An hour into this watercolor sketch of an otter. I added Washi tape around the edge because this piece will include a background. This was a very tricky start trying to get the details in the eyes with a medium tip Pentel water brush. Paynes grey violet is fantastic for wet brown fur #wip #sciart

Between workshop prep, I squeezed in this leopard sketch. The scale pushed me, specifically the spots and face details. Pentel Nero Orenz .2 mm HB for the fine stuff, Graphgear 1000s for the rest, and a 2.0 mm 6B clutch pencil for the dark rocks. Leopards carry prey heavier than themselves. #sciart

Coffee shop sketches, photography, and patience with wildlife feed my art. Practicing in public is how I grow. Bringing that approach into my first in-person drawing workshops starting in 2026. I wrote about it here. www.pawstrailsmagazine.com/practice-… #sciart

I watched this green heron hunt in Stewart Park, Ithaca, NY. Sketched in coffee shops using Polychromos colored pencils on Stonehenge paper mounted to aluminum (Legion Paper). Moments after this pose it caught a catfish. Green herons are one of the smallest herons in North America. #birds #sciart

A neighbor remembered I like making mushroom ink. These shaggy mane ink cap mushrooms are perfect. Only a couple were ready. The remainder should be ready in a day or two. I’ll be back for them.

It’s almost time to open registration for my first in-person workshop in 2026. Course materials, supplies and a new community web site for all attendees. Happy though to get back to this green heron in colored pencil on Stonehenge white mounted to an aluminum panel. Thanks Legion Paper. #sciart

Started a new colored pencil piece. This is one is based off a photo I took in Ithaca moments before this green heron caught a catfish. I recorded most of this drawing so far. I decided to do this one @clarkeocrinus.bsky.social to highlight the long neck extension you mentioned #wip #sciart

When your daughter asks you to paint her nails for Ottawa Comiccon, of course you say yes 😊 I am going to need a better brush if I do this again.

Drew this monarch with Pentel Graphgear pencils and a blender. Its wing was torn, its life near the end, but its offspring are likely preparing for the long trip to Mexico. I’ll be bringing monarchs into my 2026 workshops too–they feel like drawings that keep teaching me. #invertefest #sciart #art

Started this monarch butterfly sketch this morning. I need to draw or paint them regularly. Especially with them heading to Mexico soon. #invertefest #invertebrate #pencil

Finished this red-footed falcon in colored pencil. My first time on Stonehenge White mounted to aluminum. I’d painted it in watercolor months ago, but coming back to pencil allowed me to explore the medium and the leaves a bit more. #birds #sciart

I worked a bit on the tail end of this falcon before branching out and then leafing it for the day 🤣 I’ll finish it at the next session. #birds #wip #sciart #coloredpencil

New newsletter is out: changes to U.S. art imports, a beginner drawing course for Jan 2026, Patreon relaunch, and a studio update with new falcon, heron, frog, and beetle pieces. Plus art supply discounts. mikehendley.substack.com/p/32-drawing...

Progress from this morning’s coffee shop drawing of a red-footed falcon with colored pencil. I really enjoy practicing in public. Love the interest from others in my materials and process and also sharing pics of their work like artist Sabine visiting from Germany. #bird #sciart #coloredpencil

I haven’t used coloured pencils in quite some time but I had to try this paper mounted on an aluminum panel from Legion Paper. This red-footed is the perfect subject. I also reorganized my coffee shop kit to accommodate the panel and roll of Polychromos pencils. More to come #wip #sciart #birds

Painted this green heron after spotting one at the pond in Stewart Park in Ithaca. Done in my Etchr A5 hot press sketchbook with QoR watercolors + Pentel waterbrushes. Green herons are rare tool users–they’ll drop bait on the water to catch fish. #sciart #birds

Finally finished this red panda drawing from a photo I took at Granby Zoo. Graphite pencils + blending for soft fur. Red pandas aren't related to giant pandas--they're actually closer to raccoons. Thought you might like this one @darthbluesky.bsky.social #sciart #graphite #artist

I love that this project lets me make and share things with friends every year, so it’s extra exciting to co-host this year’s #SciArtSeptember with my friend Lucy, who illustrated this week’s banner. 🌟 - #sciart #scicomm #wildlife

Back to work means back to making a coffee shop stop to sketch on my way in. This red panda sketch is based off one of the many photos I took at the Granby Zoo last week. Hope to finish in the next day or two #sciart.

