Hello friends,
I hope you’re having a peaceful week. As I write this, I’m reflecting on something that’s been on my mind lately: stories in the bark of trees.
Trees truly inspire me—not just for their towering size and graceful branches but for the quiet stories they tell. Every gnarled knot, every line of texture, and every scratch in the bark feels like a chapter in the history of that tree. While sketching them in my studio this past month, I was fascinated by the patterns in the bark and the leaves—so much beauty in the smallest details. Nature is an artist, leaving marks and textures that tell stories in ways that words can’t quite capture.
The Unexpected Beauty of Tree Bark
Isn’t it incredible how every tree species has its signature texture? Some are smooth and polished, like the paper birch, while others are rough and deeply furrowed, like the oak. It’s a lovely reminder of the diversity in nature!
I’ve been having fun experimenting with capturing these textures in my drawings, trying to capture the physical texture of things like bark and the mood it conveys. A deeply cracked, weathered bark might give off a feeling of age and wisdom, while a smooth, glossy surface might feel younger or more pristine.
Upcoming Drawing Sessions: Drawing Winter Textures
I’m excited for our next drawing session, where we’ll focus on the beauty of nature—think tree bark, icy leaves, and those cute animals hiding in the snow! We’ll explore ways to depict different textures realistically, and I can’t wait to help you enhance your artistic skills.
If you’re a paid member, be on the lookout for the reference photos soon. And if you’re not yet subscribed, now is the perfect time to join us for this textured journey. 😉
Our live sessions in December are:
🎄🌜🎨🎁 Making Christmas Ornaments - Tuesday 10th of December at 16:00 (4 PM) CEST Homemade ornaments are the best! Let’s make them together. You can make them from cardboard, use air-drying clay, or paper collage. We’ll spend an hour crafting and painting together.
Because it’s a festive month, this drawing session is for everyone 🥰🎁
🎨✂️🖼️👩🏻🦰 Winter Textures - Wednesday 18th of December at 20:00 (8PM) CEST A drawing session focussing on all of the beautiful textures the cold season brings to the botanical world. I’m in a gifting mood, so all paid members can bring a friend 😍
Please use this time zone converter to find the times in your area: www.worldtimebuddy.com
Missed our meetings or videos?
No worries, our paid members can easily catch up with the videos below.
This month we had a fabulous guest host, Marie-Noëlle Wurm. We held an extra-long drawing session, Magical Apothecary, where we both showed our approach to different objects. Plus, I recorded a real-time video painting an orange birch bolete and answered some great questions about smudge tools!
Above is a wonderful spread by
, the whole Magical Apothecary grid completed!
Acrylic ink experiments:
I had acrylic inks in my studio for quite some time, as I wanted to compare them with Dr Ph. Martin's inks and regular watercolours. I made a video on YouTube about my findings:
Nature’s Storytelling: What Do You See in the Bark?
Thinking about these trees got me wondering—what stories do you see in nature? When I sketch a tree, I try to imagine what it’s been through. Has it weathered storms? Has it been scratched by animals? Or maybe it’s just been quietly standing there, bearing witness to the world around it. Each tree, plant, and even rock seems to have its own narrative.
I’d love for you to share your thoughts with me in the comments! It’s always fun to hear how others connect with the natural world.
Art Club Gifts!
Just in time for the holidays, it is now possible to gift someone a Patreon membership! What a great way to share the love of creativity with someone special (or even treat yourself)! You can find it here. And of course, Substack offers the same gift option , so you can choose your preferred platform.
Lovelies
How To Make Friends With A Passion by
All of
s posts, notes and videos about goats. I agree; they are the perfect animalPodcast In Our Time - I especially liked the one about Monet
Crochet. I kinda suck at it, but wherever there is room for improvement on a project, I’m there.
A Sneak Peek: Boxed Botanicals
Looking ahead, I’m eager to explore creating more interesting compositions with botanicals in January. Imagine fitting your elements within fun shapes or giving them a little twist to add personality to your artwork!
Thank you for taking the time to read this monthly roundup! I wish you a cozy December filled with friends (preferably making art together :),
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