Nature Sketchbook Tour

From my shelves of sketchbooks, here is the one labeled 2015 Sketchbook Volume 5, focused on subjects found in nature, one of my favorite themes.

Enjoy!

Love you mom and dad

Love you mom and dad. 

Cafe Turko

One of my favorite places to eat is the awesome Cafe Turko in Fremont. It's also a wonderful place to sketch so for me and my sketching friends, Marilyn and Peggy, it's a slice of paradise.

On Wednesday we went there for lunch and stayed a few hours to sketch and photograph. The lovely owner, Surreya, joined us for a few laughs and talk about art supplies.

In addition to these two sketches I made there, here are a few photos that capture the vibe. Do yourself a favor and go!

Sketchbook Tour

I am so grateful that I found Annie, a student and friend of mine, who is willing to scan all my sketchbooks, which in turn has allowed me to make Flipagroms of them and share them with you. Thank you Annie for taking my sketchbooks home, by the piles!

Here is the next sketchbook on my shelves: 2015, Volume 4. (If you've missed them, I posted my earlier sketchbooks in previous blog posts.)

I hope you enjoy flipping through my sketchbooks. And if you have any comments or questions, don't be shy. For as much as I love painting big watercolor paintings, sketchbooks are my real source of daily creativity, my inspiration, my joy.

Step by Step with the awesome Eileen Sorg

As many of you know, I have an art crush on the amazing Eileen Sorg and her mixed media magical artwork. From the first time I saw her work, years ago at the Edmonds Arts Festival, I was in love with it. 

Eileen works in ink, watercolor and color pencil and I take about two workshops with her every year. I love her process but only seem to do it when I am in her workshops. That might change though as this weekend, after another one of Eileen's workshops, I find myself falling in love with the process all over again.

Here is my step by step of the work. I'm not finished but I will post this piece when I get the color pencil completed. What a fun project. Thank you Eileen!

Line drawing done in pencil

Ink work

Watercolor the background.

Watercolor foreground, fox and hummingbird.

After beginning the color pencil work.

Alex and Mort

A few years ago Alex, a teenager at the time, signed up for a month of art classes with me. She has signed up for classes every month since then and now, at 22, she is one of my most gifted friends and students. She recently lost her grandfather, Mort. Shortly after Mort passed away, Alex's grandmother gave Alex one of his sketchbooks. Inside the sketchbook Alex discovered all manner of drawings, studies and notes from her grandfather.

She found a series of pencil sketches her grandfather made of owls. And she decided to copy them in ink, and add watercolor to them. This collection of owl paintings is turning into a gorgeous loving collaboration between Alex and her grandfather, Mort. 

Love your work Alex and love your concept for this awesome tribute. 

Sketchbook from every day life

Here is a quick Flipagram from one of my sketchbooks capturing every day moments. Click here or on the image above.

Enjoy!

Italy Bound

Every year I take a group of sketchers to Europe, usually to Italy, where I grew up. Our 2016 trip is just around the corner and I've started making a packing list and a to do list in preparation. I've organized my travel palette with my favorite watercolor paints lined up all shiny and new, I've confirmed that my passport doesn't expire while I'm abroad, arranged for our neighbor's adorable son to take care of our ducks and goats...

There is something so soulfully quenching about traveling, sketching, and sharing the days with like minded people. I am so very lucky to do what I love for a living and to be able to share it with people who are so loving and inspiring.

So grateful!

Travel sketchbook workshop to Victoria, B.C.!

I've put together my next traveling sketching adventure and we are going to Victoria, British Columbia!

Leaving Friday early afternoon, September 16, on the Victoria Clipper, staying two nights at the Empress, and returning Sunday early evening, September 18, on the Victoria Clipper.

$600 includes Clipper from Seattle to Victoria round trip, two nights at the Empress Hotel and the sketchbook workshop.

Let me know if you'd like to join us!

PS The US Dollar to Canadian Dollar exchange is a great $1 = $1.25!

Rare Glimpse Inside Salvador Dalí’s Unpublished Diaries

Aside from doodling horse heads and naked women, Dalí obsessively monitored his spending and noted spontaneous thoughts in his sketchbook. For a quick and fascinating read about a recent auction at Sotheby’s in Paris, of Dalí’s unpublished diary, click here to link to an article on The Huffington Post.

You're welcome!

I heart nature sketch booking and sharing that love with young artists

I teach nature sketch booking at the Woodinville Montessori High School and at Arts Umbrella to artists age 9 to 13. Nothing makes the kids smile more quickly then when I show up and announce that we will be sketching outdoors. It's a joy we share. 

What could be better than a few hours in nature, sketching, listening to birds, and warming up in the sun?