Painted this Aldabra giant tortoise slowly with a limited palette and a lot of coffee (literally). These gentle giants can live over 150 years. That kind of long, steady survival feels like a small miracle lately. #sciart #addherper #watercolor

Tried to capture the soft but ancient stare of a spectacled caiman. Textured scales, muted greens, that fierce yellow eye all painted with Golden QoR watercolors on Etchr hot press paper using Pentel waterbrushes. Did you know they're named for a "spectacle" ridge above their eyes? #sciart

A coffee shop start on a young caiman. Just laying in the first washes with my waterbrush to catch that textured skin and sharp eye before heading back to the studio. Love taking these small moments to warm up. #sciart #artist #watercolor

Planning my first beginner graphite workshop in Ottawa this fall has me so excited, but I took a break to sketch this tiger. Even as a dog person, I love these wild cats. Just graphite, some blending + indentation. No two tigers share the same stripes. #sciart #drawing

Snowy owls visit here in winter and they feel like living spells, silent and huge. Quick sketch with Pentel mechanical pencils and blending for soft shadows. Males can hoot loud enough to be heard seven miles away, a ghost voice on the tundra. #sciart #birds

I also had some time to start this owl sketch this morning. As with many drawings, I don’t get caught up with an outline but rather focus of head and eyes and use measurements from there to bring the subject to life. Sketching with the blender helps define the larger areas. #sciart #bird #birdart

Painted this western lowland gorilla from using QoR Payne’s gray and gray violet layers + Pentel water brushes. Working on a creature so human-like was unsettling. It was like staring into a quiet mirror. They can even recognize themselves in reflections. #sciart #watercolor

I am really enjoying painting this one in my sketchbook. Some pieces just pull you in and slow you down. This gorilla is a fun exploration of colors and hues. Slowly pushing the darks, bringing forward the highlights and wrapping it in warmth with this layer. Should I add a background? #wip #sciart

Busy week last week. Happy to be back in the sketchbook starting this challenging gorilla. #wip #sciart #watercolor

This red squirrel sketch took more time than normal and still doesn’t feel finished. But she’s a signpost, not a destination. Time to move on. Drawn with Pentel Graphgear pencils + graphite powder. Red squirrels can rotate their ankles 180° making them tiny forest acrobats. Parkour! #sciart #pencil

Sketched this American kestrel after it and its mate perched by our lot. Used Pentel Graphgear pencils, 0.3mm for fine detail, 0.5mm with 2B and 4B lead for depth. Makeup brushes with graphite powder for the background. These tiny falcons can hover like helicopters! #sciart #birdart #birds

Finished my green frog today over coffees this morning after letting sit in my sketchbook all week. Painted with QoR watercolors and Pentel brushes in an Etchr sketchbook. Many of these noisy friends hang out at our pond. Some calls can travel a mile! 🐸 #sciart #artist #watercolor

Coffee-fueled sketch session today! WIP American kestrel in pencil to loosen up and added watercolor layers to the frog using Golden QoR paint. Loving the contrast in texture and detail so far. Frogs hydrate through their skin—nature is wild! #sciart #bird #birdart #artist

Painted this yellow warbler from a photo I took at Mud Lake in Ottawa. Yellows are a challenge, but QoR’s Green Gold helped it pop! Done with a Pentel Aquash brush in an Etchr A6 sketchbook. Fun fact: males sing over 3,000 times a day during breeding season! #sciart #birds #birdart

