Created these at a weekend class on pastel portraits.

Fun to draw the same model multiple times, each time changing her hair color. Soft pastel chalks are new to me, so I had fun seeing what effects were possible.

Princesses forever. 🥰

I sketched some of the enchanting costumes at the Ren Faire event at the Byrd Theatre. #rvaarts #figuredrawing #livesketching

Sword-fighters and chain mail costume at the Byrd Theatre for the fundraiser for the Ren Faire planned for April 18 & 19. #rvaarts #urbansketching #rvaurbansketching #gesturedrawing #figuredrawing #livesketching

This is the most hopeful thing I’ve read in ages.

#urbansketching at home #usk

#urbansketching at home #usk

I spent about 30 minutes looking out one of my “greenhouse windows” that has a view of my neighbor’s back deck. With the cold weather, people have not been going out much. So I was surprised to see him come out and throw chunks of ice from his deck. A squirrel then scampered away. Targeted or not?

The deep freeze continues so I stayed inside and drew my plants in the “greenhouse window” the previous owners created. Thanks, previous owners! My plants & I love it!

I made this comic with a prompt from SAW Sequential Artists Workshop! #FridayNightComics

#rvaswapmeet in Monroe Park. #urbansketching

Jazz every Wednesday evening this month at the #vmfa #urbansketching #drawnfromlife #drawnonlocation #blackwing pencil

This is modern life; drawn from life. #Urbansketching July 27 prompt: #portrait. #usk

The kittens were in constant motion at the library-turned-cat-cafe-for-a-day until they weren’t! Then they all snuggled together to sleep. These and more are available for adoption from Richmond Animal Care & Control for $100, all vet procedures included. #rvalibrary #rvaurbansketchers #usk

20 min. Poses from figure drawing session at ArtSpace. I plan to work up these studies and submit them to ArtSpace’s fundraising cabaret Sept 26. They will be available for purchase!

Details of hands in some life drawings I did this week. No avoidance: draw the fingers and knuckles and fat pads and nails and then count ‘em to make sure all digits are accounted for.

My interior view is in One-point perspective. Some of my fellow artists looked out the windows to the architecture across the street.

#rvaurbansketchers met up at a grocery store eatery. I sketched the view of the deli counter workers. Our “throwdown” photo included the work of many of our regulars. It was good to create together!

The annual vmfa tent sale draws a crowd of creative bargain hunters. Lovely gift shop items at reduced prices #vmfa #urbansketching #UskJunePrompts2025 #gesturedrawings

#uskjuneprompts #urbansketching

My sketches from today’s meet up with the RVA Urban Sketchers. The owner of the Dalmatian was happy to talk with four of us who were sitting together in the sculpture garden. One of the nice things about urban sketching is that by being in a group, people passing by feel comfortable talking with us.

20 minute pose, life drawing session. The young model exuded sadness. So, I drew it. Young people today are inheriting so many problems.

I drew 21 portraits and my compatriot Andy drew about the same number! Each sketch took about 5 minutes.

Fantastic day drawing portraits at the Special Olympics’ vendor festival. What a pleasure to meet the athletes and attendees and share my art with them.

I sketched this goldfish pond in Richmond Hill’s garden. As I sat quietly, I saw the dozen goldfish gather, disperse, open and close their mouths and eat algae from the wall.

Happy international bike day! I drew this while hanging out with bike mechanics at the event at St Mark’s, Richmond. Thanks ReCycles and Rag and Bones for the bike repairs and good conversations!

#Usk #urbansketching #drawnonlocation

On a recent Friday evening, little kids ran around the Jaume Plensa head at the vmfa. On this Mothers’ Day, I’m thinking about the joy of children. May we all be able to remember it, encourage it & share it!

My students’ efforts to fold zines resulted in paper I did not want to waste. Here is one of the greeting cards we created from the leftovers. Use this “accordion fold” variation to tell someone how much you love them! #zinefailure #handmadecards #arteducation. #drawdrawdraw