Author: Lynn Holbein

When you see a sketch of people, does your mind start making up stories? Are these people friends? Younger or older? Sightseers? At home or overseas?

Now that we’re all spending a lot more time at home, it’s a good time to make our space as clean and appealing as possible.

My art table had been cluttered and messy for months, so I have been avoiding sitting to paint. This week I spent two hours cleaning and decluttering it, and even walking by it makes me happy.

Amazing how the world has changed in a single week, isn’t it?

This may go on for quite awhile, “the new normal.” So let’s think of ways to safeguard not just our physical, but also our mental health. Getting out in nature, especially now that spring is unfolding, is great for our outlook and the exercise is great for our health. It’s easy to maintain “social distance” from strangers, and even friends, while walking. Bruce and I are resolved to take a walk each day. Sometimes, for a change of pace, we’re going to drive to a nearby green space for our walk. Here’s a sketch I did a couple of years ago of one such place.

At this time of year, I get an itch to go someplace warm and exotic. But that’s not happening this year, so I have to rely on memories. Five years ago this month, our son Andrew and I spent ten days in Thailand, a truly amazing trip. Two highlights were close encounters with other species. The first was a ride on an elephant, sketched here. The second has to be seen to be believed.

There’s nothing more peaceful on a cold winter day that to sit cozy inside with a cup of tea and watch the birds coming to the feeder. These goldfinches will start to molt into their brilliant yellow outfits in a month or so.

P.S. Thanks to the many people who replied to my last post “Two Versions.” Opinion was pretty evenly divided between which version of the red onion was better.

Yesterday I went to the fourth Women’s March with my daughter Kate and granddaughter Lila. I attended the first two in Washington, the third in New York, and the fourth in Raleigh, N.C. Here’s my painting of the first Women’s March in January, 2017. Prints, to benefit 2020 voter registration in swing states, are available here.

One of the best views in Boston is from the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA). The entire side of the building facing the water is glass. You can see part downtown Boston (left) to the Tobin Bridge and Logan Airport (right). Last week it was fun to sit and sketch, and paint later at home.

At lunch at a ramen noodle restaurant yesterday, this young man didn’t want to miss a drop.

Wishing you and yours a holiday of love and connections.

Painting faces is intimidating, because it’s so easy to get “the most carefully studied 22-square inches in the universe” wrong. Since I took a portrait workshop in September, it has been easier. The Newton Watercolor Society hires models every other Friday morning, who sit for a series of short poses. This is my result today of one of the 15 minute poses. I see some mistakes, but believe me, 15 minutes goes by quickly.

In New York last weekend, we had delicious bowls of soup at a ramen noodle shop. It was fun to eat and sketch. When you compare the sketch with the photo, you can see I took a lot of liberties, especially with the signs and walls, which were mostly neutrals. I paint because I love color.

This weekend I visited my friend Jeff, the grandson of my mother’s best friend, who is 26 and a graduate student in New York studying how to assist in international humanitarian crises. Saturday was a beautiful fall day and we spent time in Central Park. I spent a wonderful half hour sketching the view across a pond.