RIP Drew Struzan. I had him as a teacher for a semester in art school, and learned a ton from him. He was generous with his knowledge. He had so much experience as a pro; taught us to streamline our art process, composition, use of reference, etc. So much. Condolences to his family. #drewstruzan

After reading The Oatmeal's take on AI, I went on to read his thoughts about Creativity. So good. SO spot-on. And awfully funny. theoatmeal.com/comics/creat...

September. What a crazy month. I swam just under 15 miles this month, raised over $300 for the American Cancer Society. Reached out to the local art community and went to a life drawing session, went on art studios walkabout and met a bunch of cool local artists. #artbeco #gratitudejournal #uplift

Sketchbook sketches from the live cams of the bears hunting salmon in Katmai National Park. It's Fat Bear Week! I watched one fellow catch a salmon, eat it, catch another and eat it very casually in the span of less than 5 minutes. He made it look easy. #artbeco #fatbearweek #sketchbook #ink #uplift

It’s the end of August already, so I’m putting up my calendar of daily doodles: things that made up my days. #artbeco #uplift #gratitudejournal #bskysketchbook

Scenes from the last few days. TJ Burnside Clapp’s hands and 12 string guitar while playing one of her songs. Such a treat. #Worldcon2025 #artbeco #filkers #filk #musician

Beautiful textile art.

BWAHAHA!! Anyone who's used Muybridge's photo series of people and animals for animation and drawing will appreciate this! (Also, prints are available on Jaunty Art's site.) So awesome.

United in fun. #grickledoodle #cats #dogs #pets #mice #trampoline #cartoon #art #drawing #funny

A small painted cry for the White House Rose Garden as it used to be. This administration has/is doing countless awful things, and this is just one small example, but the blow is deliberate, hurtful and shows their intent to cause harm. #artbeco #resist #artsky #sketchbook

My July gratitude calendar grid. Quite a nice life going on, despite the wider world burning in flames. I feel both grateful and guilty, but I'm savoring the good bits; the alternative is constant anger and stress and that's not a good thing. #artbeco #uplift #artsky #gratitude

Posted a little time-lapse of painting this a few days back. One of my portraits of personal heroes. He's still reporting the truth, even when it's unpopular or downright dangerous. His Steady newsletter and Substack is always worth reading. #artbeco #DanRather #Steady #artsky #protestart

Did a little time-lapse of drawing/painting Dan Rather, another in my sporadic painting series of heroes. A life-long journalist, Rather has stood up for the truth for many decades, and continues even now, with his Steady newsletter and website. #artbeco #DanRather #timelapseart #artsky #steady

A sketchbook doodle for a page that I painted with Higgins shimmery blue ink awhile ago. I had no clear idea of how to use the ink and just covered a page to see how it worked. You can’t tell here, but it sparkles and shimmers when you move the page. #artbeco #uplift #sketchbook #fountainpenink

I kind of wish I was one of these stuffed critters, just for the night...

Well goodbye, June, you went by too quickly. Long days with lots of light and sun, plants flowering like crazy. Trolls, graduation (Riley’s 2nd baccalaureate), and the sad passing of Paul’s beloved Uncle Jim. #artbeco #gratitude

So today was 'draw a terrible comic day'. I don't draw comics, though I've tried. Why not try today, I thought. It's a terrible comic, drawn in haste, just thoughts in my head today. How do I reconcile my good life with all the bad stuff happening? #artsky #artbeco #terriblecomicday2025 #resist

The protest today at University of Washington- big crowd that kept growing. Started in Red Square and later marched through nearby streets. You can see us and some of our posters in the foreground about midway through. #nokings #artbeco #protest

May just whizzed by. Managed to keep my little drawings for each day going, so here's my moments in May that stuck with me. #artbeco #uplift #gratitude #gratitudejournal #sketchbook

We visited Jakob Two Trees today. He had quite a few visitors, but seemed to enjoy the kids and dogs the most. #artbeco #pacificnorthwesttrolls #nwtrolls #uplift #thomasdambo

Watching for bunnies and squirrels on this peaceful sunny late afternoon. #uplift #artbeco #peace

A quick little study of one of our backyard crows. He sat with me for a while, preening and making noises. Painted on scrapbook paper with ink, colored pencils. #artbeco #sketchbook #backyardbird #artsky #craftsky #uplift

Drawing up protest posters like this one and others for future demonstrations. Markers on plastic board. If you wish, please feel free to use this image to make your own poster. #resist #impeachtrump #artbeco

Thought I'd include a still shot of my portrait of Zelenskyy (I posted a time lapse of making it a few days back). Acrylics and colored pencils. Latest in my sporadic series of portraits of heroes. #artbeco #zelenskyy #handmademay #slavaukraini #uplift

Hey ho it's May already. Here's my little scribbles for each day in April- just things I enjoyed or was grateful for. I'm finding with all of the stressful news out there that taking time to savor the good is more important than ever for my mental health. #artbeco #gratitude #uplift #craftsky

Today I took time to paint another of my occasional hero portraits: a quick study of Zelenskyy. Slava Ukraini. Pencils and acrylics on toned scrapbooking paper. #artbeco #zelinskyy #portrait #timelapse #craftsky #artsky #uplift

