Learning & Resources Art Blog

This blog was created to share art tips and tutorials, art resources, share cool things about other artists, and also let you know about upcoming learning opportunities and contests. Do you have something art-related you’d like to learn about? Let me know!

10 Things to Consider at a Highlights Foundation Workshop

Stones on the ground that read, "the happy twist in spirit may open small inspiration" in the Word Garden at The Highlights Foundation. Poem and photo by Victoria K. Chapman.
A short poem created in the “Word Garden” at The Highlights Foundation

Earlier in July, I went away for almost a week to stay at The Highlights Foundation at The Barn at Boyds Mills in Pennsylvania. I attended the Summer Camp in Illustration intensive in order to grow my craft, learn from others, and make new connections in the children’s illustration field. Being there physically gave me the chance to really be immersed in the work and connect in a way I couldn’t if it was online from home. After two and a half years of everything online thanks to the pandemic, this was a welcomed change.

After my six days at The Highlights Foundation, I found myself struggling to succinctly and clearly describe my experience there. It was such a mind-opening and spirit-lifting time, it’s hard to put into words. Knowing that everyone’s experience is different, I’m speaking from my own perspective. And since my head is still buzzing with so many things I could say about my trip, I narrowed down to this list that I hope you find helpful.

Ten Things to Consider When Attending an In-Person Highlights Foundation Workshop:

  1. Be open to experience. Don’t arrive with a specific expectation. Arrive with your mind and spirit open to receive whatever it is that happens. I couldn’t predict how my week would go. And it was so much better than I might have guessed.

  2. Arrive hungry. Because they feed you three meals a day and snacks in between. And it’s not just any old food. It’s amazing, local, fresh, and different every day. If you have a special diet, don’t worry—they’ve got you covered. I’m a vegetarian and I had one of the best culinary experiences I’ve had in a while.

  3. Be social. I know not everyone has an easy time with being social among strangers. But, believe me—people at Highlights who attend a workshop with you will not be strangers for long. Connecting with other kidlit illustrators and author/illustrators was one of the best parts of my trip. It made the experience so much more worthwhile. I had the pleasure of getting to know not only my fellow participants, but also the teaching faculty, and the staff. They were all amazing people and I’m so glad I got to spend time with them.

  4. Give yourself time. Time to rest. Time to process. Time to be alone if you need it. I had the privilege of being able to add a personal retreat day to the beginning and end of my trip in order to let myself settle in and decompress. It was a great decision and if you have the ability to do so, I really recommend it. It allowed for some more quiet time, but also some more intimate time with the handful of others who stayed extra time. And if you can’t do that, make sure to give yourself time during the day or evening to take a break alone somewhere, especially if you’re an introvert like me. There are plenty of great places to do that.

  5. Take advantage of the outdoor spaces. The Barn at Boyds Mills is full of outdoor trails and places to sit. Be sure to visit the brook and sit down to enjoy the sound of the babbling water. Take a hike up one of the trails if you’re able to (but be sure to put on bug spray to avoid the ticks and flies). Or just enjoy time at one of the outdoor tables to quietly sketch or write. And if there’s a fire in the evening outside at the Barn, enjoy the time to sit by it and chat with others. Fireside times with fellow illustrators were some of my favorite moments.

  6. Document your time there. You’ll want to take notes, you’ll want to draw, you’ll want to write. There’s a lot of information to take in. Make sure you have your favorite ways to take down and process information with you. I brought both a writing notebook and several sketchbooks and I ended up with notes and sketches in both. I’m glad I have them to refer back to. I also took photos to remember some of the spaces and people I spent time with. Looking back at them makes me smile.

  7. Be present and in the moment. While you’re documenting your time there, also remember to be present and in-the-moment. It’s easy to jump ahead in your mind to what you’ll do when you get home. But, it’s also an experience you’ll really want to savor. It goes by quickly! Enjoy each moment while it’s happening.

  8. Unplug and disconnect. From your regular life that is. It’s okay to check in with the family, especially when you have kids. But, be mindful of how often you’re checking your phone, email, or social media. Fortunately, the cellular service at Boyds Mills is pretty spotty and the wifi can be touch and go depending on where you’re standing. That can be frustrating if you’re doing research online. But, for the most part, it wasn’t a huge issue for me, and it allowed me to remember to unplug for a while and focus on the workshop and the people.

  9. Be open to feedback. For many of these workshops, there is a critique or mentor component to it. One of the most helpful things you can do for yourself is to be open to the feedback you receive. It doesn’t mean you have to use all of the feedback if you don’t agree with it. But, at least listen. And thank the people who took the time to look at your work with you. They are there for the love of children’s books just like you are.

  10. Exchange information with colleagues. You’re going to meet people there and you’re probably going to want to stay in touch. Be sure to ask others for their information, such as social media handles and email addresses. To make it easy to share your information, you could bring business cards or postcards with the info you want to share. I was so glad I brought my business cards with me so people could find me later.

And the biggest piece of advice I can give for a Highlights Foundation workshop trip is that the experience will be what you make it. People I know who have gone before have told me there’s a magic to the space that they haven’t found in other places. I found that to be true myself. But, being open to experience and present in the moment made the trip even more pleasant and remarkable. I hope you’ll find the same is true for you.

