A Brief Pause at the Edge of Becoming
It seems I am always seeking a place to sit—
not just to rest the body,
but to settle the soul.
Yet even in stillness, Gary Brecka’s words whisper:
“The quickest way to old age
is the aggressive pursuit of comfort.”
So I do not stay long.
I walked until I found a picnic table
beneath a canopy of bare-limbed trees,
branches like open hands waiting for green.
The blue spruces nearby—
stoic, unchanged, whispering that some things endure.
I sketched.
Not perfectly. Not for anyone’s praise.
Just a mark to say: I was here.
Alive in this in-between.
Waiting. Listening.
Not for leaves—
but for something truer than comfort.
Thank you for joining me in this small noticing.
A moment borrowed from the rush.
A table. A tree. A thought.
A gift.
A vibrant, hand-drawn marker illustration featuring a rustic wooden cabin perched on the edge of a tranquil lake. The foreground is filled with glowing green lily pads, leading the eye toward rolling green mountains under a bright, cloudy sky. This piece captures the essence of a peaceful summer escape and the beauty of lakeside living.
I am amazed summer after summer seeing this tree and garden grow. I started this with a blue background and a black layer that I punched through, and from there, I painted layer by layer from the back to the front. I like the realism I got, but I kept to a painterly feel using oil brushes.
A vibrant, hand-drawn sunflower illustration featuring bold marker strokes and a rhythmic, blue-sky background. This piece captures the energy of a summer day through an impressionistic lens, blending warm yellows and oranges with cool, textured blues.
A delicate, hand-drawn study of the Blue Liverflower (Hepatica), capturing the first signs of spring. This design features breezy blue petals, energetic linework, and a minimalist vase, blending a classic botanical feel with a modern, sketchy illustrative style. Perfect for those who love the quiet beauty of forest wildflowers and cottagecore-inspired art.
I used a reference to draw this scenery. In the reference there was so many details that I really wanted to capture it. I even wanted to capture the details in the bride’s wedding dress. I think the groom looks quite handsome in blue (it’s HIS color as some people might say). I incorporated the long, beaded line under the bushels of flowers (just another element to add to an already beautiful scene). Also, as you can see, I added an audience watching the couple as they have their picture taken. The flowers spread along the table with the view of the wavy waters right behind them looks so refreshing. Every element served its purpose for the ultimate “moment to remember” feeling. One of my favorite things about this drawing is the string lights. It’s one of the smallest items to have, but they add character and charm to the scenery. The string lights give a romantic feel and is even more gorgeous at night. I enjoyed doing this drawing so much that I anticipated the second I’d be finished with it.
The idea was to create a nice scene of the sun shining down on a house. The skies are showing off shades of blue, and brown, and yellow. I love the rustic style and I feel like I accomplished that look in this painting.
