In June, I spent a month in Norway and Finland with a stop in Copenhagen, with a weeklong, incredible workshop in Portugal right before the big travels. I never shared my full, finished drawing sketchbooks from that trip, so I’m also playing catch-up today. I hope you enjoy just looking, no writing! Sometimes the writing will throw me into overwhelm, and I’m working on avoiding it!

We have just a few spots lefts in our France Workshop next Spring, June 1-8th 2027. Have a look!

France Workshop

Gayle and I have a fun Patreon where we post behind the scenes, tutorials, workshops and have live get togethers.

Patreon

Have a great week everyone,

xxJennifer

I so appreciate you all reading my newsletter!

We are excited to teach our new Zoom class tomorrow:

Saturday, July 25, 1-3pm EDT

People, Pools & Landscapes: A Hockney-Inspired Afternoon with Gayle & Jennifer

In this class, we will focus on color, pattern, and light inspired by David Hockney. I’ll be painting a landscape inspired by a beautiful spot in Portugal where we were recently teaching, using rich color, cool and unexpected patterning, and color-blocking that creates lots of energy. Gayle will paint a person around a pool (her favorite) and show how to simplify the water and the surroundings into fun patterns and rhythm. We always work hard to find the right image to paint with you, and we will share the work with you after we demo. This is as interesting as watching us paint because you can see the bloopers and the path that brought us to where we ended up. I had lots of bloopers this time! You can either paint along with us, or watch and paint from the video later.

New Zoom Class

I will be adding some acrylic and watercolor markers and maybe some pencil over a base layer of gouache. I’m having fun with this mixed-media technique, and I want to share it with you. Using all paint or just the mediums you have on hand will be just fine.

All levels, ages, and abilities are welcome! It’s donation-based with a suggested donation of $40, but pay what you can. We want this to be accessible for everyone. If you can’t make it live, choose the video-only option. The recording will be yours to keep forever.

We will stay on Zoom after to answer any questions you may have about our workshops or Patreon.

What to Expect:

*A relaxed and welcoming, creative atmosphere

*A short show-and-tell at the beginning where we share some current work

*Two 40-minute live painting demos; you can paint along or watch and paint later on your own time.

*I paint while Gayle answers questions in the chat, and then visa versa

*A recording of the full session will be available afterward for everyone who registers

We always want to stress that there’s no one right way to make art; your interpretation is your strength. That’s our mantra: there is no right or wrong!

We get some very lovely reviews!

“I love these workshops. I especially like seeing both of them paint, when the spotlight is on them and when they tell us what materials are being used as they are painting.”

“You are both so encouraging and engaging, and I love seeing how you approach creating”

“I liked everything from reference photos to painting instructions! Not to mention recordings, which are a game-changer for keeping up with practice. Well done, superb job.”

“Gayle and Jennifer’s classes are so much fun and can be enjoyed by all levels. I'm a beginner, and I am so inspired by their style of painting!”

Join us Saturday

Also, Thanks to all who came to our Free Portrait Zoom this Wednesday. We aren’t sure when we can do another, but they are so much fun, so keep an eye out.

Hope to see you Saturday!

xxJennifer

This year has taken an unexpected path for me. Traveling most of the year, being away from home for so long, has been different and eye-opening. It’s all good things, and I’m very fortunate, I know. Today I’m sitting in my garden, listening to all the birds chattering, and enjoying a calm morning with no plans. It feels good to have a long day stretched out in front of me. While traveling, each day reveals something thrillingly new and beautiful. But there is no time to reflect.

Traveling is great for my art in a different way than when I’m at home. I draw what I see in front of me; I constantly stop to notice; I take short breaks to record my inspirations. The drawing gives me the moments of quiet I crave.

What I haven’t done much of this year is paint. I don’t enjoy lugging all the tools and the prep; I never have time to do a whole setup and then devote a big chunk of time to painting. I’m ok with this, the drawing is enough for me. Now that I’m home and ready to start up a studio practice again, I want to try something new and continue the momentum I’m on.

I’m leaning towards adding lots of drawing to my painting. It’s a new way of creating for me. I’m not sure where it’s headed, but I’m interested in the circle of creativity. I don’t want an abrupt stop from my quick drawings to working with only paint. I think there is an exciting opportunity for a cool transition. I am going to capitalize on the flow I’ve created, pushing it to new places. On that note, I will be exploring this in our next Zoom class.

Saturday, July 25th 1-3 ET Hockney Inspired Zoom Class

Every class we teach and I spend time gathering inspiration surrounding the theme we have chosen. We work out multiple ways to tackle the subject, so we can bring a fresh, clear, and understandable lesson for everyone. We also want what we are sharing to be concurrent with what we are currently working on and thinking about. We do this because we love to share our passion for making art and our skills with you.

We both love David Hockney’s work, and in this class, we will look at some of his paintings as a jumping-off point for the lesson. I mentioned above how I have been drawing so much more this year, using markers and pencils. My demo, a landscape, will start in paint, and I’ll share how I mix color in gouache. As I layer up my colors and add detail, I will be drawing over the paint with markers. I’m loving doing this and excited to share a new technique with you! Gayle will be working in acrylagoauche and paint a scene with water in a pool.