One of the amazing breakfasts I had at Highlights.
A quiet place to sit by the brook.
Appetizers by the brook with friends. Selfie by Mallory Grigg.
Isabel Roxas presenting at the Illustration Intensive
The front of The Barn where much of the action takes place.
I enjoyed sketching in the morning with a cup of tea outdoors.

You can learn more about The Highlights Foundation and their work at https://www.highlightsfoundation.org

KidLit Connection: Getting to Know Author-Illustrator, Kari Percival

An illustrated page spread of Kari Percival's book, HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORM. Four children dig in the dirt and pour water in a community garden bed.
A spread from Kari Percival’s picture book HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORK: A FIRST GUIDE TO OUTSIDE

In the second of the KidLit Connection blog series, I interviewed illustrator, writer, and environmental educator, Kari Percival. Kari has studied art, environmental science, and teaching. Her education combined with her work as a science teacher, running a local preschool gardening program, and experience as a parent has helped shape her unique perspective when creating books for children. 

Author/Illustrator and environmental educator Kari Percival works with young children in the community gardens during her Early Birds Garden Club program.

Kari creates colorful woodcut prints that show dynamic relationships between kids and nature. Her storytelling inspires small children and their grownups to make a positive difference in the world through connecting with nature. Her picture book HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORM: A FIRST GUIDE TO OUTSIDE (published by Rise x Penguin Workshop) is a perfect guide for preschoolers who love to get their hands dirty, play in nature, and learn all about how plants grow. 

In this post, Kari tells us about the experiences that have shaped her work as an illustrator and storyteller and what inspires her to create books for children. I really loved hearing about all the interesting pieces of Kari’s life that have made her the book creator she is today.

Kari’s Interview

First, let’s talk a bit about you as an author and illustrator. Could you tell us more about what inspires you and what you love about being a creator of books for kids? 

As my extended family is cleaning out old storage boxes, they send me these little picture books I wrote when I was a child, that they’d tucked away, that I hadn’t seen for 40 years. Little stories about nature, local wildlife, or my pets. When I was in grade school, I guess our teachers had us make books a lot, bound and covered in wallpaper samples. I could write and draw whatever I wanted in them, and I gave them as gifts to family members a lot. I guess when I write and illustrate picture books, its like I am still making and giving gifts out, except now its to the children of the world. 

As an environmental educator AND picture book author/illustrator, how does each type of work relate to and inform the other?

Children and parents working in the community gardens at the Early Bird Garden Club run by Kari Percival.
Children and parents working in the community gardens at the Early Bird Garden Club run by Kari Percival.

Teaching informs my writing, but also, my writing is motivated by my love of learning and my love of ecology, of a deep wonder and love for all the beautiful, vulnerable, magical and amazing life on Earth. I am an artist, but I went to graduate school to learn to be a science teacher. Although I love art, and it comes easily to me, I don’t think everyone should be forced to make art if they would rather play basketball or whatever thay love to do. But I do think its imperative that every young person learns about ecology, and biology, and environmental science, because every young person will grow up to be a voter and decision maker, and they need to know how we are all members of the web of life, and how our decisions affect all life on Earth. I worked as a science teacher in public schools for 10 years, and I hope to maybe go back someday, but I took a break when I had children, and that is when I started thinking of books I wanted to write.

How did you first get into creating children’s books? What made you want to pursue this type of art? 

When I had my own children, I really enjoyed re-entering the world of children’s picture books as a parent. There are so many wonderful books, classics and new. There were also gaps: so many books I thought were missing from the shelf. I thought maybe I could apply my art and storytelling skills to making books to fill where I thought some gaps were. It seemed like a long shot, but maybe worth a try. 

Let’s talk about the most recently published book you wrote and illustrated, HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORM: A FIRST GUIDE TO OUTSIDE. Can you tell us a little more about the book and what inspired you to write it? 

I’m an environmental educator and so inviting kids outdoors and learning to grow food – even just to learn where food comes from – and see how we are made of food that is made of sunshine and how we share the world with other living beings, inviting and empowering very young children to become immersed in hands-on outdoor learning, edible education – that is my goal with this book.

When my kids were small, I started Early Birds Garden Club, a meet-up for toddler and parents that wanted to learn to grow food at our local community garden. Though leading the group, I learned what questions toddlers had about learning to garden, what questions they had about nature, and what gardening activities they enjoyed doing. My cracker jack agent, Teresa Kietlinski of Bookmark Literary, suggested I should write a book on how to garden for toddlers.  She knew that I would know just where to start, because I knew just what types of questions curious kids that age had. So then I wrote HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORM. They say “write what you know” and that was true for me with this book.

A spread from Kari Percival's Book, HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORM. Children dig in a garden and pick up worms. The text reads, "How do you say hello to a worm? Gently, very gently. Hello, Worm!"
A spread from Kari Percival’s book HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORM: A FIRST GUIDE TO OUTSIDE
Kari’s sketch of the above spread prior to creating the final artwork.

What was your favorite part about creating HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORM? And what was a challenge you had to overcome while working on it, if any? 

Botanicals: I loved drawing portraits of plants! And I loved the “casting call” – creating and getting to know all the characters of the little children who garden in the book. I also loved thinking of writing the book from the perspective of what questions the youngest garden explorers would wonder about. A challenge was cutting images that I wanted to include. Cutting is the hardest! Originally, I wanted more of the pictures to contain lots of kids doing lots of gardening activities, but the design team focused each composition on a certain interaction with fewer children and more space for the words. And that was actually probably good anyway when it came time to produce the final art on a tight timeline!