Sketchbook full of art lessons

Here's a little video of a sketchbook I filled up with art lessons. 

To view the sketchbook, click on the image above or click on https://flipagram.com/f/mifgspOmUT.

I hope you enjoy it!

Wow... Inspiration and creativity in abundance!

This is absolutely magical and joyful and makes my muse feel giddy from head to toe. 

Swoon...

For more information, visit http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/2016/maagalim-jane-bordeaux/.

More sketching in nature

I'm getting into a beautiful routine of teaching several nature sketchbook classes each Spring. This year I'm lucky enough to teach three of these courses, one at a high school and two at local colleges, giving me about six hours every week to sketch outdoors with kindred spirits. It is a magical time and for a few hours it feels like all is right with the world.

And maybe, if we could get more people out in nature, slowing down to embrace the wonder of it all, things would be a lot better for everyone.

Nature Sketchbooking

I’m teaching a course on keeping a nature sketchbook at Everett Community College. Right next to our campus is the Narbeck Wetland Sanctuary.

Today I spent a few hours there with my class, sitting in the sun, listening to birds and sketching.

Best. Job. Ever.

Youth Art Show: Our Amazing World!

Young artists don't have many opportunities to show their artwork so I decided to host an online show. I received creative and inspiring entries from around the world!  

I'm thrilled to invite you all to check out the Youth Art Show on my website by clicking on the image above or by going to http://charlenecollinsfreeman.com/young-artists-show/.  

I love this celebration of art, young artists, and our amazing world and I think you will too! Kudos to all the artists who participated!

Enjoy!

My favorite colors, at the moment...

There is a great feeling that goes along with completely cleaning out a palette and filling it up with a new line up of fresh watercolor paint.

Favorites are always evolving. Some colors make it into my palette for a particular painting I'm working on but then they become favorites and stick around. Or some colors we just outgrow as we discover new colors. And oh the joy of a fresh palette filled with new juicy paints!

So here is a list of my new line up and, zoowie, I'm so excited to start painting with them! These are all Daniel Smith professional grade paints (unless otherwise noted). Gorgeousness in a tube!

Aureole Yellow

New Gamboge

Quinacridone Gold *

Pyrrol Orange

Quinacridone Sienna

Transparent Pyrrol Orange

Red Hot Mamma (American Journey paint)

Alizarin Crimson *

Mayan Red

Quinacridone Rose *

Opera Pink

Ultramarine Violet

Quinacridone Purple

Cobalt Blue Violet

French Ultramarine *

Prussian Blue

Phthalo Blue *

Cobalt Teal Blue *

Phthalo Turquoise *

Hooker's Green

Sap Green *

Green Gold *

Undersea Green

Buff Titanium *

Payne's Gray *

Yellow Ochre *

Burnt Sienna *

Sepia

Van Dyck Brown

Neutral Tint

* These are my must haves. The rest are just wonderful additions.

What are your favorite brands and hues? Do share!

Caine's Arcade: A cardboard box that became a movement to foster creativity worldwide.

This is the story of a nine year old boy named Caine who built an elaborate cardboard arcade inside his father’s used auto part store during his summer vacation. The entire summer went by and Caine had not had a single customer. On the last day of summer, a filmmaker saved Nirvan Mullick stopped by to buy a door handle for his car. Nirvan became Caine's first customer.

Here's a little video about what happened next. 

And if you feel as weepy and joyous as I did, watch this next short video to learn how Caine's Arcade inspired a movement!

And kudos to Caine's amazing dad who supported, encouraged, and allowed his son to pretty much overtake his storefront for the sake of fun and creativity. 

There are a lot of great stories out there. Go find some. And then share them! We are all interconnected.

2014 Travel Sketchbook

Here's another little video of another one of my sketchbooks. This is from a trip to Verona, Venice, Paris, London, and Ipswich that I took in 2014.

I will post more of my sketchbooks as I create the Flipagrams.

To view the sketchbook, click on any of the images above or click on https://flipagram.com/f/lowk42yN2u.

I hope you enjoy it!

You Are Stardust

One of my favorite sources of inspiration is the treasure trove of children's books. The stories and the illustrations both can be magical. I just discovered a new favorite. The latest addition to my children's books collection is You Are Stardust by Elin Kelsey with artwork by Soyeon Kim.

You are Stardust introduces the idea that every tiny atom in our bodies came from a star that exploded long before we were born. It goes on to explain how we are each intimately connected to the natural world in gorgeous, uplifting, amazing ways. It will reignite your connection to the natural world and your intimate relationship to the world all around you.

In addition to the pure joy of its message and artwork, the information presented is grounded in current science! Such a simple book about some big ideas.

Love this book.