This class is for all levels and is donation-based. The recording will be yours to keep forever. The Zoom link and reference will be sent starting a few days before class.

Hockney Inspired Zoom Class

Wednesday, July 22nd at 6pm ED

We are offering a new Zoom portrait class, 1 song, 1 drawing. We know we had an issue with the link at the last class, and we are so sorry about that. We have corrected the problem and are giving everyone another chance to participate. We hope you can join us; it's a super fun hour of drawing, no pressure. We will stay on after to chat. If you have any questions about the upcoming Hockney-inspired Zoom class or travelling with us on a workshop, we are there to talk.

France Workshop Retreat. June 1-8 2027

We can’t wait to go back to this beautiful venue where and I started it all. This was our very first Uptrek retreat, and we loved it so much. The hosts are lovely, the landscape gorgeous, and the entire week a dream. We will guide you through keeping a travel sketchbook and advancing your painting and drawing skills from the level you are at now.

France Retreat June 1-8 2022

We do have a fun Patreon where you can get to know us more, behind the scenes, tutorials and live meets which are so enjoyable!

Patreon

Hope to see you soon,

xxxJennifer

I’m on my first days at home after a 6-week trip filled with so many experiences, new friends, and visual stimulation. It’s time now to dive back into a studio practice. I always feel like I’m floundering a bit as I get my sea legs back. One very fun way to get going and have a loose fun hour is to join ChloeBriggs’s Drawing is Free Portrait sessions. It’s fun, low-pressure and quick.

and I are excited to host our own version (one-time only) tomorrow, Thursday, July 9th, at noon at 6 pm EST.

July 9th Free Noon Zoom- Portraits

July 9th Free 6pm Zoom

You can stay on for a little bit after we draw to chat and answer any questions.

When I’m traveling, I’m draw or paint what I see, I interpret, explore, and create the immediacy of the moment. At home, there is space, room to spread out, and room to slow down. This week at least, I’m not very interested in going back through all my photos to find ones I want to paint and recreate the scenes. I do that often, and it’s fun, but this time I’m thinking about bringing my small sketchbook drawings to a different level. I have no idea what that looks like, and it feels uncomfortable. I’ve worked on a few so far, I’m trying not to overthink and just crank stuff out to see where I land. My first few seem fun, but more literal than I want to be. Sometimes, too many themes and ideas can be distracting.. I’ll have more soon!

and I have a new Zoom class coming up on July 25th and 1 pm EST

Zoom Class July 25th

People, Pools & Landscapes: A Hockney-Inspired Afternoon with Gayle & Jennifer

We are going to focus this class on color, pattern, and light inspired by David Hockney.
I will work on a landscape, inspired by my travels, using rich color, cool and unexpected patterning, and color-blocking that creates big energy. Gayle will paint a person around a pool or ocean (her favorite) and show how to simplify the water into pattern and rhythm.
All levels welcome. No painting experience necessary, just a willingness to play with color.

There are just a few spots left for our France, Spring 2027 workshop. We have some fun new ideas we are playing with, but basically, you get an immersive week with us, drawing, painting, and playing in a gorgeous villa in the south of France. Check it out!!

France June 1-8 2027

We also have a Patreon where we hang out, and you can get to know us more!

Patreon

Happy Summer,

xxJennifer

Hi from Finland!

I’ve been away for such a long time and I have so much to share and so little time to really sit and write. I have had time to draw a lot though so here is a whole bunch of drawings from my time in Norway and now Finland. I’ll be home in a week and I’ll share about our workshop in Portugal and more about this whole adventure.

And we do have a few spots available in our Spring 2027 France workshop which will be a wonderful adventure too!

France Workshop Spring 2027

I’m writing this from my phone and it’s a pain so excuse any mistakes, I’ll be back soon with more art and inspiration.

xxJennifer

Join us in Southern France

I just finished teaching a glorious retreat in Portugal with this morning to a fantastic, creative, inspiring group of women in a stunning venue. We hadn’t taught a workshop since last fall in Greece and kind of forgot how magical and special these weeks are! The excitement, motivation, and friendships that happen are incredible. This makes us so excited to announce our next plan for Spring 2027. It’s going to be….

France!! June 1-8 2027 !!!!

We taught at this venue in southern France in 2022. It was the very first time we taught together. It’s the kind of place that when you step onto the land, the magic starts. They’ve made lots of upgrades since we were last there and I’m excited to go back. It’s Uptrek’s most sought after location..

If you follow me on Instagram, you can see my Portugal Highlight, and highlights from all of the retreats Gayle and I have taught together. (The highlights are those small circles just beneath my bio, where I save the photos and videos from each place) You can see exactly what it's like to be on retreat with us!

France 2027

During our week together in France, you’ll work on growing your sketchbook practice, whether new to it or already draw all the time. We work on how to capture our memories and emotions on the page. With daily classes, live demos, and personalized feedback from both of us, you’ll grow as an artist while getting inspired by French culture. You will leave with pages full of original work and the confidence to keep filling them. Artists of all levels and ages are welcome!