You also have a new book coming out soon called SAFE CROSSING, which will be published by Chronicle Books. What is that book about and what can kids and their grown-ups learn from it? 

SAFE CROSSING is an informational fiction story about a family of community scientists who volunteer with an amphibian migration team in springtime.  They help salamanders and frogs cross the street to avoid getting crushed by cars. When they realize that more needs to be done to protect these small creatures, they rally their community to build a wildlife tunnel so even more amphibians can cross safely. The story models grown-ups listening to kids ideas around protecting animals from harm.

What is your greatest hope for your work as a creator of books for kids? 

As a parent and a teacher, I know how – after a long challenging day when you have given your all, are running on fumes and you have no more ideas of what to say to your child or your students, – what a relief it can be to hunker down and read a picture book togther. I am so thankful to all the picture book creators who help caregivers and teachers explore interesting, wonderful or difficult topics with their children, with beauty and sensitivity and humor and honesty. My hope is for my work to give caregivers and children more ways to find joy and meaning together, and to honor their impulses to share wonder and love of our beautiful world and life on earth.

What is something you’d like to tell aspiring picture book authors/illustrators? 

Work or volunteer regularly with children in the age range of your target audience, doing something you love. Read books currently being published in the genre (within the last 5 years.) Find a community of writers or illutrators in the genre you aspire to publish in. Connect with them and ask them questions. Join critique groups in organizations like SCBWI, 12×12 or take classes where you can share work in a supportive environments where you can exchange feedback with others.  Use your best manners, experiment a lot, share your experiments, note what work you do that people respond most to, and do more of that.  Read you book outloud to yourself in the mirror and to young test audiences, notice where eyes glaze over and then edit those spots. Enter contests, be humble, and learn, learn, learn. Develop effective time habits, and organizational habits so that when opportunity knocks, you are ready with bells on. Ask someone knowledgable to look at a contract for red flags before you sign it.

A page from Kari Percival's book HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORM. Two children play under a play hut made from pea plants and have a tea party. The text reads: "But when will there be peas? See how the play hut is shady? See the flowers? See the bees? You'll see pea pods next."
This page from HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORM explains to young children when peas will start growing in the vegetable garden.

See More from Kari Percival

You can learn more about Kari and see more of her work online. Check out the links and be sure to follow her on social media!

Are you a published or soon-to-be published children’s illustrator or author/illustrator who’s interested in being interviewed as part of the KidLit Connection series? If your work has a focus on nature, the environment, animals, or mindfulness, I’d love to chat with you! You can get in touch with me using the contact form on my site.

Primavera Mother—Time-Lapse Painting Demo Video

A watercolor mixed-media illustration of a young mother gazing lovingly at her newborn baby. Her hair is filled with flowers and butterflies and a bumblebee hover around them. Art by Victoria K. Chapman.
Primavera Mother by Victoria K. Chapman

I was recently inspired by Mother’s Day, which just passed, and my experience as a mother myself to create a new painting. I was also inspired by the beautiful flowers that are now emerging in the spring. One morning, I visited our local New England Botanic Gardens at Tower Hill in Boylston, MA. I found so much joy in all of the amazing flowers and pollinators sipping up their nectar. I created a sketch from these two sources of inspirations while I was there. The next two days after, I created this new hand-painted illustration, “Primavera Mother” and then made this time-lapse painting demo video to share.

I set up a camera to run while I worked in order to create a time-lapsed video of the illustration process. I always find it so interesting to watch other artists and illustrators paint, draw, and work their craft. I know others enjoy this too. I hope you also enjoy this new video of the process to create “Primavera Mother”.

“Primavera Mother” was created using watercolors, gouache, gel pen, and colored pencils. It took approximately 15 hours to create from drawing sketches to finished painting. There were several hours of video footage to edit down and compress into 4 minutes, which was quite the challenge!

The music in the video is a song I wrote called “Love at First Sight”, which was originally written as a lullaby for my son when he was one year old. The lyrics are about how one loves their newborn baby so deeply and quickly even though they just met. It is the true “love at first sight”. You can hear more of my music at aquaence.com and aquaence.bandcamp.com/music.

If you’re interested in purchasing prints of “Primavera Mother”, you can find both 9×12″ matted prints and 5×7″ matted prints in my online art shop. If you’re interested in purchasing the original, please contact me.

Thanks for watching!

KidLit Connection: Getting to Know Illustrator, Catarina Oliveira

An illustration of foxes playing in the snow, illustrated by Catarina Oliveira

Welcome to the first in a series of interviews with fellow kidlit illustrators and author/illustrators! Catarina Oliveira, a children’s book illustrator living in Vancouver graciously volunteered to be the first artist in this series. I so appreciate her sharing her time and expertise with us.

A black and white headshot portrait of illustrator, Catarina Oliveira.

Catarina is an illustrator who was born and raised in Portugal, but moved to Canada in 2016. She started her career in graphic design and worked for ten years before switching to her true passion—sharing visual stories with children and their grown-ups through illustration. Her playful style is colorful and brings joy to the stories she illustrates. She has created illustrations for multiple books and children’s magazines. 

