A Sketcher in SE Asia

Surprise! I spent most of April traveling in SE Asia with my dad on a Viking cruise, painting the whole time. Mom and dad are world travelers (They are going to Africa twice this year!), but mom doesn’t do well in heat and if there is humidity, forget it, so I was called up as a substitute-a hard life, huh? 😆 We went to Cambodia, Bangkok in Thailand, all over Vietnam and finally to Hong Kong. It was an incredible adventure full of crazy traffic, golden Buddhas, and an endless buffet of mysterious but delicious food and I can’t wait to show you it!

However! A few current event things to update you on! I will be at Forest to Frame, a big plein air painting event at the Finch Arboretum this Saturday, 10-4.

I am also teaching two classes next Saturday on the 23rd. One from 11-1 at the Northwest Museum of Art and Culture where we will be painting the Spokesman Tower which you can sign up for here and a plein air adventure painting at the Dishman Hills from 2-5, which will involve minimal hiking as I intend to sit down and paint as soon as I see a beautiful flower. 🤣 You can sign up for the Dishman Hills painting class by going to my shop on my website or just click HERE. The Dishman Hills class is part of my plein air painting season this summer with Katie Frey so you can also purchase our class bundle for 6 painting sessions in the shop and come to classes with both us for $27.50 per class if you think you’d like to paint outside with us more than once or twice this summer! Sign up Here.

Ok, now back to the Adventures in SE Asia!

This is the map of our route. We did the trip extension where we visited Angkor Wat (without the boat because it is inland) for a few days before flying to Bangkok to explore the city and then get on the Viking Venus!

I started my journey off flying from GEG to SEATAC to join dad and then we fly to the Narita airport in Tokyo which had a lovely rest area decorated with tons of fake flowers. We traveled for approximately 30 hours together.

We arrived in Bangkok, Thailand and barely spent the night (about 4 hours of sleep) before we had to get up and go to the airport again to fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia in a TINY prop plane that looked like it was from the 70’s. We were EXHAUSTED and jet lagged but also souped up on coffee. They appreciate the caffeinated drinks here and we appreciated that about them!

Our first restaurant in Cambodia was a sign of what was to come-gold statuary, patterned floors and food served on banana leaves.

We stayed at the beautiful Park Hyatt in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It was decorated in beautiful statues and many bouquets of lotus blooms with their petals folded in a variety of ways.

To my great entertainment, the inside of our tour bus in Cambodia had brocade valances and curtains, complete with tassels and all of the seats were covered in eyelet fabric slip covers.

This is the famous temple at Angkor Wat that is probably what most people think of when they picture Angkor Wat in their minds. Angkor Wat is actually a HUGE temple complex (the largest in the world) with many different temples spread out across the landscape, but this is the famous one. We arrived in the predawn darkness using our phones to light our way as we crossed a moat/stream to join the crowd of other people watching the sun rise behind the temple and the pink of the sky reflect in the ponds in the foreground. It was utterly magical.

Inside the temple near one of the towers.

As magical as our experience at the main temple was, Dad and I both agreed that our favorite was the Angkor Tom temple, which is famous for the many trees and vining fig plants that grow out of the ruins. It is incredibly atmospheric and cinematic (in fact, it was featured in the Angela Jolie version of Tomb Raider!) and frankly they can’t remove the trees without severely damaging the buildings that do still stand because they have been intertwined for 300 years!

Our guide, Sophea, lived near this particular temple and as child, it was his playground. What a magical place this must have been for a child!

ATMOSPHERIC!

Somewhat derelict in a very atmospheric and attractive way!

We visited a local family that made rice noodles and got to see the whole process (entirely people powered in 86 degree temperatures with excessive humidity-oof!) as they ground, boiled, pounded and kneaded the rice into a dough that was then cut into noodles, boiled and served to us in a very fresh and lime-y flavored dish. I was impressed that they worked with a ball of rice dough that was about the size of a soccer ball!

We also visited a local Buddhist temple and talked with the monks. I think we tourists were rather surprised that they were all quite young-college aged if they were American. It was interesting to ask them about what inspired them to become monks. Education was a big part of the decision along with a desire to learn about how to do good in the world. I was almost knee to knee with this gentleman as I drew him so I was glad that he told me he liked the drawing when it was done!

OK, stayed tuned for the rest of Cambodia, time on the boat and our journey to Vietnam up next!

Plein Air Pals

Have you been wanting to paint outside but not quite sure how to start? Or would you like some company and instruction while work? I’m joining my friend, the amazing Katie Frey to host and teach a bunch of plein air classes this summer! Read more below:

Join Megan Perkins and Katie Frey for a summer of artsy adventures. We are planning eight outdoor art meetups from May to September. Meetups will vary in location and times so we can paint all the different light, as well as both landscape and urban locations: Highbridge Park, Slavin Conservation Area, Finch Arboretum, Spokane River, and Dishman Hills just to name a few. Meetups will include instruction and discussion, but you have the choice to spend the time however you like. All mediums are welcome, though we will primarily be demoing in acrylic and watercolor.