For those that need a wee break from news, here's a little stop-motion animated film about making, knitting as a means of coping through stress and grief. It's short- about 9 minutes; worth it. The voices are wonderful. #uplift #craftsky #knitsky #visiblemending vimeo.com/827066711

Finished a sweater! It's the Mabon Sweater designed by Elenor Mortenson (on Ravelry), though I took liberties with the pattern. I used many colors in the yoke and other colorwork, using leftover bits I had on hand. It'll keep for colder weather or chilly nights. #artbeco #craftsky #knitsky #uplift

I may have read too much news today. I did a sketchbook drawing of nothing much, just a corner of the living room, to remind myself that there are safe, calm spaces, and I’m very fortunate to be in one right now. We all need safe spaces to just breathe in. #artbeco #uplift #sketchbook #safespace

An overdue portrait in my small series of heroes- AOC with a couple of quotes from her. Acrylics, collage, ink, colored pencils on wood board. Here’s one elected official who is really trying to get into ‘good trouble’. #artbeco #AOC #goodtrouble #resist

This is so very well written, and so very much worth reading.

First tulip of the season around here. It glows. Spring is here, the sun is out, at least for a few minutes. I'm enjoying the heck out of the sunlight, and so are the plants. #artbeco #uplift #tulips

My daily little doodles for March. The month sped by, filled with music and animals and yarn and other good stuff. #artbeco #gratitudejournal #calendarpages

Some things need no explanation; they are just the right thing at the right time. Thanks, Mr. Stubbs. #artbeco #blackcats #catinasink

I have been silent online for quite awhile, watching the national mess unfolding and despairing about it all. We had a big storm last night and today everything was washed clean. Wish that would happen on the national front as well. #artbeco #snohomishvalley #aftertherain

My little daily doodles for February. We went from snow and cold to sun and warmth in just a couple of weeks. Looking for something to enjoy in each day helps me keep my sanity amid the larger horrific things happening in this country. #artbeco #uplift #dailygratitude

An ink sketchbook drawing of Bessie Coleman, pioneering female aviator. She had to go to Europe to get her pilot's license. She fought racism here in the US, tried to educate and create opportunities for people of color. She died too young in a plane crash. #artbeco #heroes #inkdrawing #sketchbook

Thought maybe we could all use a little everyday simple joy. Mai and Mr. Stubbs here chasing the elusive bug on a wire. #artbeco #catplay #uplift

My painting of activist Cecile Richards (I posted a time-lapse of the painting process earlier.) Activist for equal rights, gone too soon. Acrylic, pencils, collage. #artbeco #resist #protestart #cecilerichards

A time-lapse of painting of late activist Cecile Richards. Mixed media, acrylics and colored pencils. Richards was head of Planned Parenthood, worked for equal pay, paid family leave, human rights. #artbeco #cecilerichards #protestart #resist #heroes

Portrait in acrylic and mixed media of Bishop Mariann Budde, with some quotes from her homily at the inauguration. These words of appeal to our better natures, her plea for mercy, are offensive to the people now running this country. I stand with Rev. Budde. #artbeco #MariannBudde #resist #art

My tiny daily doodles for January, 2025. Sometimes it's the small moments, little things, that really get you through tough times. This first month of this new year feels like just the beginning of tough and scary times for so many of us. I wish for strength for all of us. #artbeco #sketchbook

Study of Bishop Marion Budde, in my sketchbook. Ball point pen on gesso'd paper. I'm planning a full color painting of her with a quote from her homily to *rump. Thinking of doing a series of portraits of regular heroes in these dangerous days. Any suggestions? #artbeco #heroes #sketchbook #kidlit

A memo leaked to the Associated Press reveals that the White House has told the U.S. CDC to stop working with the WHO immediately. This breaks protocol which requires the approval of Congress and a one-year notice to leave the WHO.

Old sketchbook drawing about fighting fighting off tentacles. I discovered on Instagram that Trump had been added to my friends' list- without my knowledge or permission. His feed was full of brags, lies and disinformation, of course. If you're still on Insta, be alert. #artbeco #kidlit #sketchbook

Sketchbook drawing of the Snohomish river at night, with the town on the far bank. Just trying to find some light in the dark. Cleaned up my art area, found the blue shimmering ink, sat down to draw and this came out. It's a quickie but it's a small positive step. #artbeco #sketchbook #uplift

Winter. I am in the midst of the long dark, both outdoors and in my soul. With the state of the country, I'm having a hard time feeling hope. I need to pull up out of it, but the usual things aren't working. Need to draw and come alive again... #artbeco

Got sucked into knitting a new sweater, though I have plenty of unfinished projects. I'm improvising with leftover stash colors as I go on the yoke of the Mabon sweater from Elenor Mortenson. Hoping it'll look smoother when it's blocked and done! #artbeco #knitsky #craftsky

Hibernation feels about right when the days are cold, wet and foggy like today. But then you miss the quiet beauty of the fog in the trees, and the snow geese and trumpeter swans flying overhead. #artbeco #snohomish #uplift

My December doodles for each day. A busy quick month that whipped by much too quickly. On with the new year! #artbeco #gratitudejournal