The latest book Catarina illustrated is a non-fiction picture book called Small but Mighty: Why Earth’s Tiny Creatures Matter, written by Kendra Brown and published by OwlKids Books. This beautifully illustrated book shows kids how even small creatures can make a huge impact on the environment and earth’s ecosystems. Catarina even created some free-to-download activity pages that go with the book!

Aside from art for kids, Catarina is also passionate about helping animals and being outdoors. When she’s not drawing, she loves cooking and going for hikes in the woods.

Catarina’s Interview

First, let’s talk a bit about you as an artist. Could you tell us more about what inspires you and what you love about being an illustrator?

This will sound like a cliche, but I get inspired by the little things that happen throughout the day and life that have nothing to do with illustration. For example, a walk at the park or a visit to a museum are things that inspire me. 

Being an illustrator is to tell stories with images; I love the infinite possibilities.

How would you describe your illustrations and the type of work you do?

Most of my work is directed at kids, and it’s mostly about exploration through the kids’ eyes, so I would describe it as humorous and playful.

How did you first get into children’s book illustration? What made you want to pursue this type of art?

I loved reading them as an adult and admired the art so much that I wanted to create books equally beautiful. However, I slowly realized that the beauty in picture books lies in the fact that they help children and can change their lives. 

Let’s talk about the latest book you illustrated, SMALL BUT MIGHTY, written by Kendra Brown. This book talks a lot about real-life animals and their habitats. How much research went into illustrating this book and what was that experience like?

A lot of research went into this book. Fortunately, my editor sent me some of the author’s research links and images to add to my research, which helped me make sure I was researching the right animal. I looked at a lot of photos and videos; some were gross! The experience is very much attached to the fact that it was the start of the pandemic, and I was going through a lot personally, so it felt bitter-sweet.  

The illustrated book cover for Small But Mighty. A small ant holds up the book text and is surrounded by large leaves.
Free download activity pages from Catarina Oliveira for the book Small But Mighty.
Illustration process photos by Catarina Oliveira for the book Small But Mighty. Various sketches of an ant carrying a leaf, and the final color version in greens and browns.
Illustrated Cover, Activity Pages, and Illustration Process Images from Small But Mighty

How is illustrating a nonfiction picture book different from illustrating a fiction picture book? Tell us a bit about how your processes vary from book-to-book. 

There were two main differences. First, I had to be as accurate as possible because it’s nonfiction. In this particular case, I had one page per animal where I had the freedom to portray it in a funny cartoony way, with different colours even. Second, I had to tell an entire story on that page with just one page, instead of a fiction picture book where the narrative develops through the spreads.

My process itself doesn’t change much from book to book. I start with organizing my schedule and reading the manuscript, then I draw a very basic storyboard, do research and sketching, thumbnails, drawings and colour.

What was your favorite part about illustrating SMALL BUT MIGHTY?

Yes I love drawing animals but I enjoyed creating backgrounds in this book, I took some photos during some walks in the woods for inspiration and had fun adding some details to the simple compositions in this book.  

You obviously enjoy drawing animals. But, what is your favorite animal to draw and why?

I don’t know! Insects are fun, dogs are fun… I need to think about this question.

What is something you’d like to tell aspiring picture book illustrators?

Draw things you like and draw a lot! Reading is essential, as well as participating in the kid-lit community.

See More from Catarina Oliveira

You can check out more of Catarina’s work online on her website and on social media. Check out the links below and be sure to follow her to keep up-to-date with the latest work!

Are you a published or soon-to-be published children’s illustrator or author/illustrator who’s interested in being interviewed as part of the KidLit Connection series? If your work has a focus on nature, the environment, animals, or mindfulness, I’d love to chat with you! You can get in touch with me using the contact form on my site.

Nurturing the Artist’s Soul with Nature

All of us as creative beings need something to nurture our creative souls. Every human has the potential and capacity for creativity, even those who think they have lost it. As I’ve talked about before, being creative is like breathing. In order to breath out, you must breath in. In order to create something new, you must also take inspiration in. For me, one of my favorite ways to breath in inspiration is by spending time out in nature.

I’ve mentioned the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron in the past—a 12 week program to nurture your inner “artist child”. I keep bringing it up because it’s a program that has helped me through some of my artistic ruts and given new life to my creative spirit. One of the weekly assignments when doing The Artist’s Way is an “Artist’s Date”. It doesn’t really matter what you do on your artist’s date, but the criteria are as follows:

  • You must go on your artist’s date alone
  • Your artist’s date is something that you want to do for you
  • Your artist’s date will help inspire your artist child

Some examples of dates I’ve taken myself on include:

  • Going to the local botanic garden
  • Going to an art museum
  • Watching a new movie I’ve been wanting to see (by myself)
  • Buying a cheap bubble set and blowing bubbles in my front yard
  • Going for a long hike on a new trail I’ve never been to before
  • Taking photos at a local park or garden
  • Browsing the plants at a local garden center

Connecting With Nature

The possibilities for artist’s dates are endless. But, of all those possibilities, my favorite ones are the dates where I really get to connect with nature. Take the time to observe. Here are examples of things I’ve noticed while out in nature:

  • Feeling my feet on the trail and how the pine needles give it a soft springiness.
  • Stumbling upon a huge grove of ferns under a forest canopy. 
  • Discovering the variety of bees attracted to mountain mint flowers.
  • Feeling the warmth of sunshine on my face when I close my eyes and breath in fresh air.
  • Stopping to notice the number of species of oak trees in a particular area.
  • Being surprised and charmed by wildlife scurrying by while sitting quietly on a boulder.
  • Greeting a green frog in a pond while watching the red-winged black birds across the way.
On the left, a photo from the ground of a woman standing on a forest trail. On the right, a drawing inspired by the photo by artist Victoria K. Chapman.
At the top, a photo of a green frog in a mossy pond. On the bottom, a drawing inspired by the frog photo by artist Victoria K. Chapman.
On the left, a photo of a leaf from a red oak tree. On the right, a drawing of a red oak leaf by artist Victoria K. Chapman.