You can sign up for meet ups individually or in a bundle.

Bundle Price (six of the eight) $165

Drop-in price (per meetup) $45

To learn more about the locations, dates, supplies, and how to sign up, join us:

Sunday May 3 from 1-2pm at Spokane art supply.

If you are unable to attend the May 3rd session, just email me at meganperkinsartstudio@gmail.com and I’ll send you the details about the when and where!

Ready to sign up RIGHT NOW? LOVE IT!

Sign up for ONE CLASS HERE

Sign up for the SIX CLASS BUNDLE HERE

Want to paint flowers inside? Scroll down!

If painting indoors is more your thing, but you still love nature come join me in May at the Corbin Art Center for Watercolor & Painting Flowers!

NEW  Watercolor & Painting Flowers                                          
4 Weeks | Ages 16+ | Megan Perkins Love flowers? Learn how to paint draw and then paint them in watercolor. We’ll break down flowers into basics shapes, paint individual “portraits” of flowers and then zoom out to depict flower plants in groups, such as a full flowerpot or garden bed. We’ll discuss painting buds, blooms, leaves, stems and seeds as well. Please bring your own photos or pictures to paint from as well. Supply list is listed at the bottom of registration receipt.  $89

                Thurs.   5/8-5/29              6-8pm 

Sign up here!

Frogs and Artists Calling!

The grass has greened up and the frogs have started calling in the marsh behind our house so it is clearly spring!

I finally managed to circle back to make some paintings inspired by the classes I taught at the Japanese Gardens last spring. The light was truly magical, as was the maple foliage!

Love a good Japanese lantern!

Inspired by the Little Spokane River and filled with love for the color green. Why do herons always look like they are glaring at you?

This is one of the HUGE old trees at our place. We had some incredible sunsets this winter. This evening, it felt like I was living in a pink and gold globe of light!

I was asked to create a couple utility box designs for the City of Liberty Lake and they requested a patriotic feel so what is more patriotic than fireworks on the 4th of July?

The daytime themed Liberty Lake Utility box wrap is all about enjoying summer at the lake shore. I thought about trying to fit a barbecue into this scene, but finally decided that it was better to leave it out. This is the biggest watercolor I’ve ever done, something in the neighborhood of 27” x 41” which is pretty darn big!

I have been following an artist online who has been making little square “diary” comics about her daily life and I found them fascinating and inspiring and decided to do a few of my own! I think I’d like to continue this. A little 2” x 2” square is totally manageable and I like how it makes me think of something interesting to document each day. As you can see, indoor flowering house plants are essential and there is high interest in what might be flowering outside!

The primroses are blooming and I am delighted. I only have three, but I am already scheming to save seed and try to grow more. I want a whole meadow! Unrealistic? Who cares.

The Hellebores are also in bloom. In fact they were the first thing to bloom on the whole property (What happened to my snow drops? Who knows.) which has made me forgive them their downward facing flowers. At this time of year, I’m desperate for signs of life!

But before you know it, the world will look like this and I’ll be trying to find some shade while I’m out sketching in the field. A little tease for the future-Katie Frey and I are going to team up to do several plein air painting sessions this summer at various places around Spokane so if you want to get out and paint on location, keep an eye out. I’ll share here once we have dates!

May your days be full of blossom and your palette full of paint!

Megan

Long Shadows On Spokane Streets

Hello for a sunny sunbeam speckled desk in my studio!

It’s been a busy start to 2026. I spent most of January teaching a watercolor class at Whitworth University. It was an intense but fun experience. We had class every day for 3 hours for the term. It was really cool to get to spend so much time with the same group of students and everyone’s growth from the beginning to the end of the class was amazing! I also learned a lot about teaching a college class (Grading! Writing a syllabus! Using Canvas-no, not the kind you paint on.) and hope to get to do it again next year!

Once I had recovered from teaching, it was back to the studio to work on paintings that I’ve been putting off for far too long. These are a mini-series, focused on the light in downtown-specifically around Washington, Main and Spokane Falls Blvd.

I was completely caught by the way the shadow of the sky bridge cast onto the convention center.

I think it was Edward Hopper who said that he just wanted to paint light hitting a building and man, I do have to say that it is very satisfying!

Closer to home-my living room. My aunt recently gave us the couch starring in this painting. She bought it in 1974 and it is in mint condition-I love it, but as you can see, I am not afraid of pattern. Yes, that is a zebra patterned rug on the floor and my cat (in the middle foreground) is laying on a tiger striped blanket on a foot stool.

This is Xena who is currently choosing to take a nap on my knitting instead of in the bed we bought for her (see drawing above, the maroon “soft box” on the couch) or the many blankets left out for her perusal).

Love to you and all your furry ones,

Megan

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Thank you my friends for showing up, taking an interest and supporting me on this wild art adventure! I really appreciate you.