We always start the day with optional daily yoga. We will visit the riverside town of Castres for on-location sketching, spend a half-day browsing the vibrant Gaillac French market, and learn how to simplify and sketch what you see as we wander around. We learn the basics of figure drawing, learn to simplify drawing buildings, I always do a lovely flower session painting the local flora and other vignettes that you want to remember. We take a fun day trip to Albi and visit the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum and see his gorgeous work. It’s so inspiring!

You will share all of this with a supportive group of 16 fellow artists who all get excited about the same things, like discovering a new color of paint! The friendships that form in a week spent with other like-minded people have a way of lasting well beyond the week itself.

Right now I’m sitting a a small little terrace, overlooking the water in Lisbon and decompressing the week we just experienced. I wanted to let you know about this right away as we are launching it.

Please write to ask me any questions about the trip, I’m happy to help!

xxxJennifer

My Mom died two years ago this May. I miss her and think about her all the time. I also miss my aunt, my grandmothers and my mother-in-law. They were the women who were there for me as I grew up. They weren’t perfect; they were human and drove me crazy sometimes. But they were the ones who shaped me, gave me advice and nurtured me. Their voices are still in my head.

Painting, for me, helps me visualize and strengthen my connection to them, and lets my memory and imagination take over. I love to reinterpret their lives through my art and to capture moments from old photos that caught my attention. I focus on a real but reimagined second in time from way back when.

I don’t know if they would recognize themselves in my interpretations, and I guess that doesn’t matter very much. This is how I see them. Their lives, experiences, and their choices influenced who I am now, and I love them.

This is Alice, my Mom’s sister, who was very close to all of us, and was my “2nd Mom.”

And my grandmother

Morocco february 2027

There are just 3 spots left in our Winter 2027 Morocco Painting adventure. (all 3 are gorgeous single rooms) Check it out, we’d love to see you!

Patreon

and I have such fun in our Patreon one-hour meetups twice a month. You can hang out with us and draw, paint, chat about life, movies, books and more. You’ll also hear about our weeklong workshops first, we have great new workshops for 2027 to announce very soon!

I’d love to hear from you!

xxxJennifer

Happy May Day!! It’s such a pleasure when the dreary, cold winter comes to an end. When the lime-green buds appear on the trees, the pink cherry blossoms bloom, and the sunshine is bright, I feel like I am waking up.

May 3rd Zoom Workshop

This Sunday, May 3rd, 1-3 EST and I will be hosting another 2 hour painting workshop, focusing on flowers, foliage, and faces. I am imagining a woman wandering through a lush flower garden, almost hidden by the abundance of stuff growing around her. I have loved painting flowers forever. Join us to see how we build up our page with layers, mix the colors, and explain how to simplify.

You can work in your sketchbook or on paper. We use acrylagouache but many people use what they have on hand and still learn a ton from the session.

This is a fantastic space to loosen up, try new approaches, and enjoy the process. There is no pressure here, just fun, joyful painting time.

No experience is needed. Our workshop is open to all levels and all ages, including kids. Just bring your curiosity and a willingness to explore.

We’re committed to making these workshops welcoming to all. The suggested contribution is $40, but we encourage you to pay what you can. Your support helps make these workshops sustainable and ensures everyone can participate, regardless of means.

We will be donating a portion of the proceeds to the @leagueofwomenvoters , because voting is our superpower, and every single voice should be counted in every election.

Everyone who registers, whether attending live or watching the replay, will receive the recording.

Here are some other flowers I have painted over the years

Morocco February 2027

Come paint with us next February 2027 in person! Get away in the winter when it’s so drab. Morocco is filled with patterns and color, it’s so inspiring! There are just a few spots left; you don’t want to miss this one!

Here is a post about our February Morocco trip.

Hope to see you on Sunday for the Zoom!

xxJennifer

Zoom Workshop : May 3rd 1-3

I’m on my last 2 days of an epic trip to Rome. I didn’t have too much of an agenda, since I’ve been here many times before, so I didn’t need to chase down all the main sites. On this trip, I wanted to work hard on my drawing practice, creating a diary of my time here. I worked on building up more muscle in capturing what I see, and playing with how to depict things. I’m not the person with a specific goal, such as: On this trip, I will focus on church facades, doorways, or landscapes. I like to make things up, using memories from the day before to inform today’s drawing.

Each day, each moment, something different catches my eye, and I go for it. I like to experiment with new ways to see things. I play a game. If nothing interests me, look harder, and what can I find? Or I bring in a memory or make stuff up. I pretty much draw as my heart desires. Not every drawing is “the best”. But as a whole, I have a record of my trip that I love to look back on. I also use these drawings later as a jumping-off point for paintings once I’m home.

I have 2 more days to add to this. I’ll share soon. If you come to a workshop with us, we all draw together, and you can create your own drawing practice. There are still some spots left for the February 2027 Morocco trip (only 3 single rooms are left). It’s selling fast. It will be a great one. Here is a link to the post I wrote about it, for more info, or click the button here!

Morocco

Wild Spring Flowers-Zoom Class

Sunday, May 3, 1:00–3:00 PM EST

Join and me for a super fun, joyful afternoon of painting faces, florals, and patterns inspired by the glorious chaos of springtime flowers, flower shops and the sun!

