It’s always good to mix things up and try something new, so, in the middle of finishing up the travel journal from my recent trip to France, I decided to take a detour and play around with a concertina sketchbook I’ve had in my stash for awhile. While working on the travel journal, I’d been […]
Category: Instructions
France 2025: Giverny
After two fun-filled days in Paris, it was time to pack my bags and go to work, teaching a week-long workshop with French Escapade in Giverny. I had been looking forward to this trip for a long time and was so excited to finally see Monet’s garden and walk in the footsteps of Van Gogh. […]
Stitch a Slip-on Cover for Your Sketchbook
I always agonize over which sketchbook to take when I go on an important trip, don’t you? For my recent trip to France, I went through my stash of blank sketchbooks, waffling between this one and that, and ultimately decided to use a beautiful hardcover journal that I made several years ago. It’s been “resting” […]
Sketchbook Play with Stencils – Creating a Complementary Page
I posted a sketch from my Provence travel journal a few weeks ago, and I wanted to share with you what I’ve added to the page since then. Here’s the original sketch – you can read all about it here. 8″ x 8″, ink & watercolor in a HandBook Travelogue Watercolor Journal – by Leslie […]
England Sketchbook: Victoria & Albert Museum
When I visited the Victoria and Albert Museum in London earlier this summer, I really enjoyed the display of women’s fashion through the centuries. I especially enjoyed looking at all the detailing and hand work on the Victorian dresses. I snapped some photos that day in the museum and later sketched some of the dresses, […]
World Traveler
Earlier this month, I taught a brand new workshop in Florida called “Creating Composite Sketches,” where I shared lots of great information on how to design sketches featuring multiple images on a page. I showed examples of some of my favorite composite sketches and shared helpful tips on page design, borders, lettering, and painting techniques. […]
Santa Barbara Travel Journal – Part 5
I’ve been busy getting ready for the holidays, painting Christmas cards, baking cookies, and trying to do a little decorating despite the upheaval here, with our basement construction project still in full swing. We have boxes filled with plumbing supplies, flooring, lighting, and much more piled in the front hall and spilling over into the […]
Santa Barbara Travel Journal – Part 3
Before I left for California, my friend asked what I wanted to see and do while I was visiting. I told her I just wanted to hang out, talk, relax, and paint. And that’s what we did! We sketched and chatted and laughed and inspired each other. We watched sunrises and sunsets and drank wine […]
Santa Barbara Travel Journal – Part 2
I love getting together with other artists to paint on location. It gets the creative juices flowing and pushes me to look at a scene from a different viewpoint or try a new technique. I’m always inspired by the originality and creativity that flow from the most self-effacing people. I had a chance to meet […]
Santa Barbara Travel Journal – Part 1
The month of November usually conjures up images in my mind of dreary grey days, sodden brown leaves, wind, rain and sleet, but this year was different. As autumn gave way to wintry November, I found myself flying off to California for a 5-day workshop with a great group of painters. Happy painters at the […]