Christmas letter included below along with some favorite winter scenes. This year’s Christmas card image is the Vista House on Mt. Spokane. Suggestions for next year’s Christmas card welcome. :)

See you in the New Year, you awesome people!

Love,

Megan

Merry Christmas Friends!

It’s been a busy and full year at our new house. I can hardly believe that this time last year, I was hustling to get paintings made for my group show at the Art Spirit in Coeur D’Alene. I made the biggest watercolors I’ve ever painted for that show and really feel like I grew my skills both in terms of scale and emotive capability, which I am proud of. Despite the busy-ness, I also managed to participate a bit more in my Women Painters of WA group, showing work with them in Clarkston, Chewelah, and Twisp (upcoming) and visiting a gallery owned by a fellow member in Moses Lake. As the previous sentence implies, I’ve been beebopping around the state quite a bit. I traveled to the 3rd annual Sketcherfest in Edmonds to attend a workshop, artist talks, sketchbook tours and to meet regional and international artists. It’s so inspirational to see what other artists are making and doing! Towards the end of July I attended an overnight paddle and camping trip for the Spokane Riverkeepers as a painting instructor and had an absolute blast. A highlight was rafting all the canoes together in the middle of the river to paint the sunset followed by a starlit night paddle where the river reflecting the sky made me feel as if I was in a globe of stars. I’m already looking forward to next year.

Closer to home, I enjoyed observing our land for the first time in all the seasons-buttercups in spring, swathes of oxeye daisies in the wilder parts in summer, the ruckus of nesting season with the birds calling and flitting everywhere (thank you to the Merlin app for telling me who was in the yard each morning!), rose hips and snowberries in the hedgerows in the fall, hoarfrost on the branches in winter. I did some painting in my sketchbook to capture it but I also spent a lot of time scraping and painting outbuildings while our flock of ducks looked on and offered copious advice. After painting buildings, I focused on making garden beds; killing off grass, putting in edging and planting. Thank you to everyone who shared plants. I will be thinking of you when they come up in the spring! It will be a riot of color and shape that will be so fun to paint! 

Luke had an adventure figuring out haying this summer. Our property is a slope with a stream at the bottom so each field is a separate micro biome that required changing the settings on all of the equipment so that was a challenge. Thank goodness he is handy and has haying experience from his youth. We also had some adventures with the plumbing (ah, old houses with big trees nearby), but the most unusual and, in a way, strangely enjoyable challenge we faced was losing internet for 2 weeks when our provider’s tower got hit by lightning. Luke got a portable satellite internet for work and I attempted to make do with data, but AT & T doesn’t have great coverage for our area so I spent the two weeks feeling like I was back in the early dial up days-I could get internet if I wanted it but it was slow and limited so I lived my life like it was the 90’s and if I needed to send a photo to someone I drove to my sister in law’s house and sat on their porch to use their Wi-Fi! And yes, if you were wondering, of course I made the dial up noise whenever I opened the browser on my phone. :) I spent most of the two week period reading, painting, and being outside working on projects rather than scrolling on a device and frankly, if you can manage it, I recommend it!

Wishing you stars all around you, flames in your hearth, and peace in your soul now and in the new year,

Megan

Sketched from life at the Davenport.

Gaiser Conservatory Holiday Lights

Who doesn’t love the Garbage Goat?

Fall & Final Art Market

Hi Everyone!

Popping in with a bunch of fall art made over the past few years to celebrate my favorite season and a reminder that this Saturday is my last art market of the year-33 Artists at the Hive! Hope to see you there!

Painted sitting in a pumpkin patch at Siemer’s Farm up in Greenbluff on a glorious fall evening.

Early November, I was driving home around sunset when the hail storm I’d been driving through lifted and I saw this view. I pulled over IMMEDIATELY.

The historic trees in Browne’s Addition make for an incredible canopy of color in the fall and it is lovely when they match the color of the Campbell House!

Our new house has a lot of snow berry shrubs along the road.

The Japanese Gardens at Manito are a must to visit in the fall.

Painted on location on a cold, overcast fall day-couldn’t feel my fingers by the end, but I loved the red of the maples.

Happy Fall y’all! See you Saturday!

Take A Class with Me!

October is a busy month, full of chances to take a watercolor class with me before I take my usual winter break. I’m teaching at a ton of locations so please read the blurbs carefully and follow the links to sign up at the host organization’s site, whether that is the Spokane Art School, Corbin Art Center or NW Museum of Art and Culture.

Here’s some of what I have coming up!

Magically Moody Watercolors with Megan Perkins

At the Spokane Art School

Saturday, October 11, 1-4 p.m.

$40, includes all materials and instruction 

 

Want to learn how to create expressive paintings? Megan will provide a photo of a favorite landscape and show you how to change its attitude-from sunny and cheerful to moody and dramatic, it’s all in the colors and values!

This class made possible by a Spokane Arts Grant Award.

