Blog

If you are on the budget or just don't feel like going too far from your home in Washington State, I invite you to follow the mighty Columbia River and visit these stunning places.
They will inspire you for journaling, sketching, painting en plein air or photowork!
All of them have parking and rest area.
It's rural USA and there are many budget-friendly motels, campgrounds or resorts, with farmers markets and fruit stands for your belly.
Sharing my top 5 stops on the Columbia River in Washington State for artists & photographers:
1. Maryhill Stonehenge Memorial near Goldendale
2. Wild Horse Monument near Vantage
3. Rocky Reach Dam near Wenatchee
4. Grand Coulee Dam, Electric City
5. Crescent Bar near Quincy

Do you enjoy hiking or walking in nature? And while doing that, have you ever felt like taking a pause, slow down at some beautiful spot and just absorb it all and somehow take it with you home…do a sketch or make notes or journal? ... If you haven’t done it yet, you might search on Google for sketching, the Internet will start showing you all kinds of results from online art supplies stores or Amazon to sell you special (almost Magical!) art tools that promise to make you the greatest outdoor Artist, that God ever created!
What a bunch of baloney!
Take it from my 30 years of experience: you don't need any of that!
Grab an automatic pencil (you probably have it in your kitchen or in your car) or ANY pencil ...and any piece of paper or any old notebook (also probably also have it in your kitchen drawer).
Look in your kid’s room – there will be plenty of that.
Or stop at your local Dollar Store.
If you have an extra, keep it in your car at all times.
Walk around and explore different angles and perspectives, but most importantly take your time and observe. Don’t worry about being perfect, make it messy first. It’s all about uniting with our land and appreciating our surroundings.
Start with drawing one object first: a flower, a tree, a building…
Observe what happens to the object's colors in direct light or in shadow.
Notice how colors are different on a clear sunny day from the colors when it’s an overcast sky.
With more time and experience, you will start observing more differences. Make notes on the side of your sketch. Note the position of the sun , clouds, and weather.
Even come back to the same location at different times of day and notice the difference in tones.
You know what’s even more fun? Join a local hiking or a sketching group.
Share your joy of nature, learn from others and meet new friends!