year!
Our notion of having to make the … Continue Reading ›› 
Every time we open our urban and field sketchbooks to draw, we're faced with the same challenge: to swiftly transform flat 2D pages into believable 3D environments the viewer can walk into.
For the ranch buildings, shown above, I lightly sketched dominant angles (no longer visible, but indicated with … Continue Reading ›› 
During the early 17th century, as Shakespeare's Prince Hamlet first gazed upon a skull and questioned what to be in life, the country of England was busy mining a valuable carbon material. This dark, powdery material eventually … Continue Reading ›› 
I love to eat tortilla chips and guacamole. And I love to sketch. On Saturday, the two pleasures collided unexpectedly, making for a gratifying creative experience.
It started while preparing an afternoon snack.
12:14pm: Two halves of a perfectly ripened avocado lie open on the studio table. Without warning, my … Continue Reading ›› 