I have three classes with the Corbin Art Center:

Painting Big Skies 4 Weeks | Ages 18yrs. & Up | Megan Perkins Skies have a huge impact on a painting, not only sometimes taking up a large amount of the paper, but also dramatically affecting the mood and atmosphere of the work. It is important that the sky is considered carefully when planning a painting. In this class students will tackle painting sky-with clouds, with mist, full of color, or as a more neutral backdrop with a focus on being expressive and allowing the medium of watercolor to do its magic. Supply list included upon confirmation of registration. $89

18700   Wed.    10/1-10/22         6-8pm

 

Loosen Up Your Watercolor Painting 1 Day | Ages 18yrs. & Up | Megan Perkins Feeling like your paintings are stiff or too tight? Want to embrace the flow of watercolor paint and loosen up? This is the class for you! Megan will demonstrate how to make your paintings full of energy and freshness, giving you quick and easy exercises to uncramp your style! Supply list is at bottom of class registration receipt. $69

18701   Sat.       10/18    10am-Noon

Sketchbook Habit 4 Weeks | Ages 16yrs. & Up | Megan Perkins Experience the joy of playing in your sketchbook. In this class, we will explore techniques such as Notan, blind contour, hatching, color blocking, and more as a route to making work that improves our skills while embracing fun and defeating the inner critic. The goal is to learn ways to make art in small bits of time regularly so that you can make art every day. Please note, you WILL be expected to work in your sketchbook between class sessions. How can you develop a habit without practice? Supply list included upon confirmation of registration. $89

18702   Mon.    10/27-11/17      6-8pm

Plein Air Painting: Finch Arboretum with the Northwest Museum of Art and Culture
Saturday, October 18, 20251-3 pm

Finch Arboretum
Cost: $46, $40 MAC Members 

Capture the vibrant colors and crisp energy of fall in this outdoor sketching and watercolor workshop in the stunning backdrop of Finch Arboretum. Led by local artist Megan Perkins, you'll get helpful techniques and personal tips for working outdoors amongst the trees and leaves. Bring your own supplies and drinking water. We will have cups and paintbrush water if needed. 


Sign up HERE

https://sales.northwestmuseum.org/PatronEducation.aspx?pid=59519&cal=https%3a%2f%2fsales.northwestmuseum.org%3a443%2fcalendar.aspx%3fview%3dc%26et%3dp%2bc

In other news, I also have three pieces in Terrain this year and will be at the Thursday’s ticketed Artist Preview Night. The First Friday extravaganza on the 3rd is free and open to everyone! Check them out below and good luck spotting them among the hundreds that will be on display. “Mountain Fire”, the one with the pink flowers, will be the easiest to spot I bet because it is almost 5 ft long!

Little Spokane River Artist Studio Tour

It’s almost time for one of my favorite shows of the year: the Little Spokane River Artist Studio Tour where you get to visit four artist studios along the beautiful Little Spokane River and snoop in their yards! Oh yeah-and buy art! 😆

See you in a week!

As usual, I’ll be at Collista’s studio-the furthest north and have tons of original art, including studies and small pieces from my studio flat files. I look forward to seeing you there and keep your eyes peeled for my next email if you’re interested in taking a class with me-I have a 5 different classes coming up in October!

Painting with the Spokane Riverkeepers

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Woo-wee, it is scorching hot out right now! I hope you’re staying cool where you are. I’m enjoying looking back at my memories of an overnight canoe trip with the Spokane Riverkeepers at the end of July. Lots of swimming, sketching, and delicious food!

There were around 20 of us in three big voyaging canoes. We left from Porcupine Bay and paddled down to Detillion campground with a stop off for painting on a beach along the way and a dip in the river.

We set up camp at Detillion, had a delicious lunch of sandwiches and fruit and I was delighted to see quite a few of my students sketching even outside of “class time.” More dips in the river and a quick paddle to a jump-off rock followed.

The campsite had beautiful views of the river and the bank on the other side.

PT, one of canoe guides, had always dreamed of having people paint the sunset on a paddle trip. We paddled out to the river, rafted together and with some bobbing around whenever a motor boat went by, made PT’s dream come true. It was gorgeous and a lot of fun.

We went on a night paddle that was extraordinary. The sky was completely clear and the stars were brilliant above and below us, reflecting in the water. Absolutely stunning and I will have to do a painting inspired by it at some point. The sun and warmth made for an early morning so I got up and immediately started drawing the giant coffee pot on the propane stove. More delight in finding two of my students up and painting as well.

I documented Alex making us breakfast-absolutely fascinated by the beauty of the eggs in a mason jar, glowing in the early morning light as well as Alex’s interesting sartorial choices. Yes, that is a very faded pink baseball cap on top of the cowboy hat. He informed me that the pink hat was part of his “brand” and that he found the cowboy hat in a dumpster in Tuscon, AZ. his dog, which is half coyote, was eating curry out of it. The dog’s name is Gus and rode along with us in the canoes, but remained aloof of human silliness.