In this workshop, we’ll be inspired by the color and joy of a beautiful spring flower shop, overflowing buckets of different types of flowers, exciting colors, and add a person into the mix.

We’ll let go of perfection and ramp up our intuition and play. You’ll be encouraged to follow what feels fun and freeing, wherever that leads you. There are no rights or wrongs, but Gayle and I show you step by step how we do it.

You can work in your sketchbook or on paper. We use acrylagouache but many people use what they have on hand and still get a lot out of the session.

This is a fantastic space to loosen up, try new approaches, and enjoy the process, There is no pressure here, just fun, joyful painting time.

No experience is needed. This workshop is open to all levels and all ages, including kids. Just bring your curiosity and a willingness to explore.

We’re committed to making these workshops welcoming to all. The suggested contribution is $40, but we encourage you to pay what you can. Your support helps make these workshops sustainable and ensures everyone can participate, regardless of means.

Everyone who registers — whether attending live or just watching the replay — will receive the recording.

Zoom-May 3rd 1-3 EST

Thanks for reading and hope to see you at the zoom!

Please ask me any questions.

xxJennifer

Join Us!!!

and I are adding another workshop in Morocco, in FEBRUARY! February 6-13th 2027

Morocco 2027

Come and escape the cold winter with us for a warm getaway. You can enjoy pleasantly mild temperatures and bright sunshine, perfect for getting outside and soaking it all in. The nights might get a bit cool, but it’ll still be temperate enough to eat our meals outside.

Have you dreamed of going to Morocco but felt daunted by traveling there on your own? You can make it happen, travel with us on this life-changing creative journey, filled with culture, art, and friends.

There’s a full-day excursion to the imperial city of Taroudant, with a horse-drawn carriage tour of the city and lots of chances to paint and sketch what we see. (We will demo our techniques for you and help you along) We will visit the Palace Museum Claudio Bravo, with lunch and time to explore the beautiful grounds. A few years ago, we stayed in Taroudant before the workshop began and spent a beautiful afternoon at Claudio Bravo, so we recommend it with confidence!

We will also enjoy a traditional tea ceremony at the kasbah, and an argan oil demonstration hosted by local Berber women. ( a highlight for us!)

Learn about natural Moroccan beauty products and Berber and Arabic handwriting

You can book lovely spa treatments such as the Moroccan steam bath ‘hammam’, which is my personal favorite.

Stretch with relaxing, optional morning yoga sessions.

The views are spectacular.

Morocco Feb 6-13, 2027

We’re happy to answer any questions.

We’d love to paint with you in Morocco!

I’m writing to you from Rome, where I am for a few weeks, and I’ve been drawing everything. I found a small kraft paper notebook, similar in size to my Muji book, and I’ve been experimenting with it, using the paper color as the motif and white as an accent. It’s fun to think out of the box. I’m also working, as usual, in my Muji. We will draw similarly on our Morocco trip, and I will share my techniques with you!

More from Rome soon,

xJennifer

I am sitting here wondering about what to write about when nothing much is going on. After I got home from Paris, ( I’m extending my Paris print run in the shop for 2 more weeks) I was on a roll, painting scenes from photos and memories every day. I was excited and inspired. After a few weeks, my interest in doing more dwindled, and I was left with no big plan. I’ve had a few client projects that have kept me busy and are fun to do, but my personal work is on hiatus. Instead of telling myself, fantastic, you have time to go out and play and explore! I instead go to the place of why? Why can’t I be inspired by everything I see? There is no limit to ideas. But I tend to work on a curve, from 100% inspired to almost no interest. I know that happens to most of us, so it’s worth talking about.

I think it’s always harder for me in the winter because I tend to stay in and hibernate, so I’m just not seeing as much out in the world. I’m not sure I can overcome that, and maybe it’s just ok! Realizing where my limitations are and just accepting them.

I watch some TV shows. We painted Queen Charlotte of Bridgerton in a Patreon live session last week. Painting crazy headdresses and gowns is a lot of fun. It seems like a worthy goal to find the fun and leave expectations and stress behind. I mean, the downtime is as important as the full-on working times. I’m not sure I could sustain a pace of feeling like I had to make “great” paintings every day. So I play.

But also, what about just making marks on paper or mushing colors together instead of creating a whole painting? That would be completely valid too, and could spark an idea that could be brought into a painting on another day.

For me, travel is the best way to get me inspired, even a short trip to a nearby neighborhood you’ve never seen, a museum, or a gorgeous park. But going to a completely different place for a longer period of time opens me up to seeing more closely. I’m wired and open to it. I’m so lucky that 2026 is a year of travel for me. I’m off to Banff on Friday. My family skis, not me; I’m in this one for the beautiful landscapes and spending time with my son and daughter-in-law, and her Mom. (Not the cold)

And then I go to Rome!! It came up unexpectedly, a friend has an apartment she won’t be using, so my husband and I will! Another 3-week trip. I know I will fill a drawing sketchbook and paint like mad when I get home. I’m doing this while I still can. For all the reasons.

