For the last couple of weeks, I have been working on our InkFortnight art challenge.   We had a fabulous time together.  More on that soon.   On the very first day of the challenge,  I woke up to some fun news.   Also,  I had to deal with not-so-fun mistakes.   I'm looking forward to chatting about how I deal with them on today's Outside the Lines.

Continue reading Mistakes and Mishaps at InkTorrents Graphics.

InkFortnight, a 14-day September art challenge event, starts today!  It's where we make small pieces of low pressure art.   All of it is taking place here, with a cozy art-club vibe.  For 2026, I chose the theme Quiet Earth.  A couple of months ago, we hiked up to a glacial lake in the High Sierra mountains at Yosemite National Park.  I am sharing a few photos from there, along with a couple of pages from my art journal to set the mood for us.  I am also posting the full set of prompts and info on how to upload your work.  Let’s get started!  I am really looking forward to doing this together.  

Continue reading Cathedral Lake at Yosemite at InkTorrents Graphics.

Very often, a little story quietly finds its way into my mind and becomes the heart of my artwork.  In that fashion, a story about a little penguin called Glen who roams the rugged Scottish countryside popped into my head while I was working on a set of penguin quilt patterns.  That reminded me of my first visit to the Dryburgh Abbey in Scotland.  Last week, I hand-made books with my painting of its weathered stones as the cover, feeling the spirit of the place, and being reminded to pause and note the details we so often rush past.  I will be hosting an art event in September where we can just take a few moments during the day to breathe and create.

Continue reading Ruins, Tales, and Quiet Moments at InkTorrents Graphics.

I am a very happy girl whenever I get to deep dive.  Not only did I figure out the geometry of a triangular pencil case and how to draft the pattern for it, I also pulled out my sewing machine and promptly stitched one afterwards.  For another Outside the Lines art supply review, I painted this same picture twice, so I could compare the behavior of paint on both cold press and hot press watercolor paper first-hand.  I am excited to share more about sewing and painting along with another set of black and white everyday photos.

Continue reading Little Stories – Threads, Tones, and Textures at InkTorrents Graphics.