Similar experiences can be had for yourself when embarking on a solo trip into nature. It doesn’t even have to be a long adventure. Is there a local trail nearby? Go explore it for half an hour. Is there a lake or pond within walking or driving distance? Go there, sit, and observe. Bring a sketchbook or notebook to jot down ideas that might come up. Bring a camera if you wish to capture something that way. But mostly, focus on the moment of being present with nature, however that happens for you.

The important piece of going on your nature date is finding some way to connect with nature, be it big or small. And the most important part is just doing it. Don’t let limitations and excuses get in your way. Even exploring your own back yard can be a date. Put out some bird seed or a hummingbird feeder and see what happens. What’s under the rock over there? What does the lichen growing over on that tree really look like up close? Be curious. Be open. Be willing to take in whatever comes to you. And most of all, let your artist child explore the wonders and joy of nature. Nurture your artist’s soul.

A sketchbook with pen drawings of wood ferns held above a patch of actual wood ferns. By artist Victoria K. Chapman.
On the left, a photo of a feather from a red-bellied woodpecker. On the right, a pen drawing of the feather inspired by the photo by artist Victoria K. Chapman.

40th Birthday Donation Celebration—Make a Difference and Win Art!


It’s my party and I’ll help if I want to! That’s right, friends. My 40th birthday is coming up in March. I’m not getting the birthday celebration I originally wanted thanks to the pandemic, but I can still celebrate with all of you in a special and meaningful way. This year, I’m asking everyone to help me make a positive impact as your gift to help me celebrate. 

I’ve chosen three special local organizations I’m encouraging donations to, in order to help me celebrate my big Four-Oh. These are all close to my heart and they connect to what my art is all about—sharing the joy of nature, preserving wild lands, and helping creatures big and small.

More about them and how to donate are found below.

I will pick 3 winners! There is one grand prize and two runners up prizes. So, your odds of winning are three times more likely! And even if you don’t win this time, you can feel good knowing that you donated to some great causes and made me the happiest birthday gal ever!

Grand Prize: 8x10" Matted and Signed art print AND six greeting cards.
Runners Up Prize. 5x7" matted and signed art print OR 6 greeting cards, your choice!

Grand Prize (1 winner):

  • Your choice of one 8×10” print or two small 5×7” signed matted art print (from my available stock)
  • AND a set of 6 greeting cards

Runners Up Prizes (2 winners):

  • Your choice of one small 5×7” signed matted art print (from my available stock) OR a set of 6 greeting cards

How It Works

  • Donate $10 or more to one or more of the three organizations I’ve listed below. Each $10 donated is worth 1 entry.
  • Share this post with your friends! Sharing gets you 1 entry too!
  • Then, fill out this Google form to let me know. https://forms.gle/nfH2vBerEmW4BfYv9
    THIS STEP IS SUPER IMPORTANT! Otherwise, you won’t be entered.
  • You can fill the form out as many times as you want if you donate again!

You can donate until March 20th, 2022. I will pick the three winners on March 22nd, 2022.

Here’s an easy way to get you started sharing this post:

Tower Hill Botanic Gardens

Tower Hill Botanic Garden, located in Boylston, Massachusetts is a non-profit garden and education center concerned with educating the public about horticulture, environmental stewardship, and creating connections between humans and nature. Their 171 acres contains a vast plant collection, hiking trails, family activities, green houses, and more. It is a center for local community to meet and enjoy nature and the outdoors. It’s also one of my personal sanctuaries that I visit often to find inspiration for my art. Please consider contributing to Tower Hill’s mission of sharing in the joy of plants, nature, and community.

Visit Tower Hill’s Website: https://www.towerhillbg.org/

Donate to Tower Hill

Trustees of Reservations

The Trustees of Reservations is a Massachusetts-based land conservation organization concerned with preserving historic sites, wild lands, agriculture sites, and natural habitats so that future generations may continue to enjoy them. The Trustees cares for more than 100 land sites throughout the state equalling about 27,000 acres. Their work helps keep amazing places safe so that all can continue to enjoy them. Please consider donating to help keep these special places special.

Visit the Trustees website: https://thetrustees.org/

Donate to The Trustees of Reservations

Urban Wildlife Rehabilitation Inc.

Urban Wildlife Rehabilitation Inc. is a small wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center located in Springfield, Massachusetts. Their mission is to save injured and orphaned wildlife and rehabilitate them back to health until they are able to survive in their natural habitat. This organization relies on volunteer help and donations from the community to support these vulnerable creatures. Please consider donating to Urban Wildlife Rehabilitation Inc. to help keep local wildlife safe and wild.

