Hello and welcome!
Part sketchbook, part diary, this newsletter is where I share my creative efforts, musings on the life of an artist, and beautiful books and artworks I enjoy.
After years of artistic homelessness, I’ve finally found where I belong: illustration and storytelling. While I continue my previous creative pursuits—homestead crafts, fine art painting, and teaching drawing from imagination to students of all ages—I’m in the process of learning the craft of visual storytelling.
I love all things books! From the transporting oil painted covers of Golden Age masters that share a glimpse into another world, and the calligraphy and lettering of titles; to the adventure stories about heroic overcomers, and the lovely pen & ink illustrations inside… my Great Ambition is to become a writer-illustrator and make my own books and zines. To me, there is no more exciting title than to be a “Maker of Books.”
In this newsletter, I’ll share my journey, my creative process, and lots of philosophical musings I have about the nature of art and the counterculture to which my work rightly belongs. (There’s a lot of time to think in the long hours it takes to paint and draw.)
I’m a Colorado-based artist, currently in the process of moving to the beautiful hills of Tennessee. The wondrous works of God’s created world are a constant source of comfort and inspiration to me. As I transition both my career and my home, embarking on this new adventure, I will dig deep into the Word and Nature to find my place and solid footing.
Occasionally, I’ll also share drawing prompts and imaginative drawing lessons, for those who’d like to join in—pick up a pencil get in touch with your creative side!
I love teaching, and I’ve developed a wonderful curriculum for homeschoolers and my in-person classes. I’m thrilled to share many of these lessons here, as well. They are great for all ages and for families—I’ve taught these foundational lessons to students from seven to seventy!
To get started on imaginative drawing, you can find lessons I’ve already published on my Curriculum page—a work in progress—and you can always check out the Archive.
The Seven Principles
I follow a few key principles in my self-taught art studies:
Drawing is a SKILL, not a talent. Skills can be learned. Talent may smooth the way, but hard work reigns supreme.
It’s best to learn each skill in isolation. Learn small, get big results.
You can’t judge your work if you don’t know what you were trying to do. (As they say, the unaimed arrow never misses.) Before beginning, always have a clear goal—and afterward, only judge your results based on what you set out to do.
The best lessons are micro-masteries: small, repeatable tasks that are inherently satisfying to do, and impressive enough to motivate continued exploration.
Memorization and formulae are the imaginative artist’s best friend. The less you have to invent from scratch in each drawing, the more creative you can be.
Good draftsmanship is good communication. You can not “express yourself” until you have learned the language, grammar, and vocabulary of the visual language that is Art. Don’t put the cart before the horse: learn the skills, then apply them to make effective visual statements.
Intentional practice over short intervals is more valuable than long, haphazard efforts. Even just 2 minutes a day of intentional practice will improve your skills.
