Sketchbook blog

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I had some quality art + design time.   You know what that means: (*wink, wink*) I painted something. I wanted to use my wings sketch on a handbag. So I broke out one of my Thirty-One purse skirts, and promptly began altering it. Because of its length, this grey purse skirt was perfect for the job. First, I sketched my design on the bag in pencil. Then I used a black Pentel gel roller for fabric to trace my design. The fabric has less cotton content than that of a canvas bag.   That just meant that I occasionally had to clean little fuzz bits   off the point of my pens.  I love my Posca fabric pens .   Originally, I was not planning to use the white marker,  but my daughter talked me into it. Time to put the skirt back on the purse! I enjoyed this project.  One challenge was finding wings that were appropriate for the size requirements.  Th...

Thanksgiving is an American holiday, but its universal themes of family love and togetherness resonate across cultures.  I hope that this weekend, you can take a break from the fast pace of life, and, in the quiet moments , enjoy life's simple pleasures . Much love, Nicole

Fall is my favorite time of year.  Crunchy leaves underfoot, tiny acorns hitting the ground, showstopping color displays in fiery hues.  It's nature's last "hoorah" before settling down for a long winter's rest. Here's just a sample of Fall 's beauty from the North Carolina mountains.  My college minister, Cherrie, spread these gorgeous, enormous leaves on her windshield after a recent hike.  (Thanks for letting me borrow the photo, Cherrie!) Another simple pleasure that I enjoy especially at this time of year is the work of artists who use Fall as their muse. It's not easy for an artist to capture the explosive color displays and ephemeral beauty of Autumn.  I gathered a small sampling of the work of these creative people here for you to enjoy, too.  So, grab a cup of hot cocoa and take a moment for yourself to enjoy the essence of Fall before the cold winter winds drive it away. Here is a quick sampling of artists who find their muse in Fal...

When I come across artwork that makes my heart sing, I want to share with all of you. Instagram Discovery:  Erik Davis In the last few weeks, I have fallen in love with the work of three artists.  Two of them I have recently "met" over social media and (that wondrous creation) the internet.  One of them is an old friend who has teamed up with me to sketch at least monthly at our local Barnes & Nobles Cafe.  (Do you love Starbucks as much as I do?  I think our friends and families are starting to wonder if it was really necessary that we meet at the Cafe to sketch. *wink wink*)  I follow a LOT of talented artists on Instagram, and one of those is Erik Davis .  You can follow his insta account also at  @sketchererik .  Recently, I bought (for a great price) his new holiday cards. If this poignant watercolor painting doesn't get you in the mood for the holidays, then I don't know what will!  Contact Erik through his website t...

Last night after Trick or Treating, our family watched The Invisible Man, H.G. Wells' film from 1933.  I often sketch while we watch movies, and this one got me in the mood for spooky typography . Along the way, I noticed that Alex had found my sketchbook again, and added his own scary ghost (below).   Alex's ghost has black gloves. Even Clarice has decided to hijack my sketchbook by surreptitiously adding her own message.  "Yasssss, Work it! Sassy YOLO," all comes from her. (*sigh*) I hope your Halloween was spookalicious, entertaining, and full of artsy inspiration.