Visit Urban Wildlife Rehabilitation’s website: https://www.urbanwildliferehab.org/

Donate to Urban Wildlife Rehab Inc.

Thanks for all of your support! I can’t wait to celebrate with you!

An Artist’s Toolbox: Measuring & Templating Tools

Various measuring and templating tools for artists including rulers, a circle maker, and flexible curve.
Various Measuring and Templating Tools for Artists

As illustrators and artists, there are a vast variety of tools at our fingertips that can make our work more interesting, easier, and more fun. This post is the first in a new series I’m writing called AN ARTIST’S TOOLBOX. The first topic for this series is about measuring and templating tools.

While many of us may prefer to freehand everything as much as possible because it feels more natural and more easy to go with the flow, there are also times where measuring and templating tools can not only help make measurements and shapes more accurate, they can also make our lives easier. In this post I’ll go through some of the measuring and templating tools I find myself using most often and some of their possible applications.

L-Square

An L-square ruler being used to draw angles on a page.
L-Square ruler to create 90° angles.

The L-square as been one of the most helpful tools I own for measuring the initial dimensions of a piece, ensuring the corners are square and the horizontal and vertical lines are the same length. In the past, using only a ruler, I sometimes found myself with corners that weren’t quite square, resulting in one measurement being slightly longer than the other. Having to erase the initial lines and start over is just plain annoying. If you don’t notice your error until the piece is finished, it goes from annoying to downright frustrating. The L-square helps fix this measuring dilemma with nice precise square corners. 

Draw one horizontal line and one vertical line all in one shot, making sure to mark where the end of your lines are. Then, flip the L-square around and do it again on the next two horizontal and vertical lines, lining up with the ends of the previous drawn lines. You end up with nice square corners and even lines!

I have an L-square from Blick that is 24” on one edge and 14” on the other edge. This is usually sufficient for my illustrations. But, squares come in many sizes, so consider what works best for your own work. Many places carry L-squares, including local hardware stores.

Benefits of the L-square:

  • 90° square corners
  • Precise line measurements
  • Easier and faster to make accurate outlines for a new piece
  • BONUS: Metal squares are also helpful for creating a straight edge for cutting paper with an X-acto blade

Clear Grid Ruler

Using a clear grid ruler to create lines on a page.
Clear grid ruler made by Westcott to draw accurate lines.

The clear grid ruler has been one of my go-to rulers for many years. I find this variety of ruler more helpful than a standard solid-colored ruler. The see-through grid allows you to see your work beneath the ruler so you can more accurate place your lines and line up with previously drawn lines. I find it especially helpful for illustrations that involve a lot of linear shapes, such as houses, windows, and tables. They’re also helpful for creating the horizon lines when dealing with tricky perspective pieces.

I have an 18” long and 2” wide clear grid ruler made by Westcott. Check with your local art stores or order one online. I bought my very first one from the school co-op at my alma mater, the University of Connecticut and got many great years of use out of it before needing to purchase a new one.

Benefits of the Clear Grid Ruler:

  • See-through grid makes it easier to see your existing piece below the ruler
  • The grid allows you to line up with previously drawn lines
  • Helpful and faster for drawing linear objects such as houses, windows, doors, and furniture
  • Helpful and faster for drawing horizon lines for tricky perspective pieces

Circle Maker Tool

Using a circle maker tool to draw consistent circles on a page.
A circle maker tool made by Helix.

The circle maker tool is something I more recently discovered as a handy all-in-one circle templating device. It serves as a protractor, compass, and circle template so you can make accurate circles of many sizes, up to about 5.75” in diameter. I’ve found it helpful for drawing things like moons, balls, circles for containing a smaller drawing on the page, and other round objects. It’s especially nice when you need to make multiple circles that are all the same size.

I have the Angle and Circle Maker by Helix. Ask your local art store if they carry this sort of tool or you can order it from an online art store.

Benefits of the Circle Maker Tool:

  • Make many sizes of circles with one tool
  • Works as a protractor, compass, and template
  • Easy to make many circles that are the same size
  • Makes circle-drawing faster and more accurate

Flexible Curve

Using a flexible curve ruler to make organic shapes on a page.
A flexible curve ruler to make organic shapes.

The flexible curve is like the handy snake friend of illustration that you never knew you needed. This bendy ruler allows you to make your own custom curvy shapes and trace that shape onto your page. This allows you to create more organic shapes, but also draw it more smoothly. You can also more easily draw that shape multiple times once you’ve formed it—the flexible curve keeps its shape until you change it! One other benefit of the flexible curve is that because it has a ruler on each side, you can also measure shapes that aren’t straight.

I have a 32” long flexible curve made by Alvin, but they come in several sizes ranging from 12” to 40”. You can ask your local art store if they carry them, or if they can order one for you, or you can order one online.

Benefits of the flexible curve:

  • Make custom organic shapes
  • Create a smoother curved line than free-hand drawing
  • Use the shape as a template for creating repeated shapes—the curve keeps its shape until you change it!
  • Measure lines that aren’t straight.

Homemade Templates with Card Stock

Using a homemade template made from cut card stock.
Homemade template made from cut card stock paper.

Sometimes I find there’s a shape I need to make that isn’t available with any of my other template tools. I love keeping card stock on hand to make my own custom templates, similar to the templates elementary school teachers make for class art projects. You can free-hand draw your shape and then cut it out so you can repeat that shape by tracing it. Or you can use the computer.