I did a demonstration and some instructing on our final morning. The demo still needs scanning (the technology is resisting me!), but here is a sketch from the beach where we stopped for lunch on the way back to Porcupine Bay. The cliff was made of clay and the sediment floated in the water and changed the color as it got closer to shore. Swallows nested in the cliff. Fascinating and beautiful.

The whole trip was absolutely wonderful and a joy. I hope that the Riverkeepers offer this trip next summer and I IMPLORE you-come join me on this magical experience!

I traveled to Edmonds, WA for the 3rd annual Sketcherfest and was thrilled to meet several artists I’ve followed for decades and, thanks to a generous friend, listened to some amazing artist talks. Sketcherfest is a sketchbook festival where I can network, take workshops, listen to talks and draw with people who come to attend from all over the world-really cool.

I stopped on the way across the state to visit Jakob Two Trees, the Thomas Danbo troll in Issaquah. It was so fun to watch people walk up and react to the giant troll, talk about the other Danbo trolls they’ve visited, and take photos. Have you visited a Danbo troll somewhere? It seems to be a popular activity!

I’m teaching an urban sketching class at the Duncan Gardens at Manito Park this Saturday. 9-11 am. You can sign up at the Northwest Museum of Art and Culture, $46 for members, $55 for non-members. Sign up HERE.

Summer Sketchin'

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And duckling updates!

This is a long one with lots of photos so the email may get cut off. Feel free to click through to read this in my blog in its entirety if so.

One of our ducks abandoned her nest so my husband decided to try to incubate the eggs himself as I mentioned in my last newsletter.

They all hatched and for a couple weeks they lived in my living room! Now they are in a brooder in our garage and very close to getting to go outside and be integrated with the rest of the flock. They are awkward teenagers now instead of the adorable fluffy butts that you see in this sketch and the photo below. They love to snuggle and flop all over each other.

It was so fun to see how much they grew each day!

In bittersweet news, my aunt and uncle sold their lake house up at Priest Lake. They bought it back in 1979 and not only have I been going there my whole life but my parents have been going since they were in college. They came over with my brother and we all gathered to say goodbye to this special beloved place with my aunt and uncle.

I feel so fortunate to have gotten to spend so much time in this magical place.

Pizza for lunch at MooseKnuckles-loving their upcycled flower planters, yes that is a shovel/crane bucket in this sketch.

Since it was Father’s Day, we celebrated with ribs at Hill’s Resort.

This carved wooden bear hangs out on the fence post to the deck and he holds your life jacket for you.

Goodbye and we’ll cherish the memories.

I’ve been sketching around our new house and enjoying seeing what pops up this spring-here a huge amount of buttercups and a small sketch of clover.

Spotted this big white umbellifer flower by the road in our south field so I wandered down to sketch it. Love plein air painting in walking distance from home.

I’ve gotten braces and I am not loving it. Trying to be positive (the results are good!) and sketched some of the new tools I had to buy to help care for my teeth.

My friend and fellow artist Katie Frey invited me to a plein air get together last weekend at Slavin Natural Area. It was a great excuse to paint and chat. It wasn’t just a walk down the hill from my house, but a short 1.5 mile hike to the lake wasn’t bad even in 85 degree heat. We found some shade to sketch in and kept following it as it moved!

My plein air set up-my beloved Osprey backpack, short folding stool, travel brush, watercolors, plastic water container with lid and Global Art Handbook Watercolor sketchbook. Shout out to ziplocks, keeping me from pouring drippy paint and paint water down the inside of my bag since 2007.

With warm weather comes yardwork and plein air painting so my studio painting table tends to get a little dusty this time of year. Here is a painting of Spokane House on the top of Mt. Spokane that I finished back in May. It was a struggle to the rich color and the contrast between light and dark but I’m very pleased with how this came out.

I also decided to revisit the Davenport Grand, having done a very small sketch of just the entrance back in 2018. I decided to tackle the whole massive building this time. SO many windows!

If you’ve read this far, thank you! I also want to ask you for some advice. I’m about to put in a new card order. Are there any of my paintings that you think should be a card that I don’t already have? For example-I’m considering this one of the Scoop and the two paintings above as well as some of my recent Couer d’Alene paintings. If you have any thoughts, give me a shout!

Also-it’s 95 degrees here right now, ice cream is on my brain. What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? I’m usually a chocolate girl, but when it gets hot I like things more fruity. I currently am working my way through a orange creamsicle carton.

Artfest!

I’d love to invite you all to visit me at Artfest May 30th to June 1st on campus at the Northwest Museum of Art Culture in Browne’s Addition. This is my first time back at this show since 2019 and I’m excited! It’s $5/per person $20/family to get in and there will be live music, kids crafts, food trucks, a beer garden and over 75 booths of artists and craftspeople.