Augustwren Print Shop

Patreon

My Books

Thanks for reading. Let me know your thoughts,

xxJennifer

register for class here

What’s a beautiful imperfection? It’s reinterpreting what we see, capturing the essence, allowing and anticipating all the wonky and unexpected moments that can occur, to show up in our work.

Join , special guest and me this Sunday, Feb 22nd 1-3 EST, for an enjoyable and informative painting class exploring travel photos, each in our own way. Sam will show us how she incorporates her hand lettering into her pages. You can ask questions in the chat as we paint. We answer as many as we can. This is a donation-based class. Everyone will receive the recording within a week after class. All Welcome! (

I will be painting a scene from my Paris trip, including an iconic building. You can paint it too, or bring your own travel photo and follow our techniques.

I have added prints from my Paris travels to my shop. They are beautifully printed on a heavyweight 100% cotton rag paper.

This collection will be available for 4 weeks, until March 12th, 2026.

Augustwren Print Shop

There are just 2 spots left in our Morocco Workshop next Fall. For more info, check it out, and feel free to reach out to me. It will be an incredible experience.

Morocco Workshop Fall 2026

I’ve finished scouring my photos from my Paris trip. So, unless I get a new spark of inspiration there, I’m moving on. I suddenly have a lot of unexpected travel coming up over the next 2 months before my planned teaching trip in Portugal in late May. Two exciting trips pretty much just fell into my lap unexpectedly, and I’m all about saying yes this year. Who knows what next year will bring? A friend has an apartment in Rome that we will stay at for 3 weeks in March/April. So I will be moving on from painting Paris to painting Rome! I couldn’t be happier about that. How inspiring. I also squeezed in a short visit to Banff right before. I get to spend 5 days with my son, his new wife, and her Mom. I’m not a fan of snow and cold, and I don’t ski, but I wasn’t passing up that time together. I plan to walk/hike and take in the beautiful scenery, and I’ll take on a few big winter landscapes soon.

Hope to see some of you on Sunday. xxJennifer

I’ve been in the studio painting my trip to Paris every day for the last 2 weeks; I’m on a roll. It’s a process of learning to look back at my photos and choosing ones that inspire me in some way. In the moment, I usually don’t have time to frame the picture properly, to wait for any random car, bus, or person to leave. It’s not easy to look back through tons of not great photos and figure out how to recreate a scene as you want it to look. Working from home gives me the space to think. I got this lovely comment the other day, which says what I’m thinking.

On using a limited palette, I often choose anywhere from 3 to 6 colors that I love, plus black and white, and TRY! I don’t always know what the result will be, but I’m open to putting in the time to see. Here are a few examples of working out a few colors into a floral. My book, The Sketchbook Idea Generator, has many color combos to try.

I sometimes need to paint “on the spot.” When I’m teaching workshops, there isn’t the time to sit back and reflect. I have a short time before each demo to gather my thoughts, make color choices, and paint while explaining what I’m doing with 17 people watching. It can be stressful, but it also brings an exciting immediacy to the process. Sometimes mistakes are made, but this is a good lesson to learn. (For students and myself) This video is a selection of paintings done in Morocco; some are demos for class, and some are done later, back at home.

Morocc

There is a lot of drawing that happens before the painting, and this is part of my process and teaching. Adding drawing to the painting practice has been the best thing I’ve ever done for my skill in seeing.

Morocco Workshop

There are just a few openings left for our Morocco retreat (September 25–October 2, 2026), and they are the lovely single rooms, some of my favorite spaces in the whole Kasbah. and I would love to meet you and spend the week together. There’s so much we want to share. The experience is awesome, the hosts are fabulous, there’s a hammam and massage area, a great yoga studio, delicious food, fun day trips, and cultural experiences. And of course, drawing and painting our days. This is why we are excited to be there for the 5th time that week!

Here is a post I wrote about the trip last year, You can see some of the amazing highlights of the week

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If you can’t travel that far, join us for our next Zoom class in two weeks, on February 22nd, 1-3 EST. We will also be working on painting from travel photos and adding in some handwritten words. is our special guest in this class. She’s amazing, and you will love learning from her too. It’s a relaxed learning space. If you get a ticket, whether you can make it that day or not, you will receive the recording. We will discuss how we choose our subject, show you lots of examples, answer questions, and demo a full painting. All welcome!!

ZOOM

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Thanks for reading, I appreciate that you are all here!

xJennifer

*This is a revised version of this morning’s email with a few additions, so I have changed some of the art for your viewing pleasure.

Paris to NY. The cold and the big snowstorm on my return were a big change from wandering the beautiful streets of Paris. Plus, all the terrible turmoil happening here, when I opened my phone upon landing on Saturday, the news was devastating. It’s hard to get centered. How do you balance what’s happening with staying sane? I know creating helps me, and I hear from so many of you that it’s a balm for you.

I haven’t painted anything new since I got home; I have so many plans and ideas that I will get to in the next few weeks. But first, here’s more detail on how I create my everyday drawing sketchbooks. It’s important to me that the process is simple and stress-free. I do what I can, when I can. I carry a lot of marker colors in my bag, but I only use 1-3 at the most while I’m working outside. *The link to my post on supplies is at the bottom of this email. Here, I’m using a Muji sketchbook and watercolor markers. Even though the paper is thin, it doesn’t bleed through much; if it does, I just shrug and move on.