If you want a more precise shape, you can draw your shape on the computer using a program such as Adobe Illustrator or even Microsoft Paint. There are a lot of programs that allow you to make basic shapes. From there, you can print your shape out and then carefully cut it out by hand. Then, you have a handy template you can trace.

Benefits of homemade templates with card stock:

  • You can make nearly any shape you want
  • Makes it easy to draw repeated and consistent shapes

Container Lids

Using a container lid as a template to trace a circle.
A container lid from the kitchen as a template.

Yes, you read that right. Container lids are one of my templating tools. When I need a shape that I don’t have another tool for, I go to my kitchen and see what I have. I have a lovely set of Pyrex glass dishes in various sizes with lids. Those lids are the perfect circle templating tools when I need a circle larger than my circle maker tool. It’s also something you don’t need to buy and probably already have in your house!

Benefits of container lids:

  • Cheap and already in your house
  • Different shapes and sizes that other tools might not provide

Measuring and templating tools are helpful pieces of equipment that can make our lives easier as artists and illustrators. The six tools mentioned above are just some of the many measuring and templating tools available to artists. These are the ones I find myself using the most and I hope you find some of them helpful too. Do you have some other measuring and templating tools you love? I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below to share your favorite tools.

Newsletter Art Print Raffle

"Sun of Corvus" art by Victoria K. Chapman. A black crow perches on a branch in front of a blazing sun and red sky.
Sun of Corvus by Victoria K. Chapman

From now through February 10th, 2022, I’ll be adding everyone who signs up to receive my monthly newsletter to a special raffle. The winner (chosen at random) will receive a free SUN OF CORVUS art print! This is a full-color digital print, artwork 8×8″ in size on 8.5×11″ UV coated stock and signed by me. So, if you’re interested in a chance to win a FREE art print and get a monthly email about my art and projects, other people’s projects, the latest blog posts, art/illustration resource information, and more, please sign up before February 10th!

The winner will receive an email from me to get your address to mail the print to. So, keep your eyes peeled on your inbox!

Look for my very first newsletter coming out at the end of February! I’m so looking forward to you joining me.

Sign Up:

I will never sell your information. Mailings are once-a-month or special announcements from time-to-time. You can opt out any time.

Art for the Holidays

It’s the time of year again—the weather gets chilly, the days get shorter, and everyone is scrambling to figure out what to get their loved ones for the holidays. This year, I plan to shop with artists and crafters as much as I can because I want to support all of the amazingly talented people I know and even those I don’t. Because our livelihood depends on amazing people believing in what we do and sharing it with others.

I’ve compiled a list (in alphabetical order) of some of my favorite artist friends who have shops ready for you to browse for your holiday shopping needs. Do you know some other great artists who have wares for sale? Please, leave a comment on this post! I’d love to see their work.

ArtMuffin

Black Cat Oracle Cards by ArtMuffin

ArtMuffin is my long-time illustrator friend Christopher Gendron. His current body of work “reflects a fascination, fear, and attraction to alien worlds, sci-fi and horror movies, ancient writing and civilization, life, love and death, and the concept of open ended questions that infinitely unfold while we run around as shapeshifting creatures on a planet that we need to learn to respect in a universe we don’t understand”. So, if you’re into something a little odd and maybe creepy, check out his work! His prophecy and Tarot cards would make a fun stocking stuffer.

ArtMuffin on Store Envy: artmuffin.storenvy.com
ArtMuffin on Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/artmuffin
Black Cat Oracle Cards: www.blackcatoraclecards.com
Planet COVID-19 Field Journal: www.covidfieldjournal.com
Pages from the Book of Gosh: artmuffin.myportfolio.com

ArtMuffin on Facebook: www.facebook.com/artmuffinstudio
ArtMuffin on Instagram: www.instagram.com/artmuffin_studio

Indigo Wild Design Co.

Indigo Wild Design Co. Starry Night Sky Watercolor Painting

Indigo Wild Design Co. is artist Brittany Drollinger. A fellow nature artist and mom, Brittany’s art is something I fell in love with the first time I saw it. Her watercolor paintings are inspired by the beauty and wonder of the earth, from wilderness to wildlife. She says, “I hope my work can help us reconnect and foster a kinship with nature.” You can buy art prints and cards from Indigo Wild Design Co. on Etsy.

Indigo Wild Design Co. on Esty: www.etsy.com/shop/indigowilddesignco

KnittyVet

Hand-dyed natural wool yarn by KnittyVet.

KnittyVet is my friend Kendra, who occasionally has been mistaken for my sister. Kendra grows, harvests, and prepares plant sources of dye that have been used by natural dyers stretching back hundreds and thousands of years. She uses these magical sources of color on USA grown wool to make one-of-a-kind skeins of yarn and offering dye supplies and seeds to other artists. Her ultimate goal is to create a closed loop of locally grown, sheared, processed and dyed wool; thereby strengthening and giving back to the local community! If you’re a fiber artist or know one, Kendra’s shop is a place to check out for sure.

KnittyVet Website: KnittVet.com
KnittyVet on Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/knittyvet
KnittyVet on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knittyvet

Martha Hull, Cute & Deadly Art

"Don't Give a HOOT" funny owl art by Martha Hull.

