Sketch Book

Sketch Book

Tree

Pages from My Sketch Book

A sketchbook is a wonderful companion—easy to tuck into a pack for a picnic or to pass the time in a waiting room. Here are a few pages from my current sketchbooks. I sketch to quietly immerse myself in nature or to lay the groundwork for a painting. Preliminary sketches help me plan composition and, just as importantly, determine whether I truly want to invest myself in a larger, more time-intensive piece.

I first began sketching with my grandparents, wandering the Eastern Shore of Maryland where they lived, and later traveling through Europe without a camera. They taught me how to capture street scenes and landscapes, using perspective to transform three dimensions into two.

Sketching forms the foundation of an artist’s ability to truly see. When we observe a scene and translate it onto paper with just a pencil, we rely solely on black-and-white values, stripping away color. This trains the eye to perceive light, shadow, and perspective with greater clarity.

Tarpaulin Cove, prep sketch for painting
Ravenrock Barn, Storm
Gravel Pile & Junipers, NM
Sunset, Nobska Beach
Juniper after Late Day Rain
Still Life with Cow Pelvis
Snowy Path
Milk Pitcher
View from Hermit's Porch, NM