I don’t really consider myself an Urban Sketcher. But maybe I’m being too literal. I do it my own way. I’m never trying to be accurate or get the proper perspective, and I don’t care if I get the correct number of windows or columns on a building. People move in and out of view, and I draw the parts that I see or remember. I like to catch the essence of what I’m experiencing. I often keep my sketchbook and one marker in my hand as I move through my day. When I see something that catches my eye, I draw. It may be 10 or 20 minutes here and 2 minutes there.

What catches my eye is always something different. Walking through a museum is twofold for me. On one hand, I will stop and absorb a piece I love. Other times, I want to stop and draw a face or a shape, something odd that I see. I take notes on them too, so I remember where I was.

While I’m out, I mostly do simple line drawings. I usually don’t have time for the color. I am on the move. More detailed coloring happens when I am back at home, and I can spread out a bit and play.

I get so much satisfaction from creating these sketchbooks. They are like a small diary of what inspired me at each moment and place. It’s doable, give it a try!

Click here for a post on a roundup of the supplies I use for both my drawings and paintings.

We have a new online painting class! and I are hosting a new Zoom painting workshop with special guest . February 22, 1-3 EST. Expressive painting & handwritten words

Our live workshops are chatty, informative, fun, and low-key, great for any level. In this class, we’ll explore a travel memory and combine handwritten lettering.

Thanks for reading AugustWren Art and News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

We’ll show you how we loosen up, trust our memory over accuracy, play, and allow the work to evolve naturally and intuitively. We love and encourage imperfect marks, shifted colors, and intuitive choices. It’s all about responding to an image, not copying.

Zoom Workshop Feb 22nd

Sam will show us how she explores adding handwritten words, capturing a place, a moment, mood, or a memory, and weaves her writing throughout her art.

Join us if you love travel sketchbooks and getting your memories down on paper, want to loosen up, let go of perfection, and begin to see how to trust your instincts. Come to learn, have fun, or if you feel stuck and need a motivating few hours!

This is a donation-only class. Suggested donation is $40.00, we put a lot of work into bringing you these classes, but please pay what you can. We’d love to have you there!

For more information and to register

Want to paint with us live for a week? We have some fun plans up our sleeves for the next trip to Morocco. Spending a week in Morocco with 16 other artists at all levels is an incredible experience. We often have students who are traveling for the first time alone, at a life-changing point in their lives, haven’t painted in many years, or have never painted but have always wanted to, as well as a few seasoned painters. Maybe it’s time for you to go on an adventure?

Wednesday, January 28th at noon EST, @gaylekabaker and I are doing a live 1 hour Patreon for all members. We will be creating a new book cover illustration for The Fall of Marigolds or a book of your choice. We usually do 2 of these a month for our Opera Pink group but this one is open to all members.

Join our Patreon

Thanks so much for reading, I’d love to hear from you! I’ll try to answer any more questions you have.

xxJennifer

We are excited to bring you a new online painting class! and I are hosting a new Zoom painting workshop with special guest . February 22, 1-3 EST. Expressive painting & handwritten words

Our live workshops are chatty, informative, fun, and low-key, great for any level. In this class, we’ll explore a travel memory and combine handwritten lettering.

We’ll show you how we loosen up, trust our memory over accuracy, play, and allow the work to evolve naturally and intuitively. We love and encourage imperfect marks, shifted colors, and intuitive choices. It’s all about responding to an image, not copying.

Zoom Workshop Feb 22nd

Sam will show us how she explores adding handwritten words, capturing a place, a moment, mood, or a memory, and weaves her writing throughout her art.

Join us if you love travel sketchbooks and getting your memories down on paper, want to loosen up, let go of perfection, and begin to see how to trust your instincts. Come to learn, have fun, or if you feel stuck and need a motivating few hours!

This is a donation-only class. Suggested donation is $40.00, we put a lot of work into bringing you these classes, but please pay what you can. We’d love to have you there!

For more information and to register

Want to paint with us live for a week? We have some fun plans up our sleeves for the next trip to Morocco. Spending a week in Morocco with 16 other artists at all levels is an incredible experience. We often have students who are traveling for the first time alone, at a life-changing point in their lives, haven’t painted in many years, or have never painted but have always wanted to, as well as a few seasoned painters. Maybe it’s time for you to go on an adventure?

morocco

Paris to NY. The cold and the big snowstorm on my return were a big change from wandering the beautiful streets of Paris. Plus, all the terrible turmoil happening here, when I opened my phone upon landing on Saturday, the news was devastating. It’s hard to get centered. How do you balance what’s happening with staying sane? I know creating helps me, and I hear from so many of you that it’s a balm for you.

I haven’t painted anything new since I got home; I have so many plans and ideas that I will get to in the next few weeks. But first, here’s more detail on how I create my everyday drawing sketchbooks. It’s important to me that the process is simple and stress-free. I do what I can, when I can. I carry a lot of marker colors in my bag, but I only use 1-3 at the most while I’m working outside. *The link to my post on supplies is at the bottom of this email. Here, I’m using a Muji sketchbook and watercolor markers. Even though the paper is thin, it doesn’t bleed through much; if it does, I just shrug and move on.

