I just finished my first sketchbook: My favorite sketches

Painting in this sketchbook at Brooks Falls in Katmai

For the first time since picking up drawing in earnest in late 2025, I have filled a sketchbook! I brought it along on many adventures and used it from January through July. Here are my favorite pieces from the book.

Spring cub at Brooks Falls

I sketched this while standing on the Riffles viewing platform at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park. A little cub had climbed a dead tree to stay safe while its mother fished.

It was my second time attempting to paint the falls. The first attempt looked more like a bunch of eels sliding down a ledge. There was no WiFi or cell service in Katmai so I couldn't just google "how to paint a waterfall in watercolor." I made a guess to focus on negative space for this attempt and I'm proud of how it turned out!

an ink and watercolor sketch in a loose style of a spring cub up a tree looking toward the viewer while bears fish the falls in the background.

Violet-green swallow

Definitely my most detailed sketch in this book and the one I'm proudest of as a painting. I will probably scan this one and hang a print on my wall. Based on a photo by Patrick Barron.

Rocky Mountain wildflowers

I did this on a weekend backpacking trip in the mountains in late June. I wasn't expecting the flowers to be blooming as much as they were, but it must have been close to peak bloom. I assembled this composition from a few different locations.

I'm proud of myself for creating a composition instead of painting exactly the scene in front of me.

a watercolor sketch of seven different wildflower species, not labeled

Grizzly 1199

I did this one on a plane from one of my photos of 1199 (aka Solo (aka Miracle)), a young grizzly in Grand Teton National Park. It's so much fun to sketch on a plane!

an ink, water color, and colored pencil sketch of a small grizzly with yellow wildflowers in its mouth

Sea lion

I just think it's cute. Done from a reference photo I took from the ferry to Santa Cruz Island.

A view from Santa Cruz Island

I like this one for the memories it holds. I sketched this on my birthday trip to Santa Cruz Island. I kept seeing this other, smaller island and thought its shape was intriguing. I paused during a long hike to sketch it when I needed a break.

an ink and watercolor sketch of islands and a boat. it's very rough

Island fox

This collection of small sketches was the first time I tried drawing a moving subject from life. It's not easy!

Allen's Hummingbird and Island Scrub-jay

I just like how these birds turned out. 😊 They are based on reference photos I took.

ink and watercolor sketches of a female allen's hummingbird and an island scrub-jay

What's next?

I purchased a new travel sketchbook and I can't wait to add the first strokes to it. I also updated my travel watercolor palette to remove some colors I rarely used and replace some with others I like more. I purchased new water brushes from Pentel that I think will solve some of the frustrations I have with the Winsor & Newton water brush that came with my palette.

I can't wait to draw on more adventures!