I had a great time teaching a series of classes at the Japanese Gardens at the beginning of the month. We really lucked out with the weather and it was magical to get to be in the gardens during the golden hour and watch the light fade as evening came on while we painted.

We got to see koi breach to catch bugs and on the final class, an osprey dove into the pond and carried off a baby koi which was incredibly dramatic!

Doing a demo painting for classes is always challenging because I need to make a decent painting but also leave enough time for students to paint too. It can get messy but you can’t beat the high energy on the page!

Personally, I’d love to have a little stone lantern in my own garden. Any tips on a good place to get one?

Exciting news inside-my clivia bloomed and that is always worth a couple of sketches. I moved it away from it’s perch by the window to the kitchen where I could admire it more closely.

Sketching the giant willow tree around the back of our house. There was a bit of a paint pen explosion (the green below and some of the yellow above) but I managed to cope and it was nice to feel the sun on my face as I drew this anyway.

This is Deputy Dog, my husbands’s aunt’s ranch dog up in the Okanogan. When he isn’t herding cows, he is a part time model! 😂

We have Muscovy ducks and while one mom managed to successfully raise a brood of 5, the rest of the moms abandoned their eggs so my husband rescued them and has been incubating them on our kitchen table for the past month. This last past week was spent frantically trying to help the babies hatch (many had a foot over their head which made it impossible for them to hatch out on their own). He did most of the work while I supplied towels, cups to hold them while he worked, bandaids to correct straddle legs and sanitizing. Stressful! I currently have 11 adorable ducklings in a brooder in my house. Good thing they are cute. Stay tuned for sketches of them in my next bulletin.

Happy spring to you all!

Art Adventures+Sketching in Japanese Gardens!

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Hello everyone!

April is a very busy month for me. If you haven’t already stopped by, I have a piece in the Little Spokane River Artist Studio Tour show at the Kolva Sullivan gallery this month. The show is jammed pack with art from the amazing artists from the September art market and I highly recommend stopping by before it gets packed up at the end of the month.

If you weren’t able to make it out to my show at the Art Spirit Gallery in February, then may I suggest stopping by the Central Library in downtown? Almost all of the paintings from that show (one sold and the other is at the Kolva Sullivan show) are hanging on the big wall opposite the cafe on the ground floor for this month. Thank you to Eva for the invite and for her fabulous art hanging skills (as seen above).

I’ve been teaching at the Corbin Art Center the past couple of weeks and I was lucky to arrive early one glorious evening and did a quick sketch from the top of the hill. Absolutely lovely!

I recently finished a painting of another Corbin-adjacent building-Maryhill! This whole complex just off of 7th Avenue is full of historic buildings. Along with the park with the beautiful old trees, it is definitely worth a visit and walk around.

If you haven’t stopped by the Northwest Museum of Art and Culture lately, you should! The exhibit they have on Japanese armor and art right now is stunning!

I sketched these in pencil at the museum and added color later. I was delighted to see another person sketching while I was there. So much fun!

And speaking of Japan and the Northwest Museum of Art and Culture, I am DELIGHTED to tell you that the museum secured the rights for me to teach several sketching classes at Manito’s Japanese Gardens at the end of this month and the beginning of May. I suspect this might be a once in a lifetime opportunity so sprint on over and sign up! Here’s a link. The website can be somewhat hard to navigate so you are also welcome to reach out to the education coordinator Amanda Gardner at her number:(509-363-5357)

Classes are April 22nd and 25th 6:15-8:15

And May 1 & 2nd, 6:15-8:15-Sign up for May Classes here.

I hope to see you there!

Watercolor Landscape Class + 33 Artists Market

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Do you like how I paint landscapes? Would you like to learn to paint your own?

Watercolor Landscape Class starts next week on March 26th at the Corbin Art Center, 6-8 pm. Visit my.spokanecity.org to find the class and sign up! Look under “Adult Art Classes”. Or just click HERE!

If flowers are more your thing, my class on painting flowers (also at the Corbin Art Center) will start May 8th. You can sign up for it here.

Last bit of news below-the 33 Artists Market!

It’s at the Woman’s Club on Saturday March 29th, 11-5, which will hopefully be substantially less snowy than this (in fact, no snow please!). I’m fully in the spring mindset and I know I’m not alone! There’s going to be a great selection of artists there and I’d love to see you and catch up on how your winter has been!

Address:1428 W 9th Ave-on the lower South Hill. There’s free parking in the neighborhood.

See you there!

Local Color: Group Show at Art Spirit

Hello Everyone! I’m finally emerging from the creative cocoon of the studio after months of working making and framing a new series of paintings for a group show at the Art Spirit Gallery in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. It’s called Local Color and I’m showing along Wes Hanson, LR Montgomery, and Teresa Rancourt.

Here’s a little bit about the show in the Art Spirit team’s words:

Local Color Explodes Onto the Scene at The Art Spirit Gallery

The Art Spirit Gallery is thrilled to announce the opening of its highly anticipated new exhibition, "Local Color," on Saturday, February 1st, 2025, at 11:00 AM. This vibrant collection features the works of four exceptional local artists: Wes Hanson, L.R. Montgomery, Megan Perkins, and Teresa Rancourt.