I don’t really consider myself an Urban Sketcher. But maybe I’m being too literal. I do it my own way. I’m never trying to be accurate or get the proper perspective, and I don’t care if I get the correct number of windows or columns on a building. People move in and out of view, and I draw the parts that I see or remember. I like to catch the essence of what I’m experiencing. I often keep my sketchbook and one marker in my hand as I move through my day. When I see something that catches my eye, I draw. It may be 10 or 20 minutes here and 2 minutes there.

What catches my eye is always something different. Walking through a museum is twofold for me. On one hand, I will stop and absorb a piece I love. Other times, I want to stop and draw a face or a shape, something odd that I see. I take notes on them too, so I remember where I was.

While I’m out, I mostly do simple line drawings. I usually don’t have time for the color. I am on the move. More detailed coloring happens when I am back at home, and I can spread out a bit and play.

I get so much satisfaction from creating these sketchbooks. They are like a small diary of what inspired me at each moment and place. It’s doable, give it a try!

Click here for a post on a roundup of the supplies I use for both my drawings and paintings.

Thanks for reading, I’d love to hear from you! I’ll try to answer any more questions you have.

xxJennifer

Morning from Paris!

As I look through my daily sketchbook from my first two weeks here, I see a meandering wave of experiences, ideas, moments, and scribbles. Some pages I like more than others, but as a story, it tells of my days, my viewpoints, my observations, and my life. I was never a journaler. Writing it down doesn’t satisfy me. Drawings with small notes do. It also serves as a creative outlet that I can come back to multiple times a day. Sometimes I get bored or distracted, and this helps me center and be in the present. This is my 10th little notebook like this, and it’s become a practice I intend to continue forever.

I’ve only done four paintings in my sketchbook so far. This takes more time and effort. I hope I can do a few more while I’m here.

If you would like to experience this deep dive, travel practice of drawing and painting your moments and memories, come to Morocco with and me next fall, September 26th - October 2nd. We have beginner painters, intermediate ones, as well as professional artists who join, and we all grow together. There are a lot of ah-ha moments, and the week progresses, including Gayles and mine. We never stop learning! Join us.

Morocco Workshop

More from Paris next week!

xxJennifer

I’ve just arrived in Paris for a 3-week slow travel experience to ease into 2026. I plan on seeing lots of art, wandering, finding new shops, restaurants, and delights as I go. I’ve been here almost a week now, and I am always surprised by how my expectations of what I will draw or paint are different from what I actually create. Every experience is surprising and unique, and every sketchbook shares a new perspective.

When I’m traveling, all the small moments become so much clearer and special. These are things I wish I could appreciate more in day-to-day life, but I’m always rushing and not taking the time to see. I have to learn to slow down. But for now, I’m away, so I can embrace the noticing.

We are excited to invite you to our next workshop in Morocco, next fall, September 26-October 2, 2026. When and I are teaching, the same thing happens: our perspectives change, and surprises arise. Our senses are keener, we are more attuned to every shift in atmosphere. Morocco is one of our favorite places to teach. Even though it will be our fourth trip, each time it feels like we are stepping into a new world of color, pattern, and magic each time.

We can guide you on this same kind of adventure, to learn to see the small moments and capture them through drawing and painting, helping you find your unique vision. You might hone in on pattern, or landscape or people. It’s up to you, we guide you on color, composition and technique. We share how we get from small ideas to a final painting. You will feel empowered!!

If you have a creative goal to capture your memories and inspirations through drawing and painting in a sketchbook, this trip will be perfect, We let go of perfection and find what you feel in your heart. Lets go!! You can find all the details here

Morocco Workshop

I’m keeping this short as I want to go explore Paris, but please write to ask me anything, about finding creativity, travelling and our workshop in Morocco!

xxJennifer

It’s cozy indoors, but the city is full of wonder.

The world feels grey, but there is a spark of light.

The snow is melted mush, but remember how beautiful it was when it fell?

Talking can be exhausting, but there are so many good conversations to be had.

It’s dark and chilly in the morning, but I’m glad for thick socks and hot tea.

There is so much to cry about, but laughing feels so good.

Anxiety abounds, but deep breaths can calm it.

Look outward and find the magic.

The light is on its way back.

There are always two sides to every coin (or bill). We need to remember.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

xxxJennifer

I’m huddled up inside, bundled up, drinking lots of hot tea, trying to stay warm and comfy. I’ve been painting non-stop for the last 2 weeks for an exciting new licensing project. Whenever I’m in this mode, I am full-on focused. I barely stray from my desk, in a whirl to finish so I can get back to a balanced day, and in this case, hope I’ll be done before the craziness of the holiday season kicks in. I cycle through emotions when I start a new project. When it’s just a list of tasks, I feel completely overwhelmed. Can I even do this? How long will it take? What are they really looking for? What colors should I use? Then I start sketching, and I narrow down these questions to little thumbnails. I understand things so much better when there is a visual. Once I can see this and get some feedback from the client, I settle into the meditation aspect of painting the project. Once I feel secure and can see the full picture, my confidence comes back, and the overwhelm subsides, thankfully. This is a simplified version of how it goes, but it’s basically the pattern, for me, (and I’m sure not just me).

