Get on the Iditarod Trail

Running with Champions by Lisa Frederic takes you to the Iditarod trail. You are not just reading the news releases. You are experiencing the thrills and challenges of the trail. It is an experience of a lifetime. The cold bites your nose and you can feel the adrenalin race.
The Iditarod news updates are exciting. But [...]

Capture Your Adventures

My favorite journal has a black cover and elastic band to hold it closed. Compact convenient size with quality watercolor paper within. Pages tear out if you want to matt and frame your paintings or keep it intact as a journal of your artwork. Moleskine makes a larger one too. Intelligent design. The elastic band [...]

It’s Important to Invest in High Quality Tools

 There is a lot to see in Alaska. Much of it is far away. Be glad some of it is far away. The grizzly bear on the distant hill. A good pair of binoculars will bring you closer but keep you safe.
A friend handed me a pair of small compact binoculars a few years ago. [...]

Excellent Books on Painting: Carlson’s Guide to Landscape Painting & Hawthorne on Painting

These two books are inexpensive but they are a ‘must read’ in my opinion if you want to do plein air painting. John Carlson gives insights to ’seeing’ the landscape that is very helpful. Charles Hawthorne describes what the painter should be thinking and encourages one to paint more. He believes in doing multiple small studies [...]

Fabriano Artistico Traditional White Watercolor Block

My favorite paper for watercolor is the Fabriano block. I use both cold and hot press but I usually prefer the cold press surface because it is more ‘forgiving’. The hot press will show the brushstroke and the color really ‘pops’ but you have to be feeling confident and make each brushstroke be right. I [...]