"Local Color" is more than just a title; it's a celebration of the unique hues and textures that define our region. It's the deep blue of Lake Coeur d'Alene reflecting a sun-drenched sky, the verdant greens of the surrounding forests, the earthy browns of the rolling hills, and the fiery oranges and reds of a Northwest sunset. It's the essence of place, the spirit of the region captured on canvas.

Each artist in this collection draws inspiration from the rich palette of the Inland Northwest.

  • Wes Hansons style is impressionistic, employing loose brushstrokes and transparent washes to create a sense of fluidity and movement. The colors are often subtly modulated, evoking a sense of tranquility and serenity

  • L.R. Montgomery's oil paintings are known for their bold use of color and texture, often employing a vibrant and expressive palette.

  • Megan Perkins' paintings, light and shadow play a significant role in creating mood and atmosphere.

  • Teresa Rancourt's paintings are known for their vibrant and expressive use of color, often employing a bold and saturated palette each bring their own unique perspective and artistic vision to this exploration of local color. The resulting exhibition is a captivating tapestry of styles, techniques, and interpretations of the region’s landscape and spirit.

Join us for the opening reception on February 1st to experience the vibrancy and beauty of "Local Color."

All four of us artists will be at the gallery on the 1st from 11-112 for a Q & A session.

Each of us will also be doing a painting demonstration during the show. I am up on February 22nd, 2-4 and I’d love to see you so please mark your calendars!

Finally, since you’ve been so patient to keep reading all of this self promotion, here’s some photos of the paintings I have made for the show. The Art Spirit asked for me to “go big” and while I can’t compete with L.R. for sheer scale (his works are monumental windows of color!), I pushed myself and worked bigger than I ever have before so as you look at these tiny thumbnails on your phone, please imagine them at 2 ft x 2 ft and at the largest 52” x 27”!

If you’d like to see the rest, come by the Art Spirit sometime in February. There’s always plenty to do in Coeur D’Alene even if it is chilly and there’s certainly no off-season for Dockside sundaes in my opinion! See you in February!

See you at 33 Artists Market!

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I hope to see you guys at the Woman’s Club this Saturday for Small Business Saturday! It’s my last show of the year so this is the easiest way to stock up on your art presents for Christmas! Check out the poster at the end of the email for the details. I’ll have a couple fun new things along with my puzzles and prints! For one, I’ve been playing with a GlowForge, a laser engraver to make wooden ornaments and having a delightful time.

These guys will be $15 and are signed on the back with the engraver.

Here they are on display at Garland Mercantile! I also have a design with the Garland Theater (not shown here).

Some of you may have seen a long accordion style landmark painting I’ve been using to decorate my booth with at a few shows. With the encouragement of some friends and my printer, I’ve made it into a a folding accordion card/decoration. I’m think that it could be a very fancy Christmas card-one of those ones that are a present in itself. A veritable letter can be written across the back and then the recipient (or yourself, I am totally on board with buying oneself presents) can display the card in it’s full unfolded glory on their sideboard, desk, window sill, table, etc.

Here’s the test sample of the Landmark Accordion print. You can order it with either the cut silhouette (as seen above) or with the white background. It folds to roughly 5” x 7” and fits in a standard envelope (though it will need more than one stamp to send!). The video below shows me unfolding it.

See you Saturday!

Here’s a sunset from the lower meadow at our new place. I see paintings everywhere here!

Loosen Up Your Painting!

Hi there guys! This is just a quick note to say that I have a class this Saturday on loosening up your painting style, which I know is something a lot of people want to do. It’s 1-5 at the Corbin Art Center. I’ll be sharing all of my tips and tricks to loosen that death grip you have on your brush and let the paint fly with joy and verve. It’s going to be fun! You can sign up for it here: https://secure.rec1.com/WA/spokane-wa/catalog

It was entertaining to pick out example paintings that I felt were both loose but also have a fall vibe! I love fall (though not the season that approaches afterward) and I think Spokane has fabulous autumns. Currently delighting me are the changing colors of the leaves and the crisp morning air followed by the mellow warm ness of late afternoon. Oh and the onset of sweater season. I love me some soft, squishy knit sweaters! What are you loving about fall?

Finally, please read down to the end to get the deets on the 33 Artists show at the Hive-my one show for October and the second to last show I’m doing this year. It’s on the 26th. Hope to see you there!

A Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower), grown in my garden and painted BIG (17” x 17”-ish)

A pumpkin field painted at Siemer’s Farm up at Green Bluff a few years back on a beautiful autumnal evening.

A painting inspired by a drive home in early November where a rain/hailstorm lifted right about sunset and I saw this out my window and I immediately pulled over!

Oh and for those of you who read to the bottom-I’ll be at this show on the 26th at the Hive (a super cool library building on Sprague) and I’d love to see you!