I’ve always been uncomfortable and a little afraid of the not-knowing part, the messy part, of anything I do. That’s what the beginning of a project feels like, not knowing. This feeling extends to many aspects of my life. Fortunately, I’ve improved over the years. As a kid, I was afraid to make a phone call for an appointment or to sign up for something unknown (except maybe art classes). I didn’t raise my hand in class or venture too far from home. I didn’t like parties because I wasn’t sure what to say. The worst was speaking in public. Teaching so much has forced me to open up in front of people and be secure in the knowledge I’m sharing. The students count on me. I have to.

December has a way of focusing thoughts on the future. I’m inside most of the time; it’s so dark, so early. I always seem to have a big project in December, so I paint, and I think. This year on the 31st, my husband is retiring. Everything will be different. I expect he will find lots of exciting new opportunities and challenges. But it’s also a lot of not knowing, for him as well as for me. To get through the first few weeks, I booked 3 weeks in Paris. Our routine life needs a change, even for a short time. I’ve traveled a lot, but never to an apartment to settle down and wander for weeks. We will explore Paris, living simply, sitting in cafes, and seeing art. And drawing, of course. It’s when we get home and start navigating our lifestyle that the not knowing will return. The trick is to figure out how to put the pieces together so it feels good, we learn, and we feel calm and accomplished.

If you would like to go on a painting adventure with and me, there are spots available in the Fall 2026 Morocco trip. I know it will be extraordinary! Ask me any questions.

Morocco

Thanks for reading, and welcome to all the new subscribers,

xxxJennifer

Morocco, Sept 25-Oct 2, 2026

Hi everyone, I hope those of you in the US had a great Thanksgiving last week. Otherwise, I hope it was a good week in general. We all want that!

I’m so excited to announce a new workshop to Morocco! We sold out of week one quickly and decided to add a second week next fall. It will take place from September 25th to October 2nd, 2026. I can’t believe it will be my 4th time there, I love it so much! I’m ready to be immersed back into the beautiful world of rich color, exotic pattern, mint tea, and the kindest people. My co-teacher and I create an inspiring and fun place to let loose with your creativity, where we will all work on filling our sketchbooks with memories, joy, and paint. You can enjoy this wonderful experience too!

We will spend a week at the beautiful Atlas Kasbah, near Agadir, a lush self-contained oasis, filled with inspiration and beauty. Our daily painting sessions are influenced by the landscape, the people, and the patterns around us. You will soak up the warm peachy pink desert colors of the Atlas Mountains in the views around us. We will draw Berber women demonstrating how to make argan oil. We will jump into the pool (if you want to, of course) to cool off, which is right next to our painting tables. We are planning daily yoga, there are wonderful spa treatments, and a hammam on site. We do lots of daily painting and drawing, and take two day-trips, one to a beach and the other to the local souk.

Check out the details here

We develop our painting practice through the process of looking closely and drawing, and have developed a series of fun warm-up art exercises we do every morning that jump-start the day. We will show you how to let go of perfection and start working on interpreting what you are seeing and feeling.

Is Morocco on your bucket list, but you feel intimidated by traveling there on your own? This is a great opportunity to travel there in a creative, safe environment!

You can see and hear more about my last trip through drawing and painting here and here. (They are 2 past newsletters).

Here are some great reviews from our past retreats,

“I am so glad that I was able to do this incredible art retreat in Morocco. Gayle and Jennifer are wonderful, encouraging teachers. The Atlas Kasbah is an amazingly beautiful place; the staff was warm and accommodating. I could not have been happier! The group of women who attended the retreat were friendly, fun and inspiring. It was a perfect week in a gorgeous setting!”

“This retreat was over and beyond my expectations. I loved learning about Gayle and Jennifer’s process of painting. It was so intimate watching them create! I will definitely continue to sketch, especially as I travel! I love painting with gouache and will continue painting my sketches. The Atlas Kasbah is so beautiful, and I love the eco-friendly practices. Hassan, Helene, Mbark, and all the staff made our stay feel like family. I so enjoyed the property, pool, massage, hammam, yoga, our beautiful room, the views, and of course all the delicious food. What a relaxing vacation after traveling all over Morocco for 8 days prior. And thank you, Anca and Uptrek, for all your support; you made traveling to Morocco so easy!”

“I thought the teaching was top drawer and lots of fun. Both Jennifer and Gayle are intuitive and managed the group with great dexterity. I would most certainly go on another retreat with them! And the venue was spectacular. The staff very helpful and accommodating.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed this retreat! Jennifer and Gayle are wonderful teachers. They are down-to-earth and so much fun! Great for all levels. Uptrek’s organization and professionalism is outstanding. Feel confident in booking a retreat with them. The service, warmth and kindness of the staff at the venue went above & beyond our expectations. Many memories and friendships were made!”

Morocco!

My shop is having a sale through December 10th. Give some art for the holidays. Originals, Prints, and Scarves.

20% off with code Holiday at checkout. I love sending my work to new loving homes!

Art Sale

Hope to meet a few of you in Morocco!!

xxJennifer