Notes from the Studio: May 2026

Plein Air Prep 

We have a busy month ahead filled with traveling. I’m packing up two variations of travel painting kits in hopes that I can do some plein air painting.

My basic kit travel painting includes:

• Sakura Koi Watercolor Sketch Box (12 colors)
• Two Sakura water brushes, filled before I go out
• Mechanical pencil
• Mini spray bottle full of water
• Pocket Sketchbook

This small painting kit can fit inside of a small purse and is quick and easy to set up and put away. I love the mini messenger from Walker Goods or the crossbody bag from Thread Wallets. I’m also taking a second kit - what I’ll refer to as the “advanced kit”. I want to try painting with the same materials I have at home if I can find larger pockets of time.

My "advanced" painting kit includes:

• 24-pan set of warm and cool-toned pigments
• 5.5” x 8.5” Arteza sketchbook
• A few scrap sheets of Saunders Waterford watercolor paper
• Travel set of Fuumuui sable watercolor brushes
• Two collapsible silicone cups for clean and dirty water
• Eraser
• Mini Spray Bottle of Water
• Mechanical Pencil

This second kit is a bit big for my mini bags so I'll bring it along in a waterproof zipper bag. I also haven't tried the sketchbook brand or the brushes before, so we'll see if I like them! I always find that as we get into summer I just want to paint the beach. Hopefully this will help me do so while I’m there.

New River Gorge Series Painting Progress

I’m mid-way through the second painting in the New River Gorge National Park series: Bridge Buttress Trail. The messy middle phase is always a little disorienting. Soon I’ll add in the foreground details on the rock outcropping and finish the upper spruce branches which will add a little more contrast to the piece. The bridge is covered with a thin layer of masking fluid to protect it while I add thin washes of color and shadow to the trees in the background.

Work in progress shot of the Bridge Buttress Trail painting. Keeping reference materials close by helps keep me on track during this phase.

Otter Creek Wilderness print, available in sizes from 5" x 7" to 11" x 14".

Print of the Month: Otter Creek Wilderness

I want to share a bit more of the story behind my earlier works as I work towards creating new ones. This print will be 20% off now through June 15.

We set off on a hike into Otter Creek Wilderness back in 2017. I remember hiking over a small suspension bridge then the trail began to narrow and it started to rain.

The mix of rain and sun created a beautiful misty view at a creek crossing. We turned around because we had our elderly dog at the time and were worried about her sliding down a hillside she couldn’t get back up. I’d love to go back and explore the trails there a little more.

This was one of my first landscape paintings and I still love the mix of soft blends and small detail. The lush green reminds me of the forest coming to life in May. 

Behind the scenes of a wholesale order: lots of printing, trimming, and packing. 

In the Shop

I have been busy shipping out more wholesale orders and welcomed another new stockist: Art Emporium in Charleston, WV.

I’m working on a few new items and planning ahead for fall. I'm turning the herb note cards into individual 8” x 10” prints, which would be great for a kitchen, reading nook, or even a hallway.

During the cold weather spells we’ve had this month I’ve also felt cozy sketching Christmas designs. I’ll share more next month when I have some solid test pieces, but I’m planning to create a set of 5” x 7” botanical Holiday cards and several ornament designs (including some locations!) just for this year.