Martha Hull likes to make pretty, twisted pictures which make people laugh. She draws and paints compelling “cute and deadly” artworks featuring large-eyed characters, particularly cats, skeletons, and food with faces. Martha’s imagined worlds are full of stories, and she would like to share them with you. Martha’s holiday cards are fantastic for sharing with your friends who have a sense of humor. I’m particularly in love with Martha’s “Don’t Give a HOOT” owl painting!

See art and shop: MarthaHull.com

Moon and Sundries

Purple pine tree wallet clutch handmade by Moon and Sundries.

Moon and Sundries is my friend Karen Ducey. Karen creates handmade gifts and accessories for the delightfully eclectic. Some products she makes that I particularly adore are her wallets and clutches. They are super high-quality, have all the right pockets and storage, and always come in fun fabrics. But, you can also buy masks, ornaments, purses, and more!

Moon and Sundries on Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/moonandsundries

Sieber Designs

Handmade quilted coasters by Sieber Designs.

Aviva Sieber of SieberDesigns makes functional fiber art ranging from organizational items, to bags and purses, and home decor.  Currently, Aviva is working on a collaboration with her husband Mark using his watercolor paintings and transforming them into fabric.  She is then using that fabric in her fiber art designs. I can personally say, her work is amazingly high-quality and beautiful. If you’re looking for stock-stuffers, check out her bookmarks and coasters!

Aviva is also holding a sale, November 22-December 5th, 2021. Use coupon code HOLIDAY21 to get 15% off $35 or more!

Sieber Designs on Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/sieberdesigns

Silvan Arts

Lunula crescent moon fine silver necklace by Silvan Arts.

Silvan Arts is my long-time good friend Anne Marie Bottcher. She creates amazing and whimsical fine silver jewelry inspired by nature and faeries. Much of her jewelry features beautiful leaves of an elven quality or Celtic patterns and a variety of gemstones. Her lovely work can be purchased in the form of earrings, necklaces, rings, and silk wrap bracelets. I personally own a lot of pieces from Anne Marie, and I still want more! I especially love her creative custom pieces. And I get compliments every time I wear her jewelry.

Silvan Arts on Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/silvanarts/

Sullivan Art

Handmade leaves art cards by nature artist Stephanie Sullivan.

Stephanie Sullivan is an artist friend of mine who lives in southern Vermont. A woman after my own heart, she creates artwork and handmade cards inspired by the wonder of nature. A portion of her sales support her work in habitat conservation and stewardship—a worthy cause! She says about her work, “By sharing my love for nature I hope to inspire more people to actively and thoughtfully protect the natural world.”

Sullivan Art Website: SullivanArt.net

Sweet Enemy Art

"Owl Be Yours" owl and crow painting by Kristin Richland of Sweet Enemy Art.

Sweet Enemy Art is artist Kristin Richland from Vermont. She creates paintings and drawings of creatures for those who enjoy their animals with a mysterious and whimsical outlook! Kristin sells originals, prints, stickers, cards, and even has advent calendars and books. Her owls and rabbits are especially fun.

See art and shop: KirstinRichland.com

Wee Things Fiber Arts

Handmade up-cycled fabric rabbit toy by Wee Things Fiber Arts.

Wee Things Fiber Arts creates delightful handmade soft toys made with eco-friendly plant-dyed wool and up-cycled sweater fabrics. These beautiful toys are made by Western Massachusetts artist Rachel Beaupre, who was inspired by her own children and their curiosity and imaginations. Rachel also creates sewing kits and patterns which are fun for the aspiring crafter. My youngest son loves his little bunny toy and baby doll from Wee Things Fiber Arts! These toys are high-quality, so soft, and some are small enough to make great stocking stuffers.

Wee Things Fiber Arts Website: Wee-Things.com
Wee Things Fiber Arts on Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/WeeThingsFiberArts
Wee Things Fiber Arts on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WeeThingsFiberArts
Wee Things Fiber Arts on Instagram: www.instagram.com/weethingsfiberarts

Whimsical Whiskers

Prism and Aurora plush dragons by Whimsical Whiskers.

Whimsical Whiskers critters are designed by artist Brenna Deutchman. She designs and creates unique snuggly, cuddly, friendly, adorable plush stuffed animals. Each animal is a certified Dream Guardian — defender from nightmares, keeper of secrets, soother of anxiety, and reminder of self worth. The dragons, dragon foxes and dragon bunnies are here to remind you how special and wonderful you are. My son loves his Prism rainbow dragon and mini dragon fox! But, these cuddly friends are great gifts for people of all ages.

Whimsical Whiskers Website: WhimsiWhiskers.com
Whimsical Whiskers on Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/whimsicalwhiskersllc
Whimsical Whiskers on Facebook: www.facebook.com/whimsiwhiskers

Weyakin Designs

"Phoenix Hearts" fitted face mask on RedBubble by Weyakin Designs.

Of course, you know me! I’m Victoria K. Chapman, the artist of Weyakin Designs. I create whimsical art, illustration, and stories of nature and spirit. Now through November 30th, I’ll be offering 15% off on weyakindesigns.com orders with code HAPPYHAPPY21.

Shop right here on Weyakin Designs: www.weyakindesigns.com/buy-art
Shop on Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/weyakin
Buy art on products printed by RedBubble: www.redbubble.com/people/weyakin/shop