Started a yellow warbler this morning for my morning coffee sketch before work. #birds #sciart #wip

Quick morning sketch of a night heron spotted at Mud Lake—just one cup of coffee’s worth of drawing. Loved playing with the lily pad perspective and reflections. Night herons are stealthy dusk hunters, which adds to their mystique. #sciart #birdart #artist

This graphite sketch captures a female belted kingfisher I saw at Stewart Park in Ithaca. Drawn with Pentel Graphgear 1000s and clutch pencils, with plenty of blending and a blu-tack. She only stayed a few seconds but gave me all the inspiration I needed! #sciart #art #graphite

Just finished this brown-lipped snail from Mud Lake in Ottawa 🐌 Had such a relaxing time with it using QoR watercolors and a Pentel water brush in an Etchr sketchbook. Grabbed new references in Ithaca yesterday too – totally beat but happy this one’s done! #sciart #artist

Here’s an updated work in progress shot of my snail after this morning’s coffee shop stop. For this piece I am only using the small size Pentel watercolour brush. I may pull out the medium for the branch #sciart #wip #artist

It’s National Drawing Day so I am drawing with paint for my coffee shop stop this morning😁 This one is moving at a snail’s pace but loving every minute of it with all the layers. #sciart #art

This frog was too photogenic not to draw. Used a mix of Pentel Graphgear 1000 pencils and the Orenz Nero for the tiny bug. Took some time this morning to finish the texture and light work–feels good to wrap it up! #sciart #frog #artist

Summer yard poem, featuring grasshopper drawing by @mikehendley.com The Summer Day, by Mary Oliver

Quick Pteropodidae bat study started before work and finished at lunch. Used Pentel Graphgear pencils (.3mm 2B, .5mm 4B, .2mm HB) and blending for a shallow depth of field. Loved playing with fur textures and getting those expressive eyes just right. #sciart #artist #bat

Painted this fairy wren over a latte at Equator Coffee in Indigo in Kanata. Quick 4B pencil sketch erased with BluTack, then detailed with Golden QoR watercolors on Etchr A6 hot press using Pentel Aquash brushes. Male fairy wrens sing to their chicks before they hatch–amazing! #sciart #art #birds

Started this bumblebee drawing for World Bee Day. I focused on texture with my .3mm Pentel Graphgear and 2B lead, resisting the urge to create too much detail. Flowers got less love, but still pop. Tagging this with #RareLittleThings as a teaser–announcement coming soon! 😉😊 #sciart

It’s World Bee Day so of course I had to work on this for my morning coffee shop pencil sketch. #wip #worldbeeday #sciart

This cougar sketch was all about exploring texture–from bark to fur. I used a range of Pentel mechanical pencils, but my go-to was the .5mm 4B. Loved capturing the tension in its stance and the flow of the coat. #graphite #artyear #cats

I won a Legion Paper prize pack: Stonehenge blocks, oil paper, oil and watercolor aluminium panels, even a tee. What should I hit first–watercolour, oil, or pencil? Big thanks to Legion Paper. Check out the full video via the link #art #paper youtu.be/X6XLDEcXX…

Saw this yellow-rumped warbler at Mud Lake in Ottawa and brought it to life with Golden QoR watercolours in my Etchr A5 sketchbook with a Pentel waterbrush. That accidental brush dab? It’s a distant branch now. That was the sign that it was finished😊 #birds #sciart #artyear

From sketch to watercolor. About 45 mins work done this morning over coffee of a yellow-rumped warbler I spotted last week. I am excited about the branch detail below it. #wip

Spotted this heron standing solo across the pond at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Sketched it with Pentel 0.5mm 4B and 0.2mm pencils. Finished it in a local coffee shop. Herons stand on one leg to stay warm–nature’s cozy stance in action. #sciart #birds