Little Spokane River Show Saturday!

Hi Everyone!

I’ve been quiet here lately because I’ve been wildly busy. My husband and I bought a new house and are in the process of simultaneously settling in and trying to get our old house on the market. To everyone who has done this before-you have my sincere admiration. This has been incredibly hard work! We’re starting to make good progress and I’m so excited about the new place. It is beautiful with a year round stream and great views. I can’t wait to paint here!

In other news-my favorite show of the year-the Little Spokane River Artist Studio Tour is happening this Saturday and I am super excited! I’m at Collista’s studio, as usual-that’s the furthest north studio, on Panorama. There’s plenty of parking and the garden is always beautiful thanks to her husband’s green thumb. I will have a bunch of small unframed originals at a range of prices and I hope you’ll find something that needs to come home with you! See you there!

This is a demo from an urban sketching class at the Northwest Museum of Art and Culture. I loved the half moon deck arch and the two porthole windows below.

Back in August we made a quick trip up to rural Canada for a family reunion/funeral and, as always, I brought my sketchbook.

This is the view from up on the porch on the house seen in the above image. A lot of time was spent sitting here, drinking coffee and talking to people.

The farm is very near Lake Mara, which is a gorgeous lake with fabulous views. One evening, a group of us made a quick trip over there to wade.

The sunset that night was gorgeous! I raced to capture the light before it went. As a result, the people on the shore are blurred (my paint was not drying as fast as I needed it too and the temperatures had cooled to boot), but I really like the feeling of light and it brings back the memory of that night which is always the point of my sketchbooks!

Summer Sketching!

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Hi Guys!

I hope all of you have been bearing up under this crazy heat! I’ve been busy sketching all over the place-doing my best to stay out of the mid-day sun. Challenging, but worth it. I’m going to crack open my sketchbook below to show you what I’ve been up to, but FIRST!

A Conspiracy of Artists! I’m one of over 12 artists being hosted at the Jacklin Art Center. We’re having an opening this Saturday and there will be snacks, wine and AIR CONDITIONING! I hope to see you there.

Ok-back to the sketchbooks!

At the end of June I drove down to Boise for a family wedding. It was 8:00 pm when I sketched this and almost 90 degrees. Phew! The wedding took place at a venue that was decorated “historic western” and I really enjoyed this windmill.

Sketching in the Joel E Ferris Perennial Garden at Manito in the morning before it got too hot! This is a class demo and was a lot of fun!

For the 4th of July, I made my annual pilgrimage to my aunt and uncle’s place up at Priest Lake. I’ve been coming here my whole life and that era may be coming to a close which makes these sketches all the more precious.

The lake house, looking back from the dock.

I recently scooted all the way over to Edmonds to participate in Sketcherfest-the USA’s first International Sketchbook Festival. I went last year but didn’t manage to secure a spot in a workshop (They sold out SO FAST). This year I was lucky to to take “Sketching the Whole Story” taught by Genine Carvalheira with a friend.

The learning goals for the this class are to arrange a variety of elements on the page to tell a story/create a timeline, leave white space (a big challenge for me!), and incorporate text.

I always have to remind myself when I take a class that I’m not here to make a good painting. I’m here to learn a new thing and in the process of trying something new, I’m going to make a mess. It’s a tough reminder but good for me as a teacher to be back in the student seat!

Little snippets. Not a good composition, but filled with delightful memories of the weekend!

Hoping you all are staying cool and having a fabulous summer!

London Part 3 + Summer Classes

This is the last of my posts about my trip to London! It’s been really fun re-living the trip with you guys!

This is a Thai restaurant where we had lunch toward the end of the trip.

I “collected” people on the Tube. I drew in the seat structures first and then I waited to see who sat down in front of me. This drawing was created over about 3 rides on the Tube and it was very fun-so many interesting characters! Almost everyone is on their phone and that goodness because that keeps them from spotting me (most of the time) even though I am just 3 or 4 feet from them!

The left side of the page here are a couple quick sketches from when we were at Kew Gardens-a giant Cyprus tree and a dragon guardian on their pagoda. On the right was the tableware at the Delaunay-an absolutely fabulous restaurant across from the theater where we saw “Tina Turner: The Musical”.

The stage curtain had Tina’s eyes (and hair) screen printed onto it. Very graphic and an interesting contrast with the green and gold baroque theater.

Mom sent over this photo she took from the 2nd floor of our flat of me sketching the Michelin Building. Can you see me?

I’m across the street from the frontage of the building on the steps under the red awning!

Here’s how one of those sketches came out!

I brought home Tunnock’s Tea cakes for my husband. Milk chocolate with marshmallow inside, they are too sweet for me!

Made it safely home! This is the view from my studio. Everything had grown in the 12 days I’d been gone-including the weeds and grass all over our gravel driveway. Still, it was good to be home and back in my studio. Hope all of you had a fabulous 4th of July!