I’m a bit late with this one.

We’ve had family in the province to celebrate and remember my father-in-law and his brother-in-law, both of whom passed away in the last few months. It was also the sixth anniversary of my dad’s passing, so between all of that—and a whole lot of family—it’s been an emotional couple of weeks.

But good.

There was a lot of reminiscing and remembering good memories, which, when you get right down to it, are the things we need to focus on.

I’m really glad we could all be together. I lucked out with my husband’s family, and it was a fantastic couple of weeks.

But now my introverted self needs approximately ten spa days to recover.

Hello September!

As we put the last visitors on the plane for Toronto, you could feel a little turn in the weather. It’s subtle, but you can feel Fall creeping in. And Fall is, without question, my absolute favourite time of year.

The busy-ness of summer is almost over, and we’re heading into those glorious studio days when wearing pyjamas and a hoodie to work feels completely acceptable.

Even as a kid, I loved September, despite being born in July. I loved the cooler sweater weather, the smell of a new school year, and—most importantly—picking out new school supplies.

Of course, my favourite thing to get was a brand new pack of Laurentian pencil crayons.

Oh my god. I loved those things.

They were so precious that I kept them in rainbow order (not like this picture). Apparently you can buy this set for $49.99 on eBay! Geez, I can’t remember what we paid for them but I’m thinking $2.99 for the 12 pack. Correct me if I’m wrong!

And does anyone remember those protractor sets that came in the little metal tins? I recently bought one from the dollar store and, let me tell you, it was barely usable compared to the ones we used to get. They just don’t make them like they used to. (Yes, I’m a Nan now)

What was your favourite school supply to get?

What I’m Working On

I’m still plugging away at Goodnight Seaside.

I’ve been experimenting with combinations of gouache and watercolour, which has been a lot of fun. I’m at the stage where there’s a fair bit of repetition—painting, tweaking, repainting, trying to get things right—and hopefully it will all start falling into place soon.

Mostly, though, there’s been a lot of urban sketching.

I’ve even started going out by myself early in the morning. I’ve spent some time hanging around Harbourside Park and, despite the early hour, I’ve met a lot of really nice people.

I’ve also discovered something I didn’t entirely expect: I don’t actually mind chatting with people.

Generally, people are nice and supportive. Even when I’m in the ugly stage of a watercolour.

Urban Sketchers St. John’s

We had another terrific month with Urban Sketchers St. John’s in August.

We’re starting to see a lot of regulars now, which is wonderful, but we continue to get new faces at our meetups too. That’s one of my favourite things about the group.

One of my favourites from August was the marina at Fort Amherst. The fishermen there were incredibly friendly, and it was one of those sketching days where you could happily stay for hours. Some sketchers even stayed after we clued up.

We’re slowing things down a little for Fall, but we have three great locations lined up for September.

Upcoming Urban Sketchers Meetups

Quidi Vidi Village
Thursday, September 3 | 6 –8 PM
Meet outside the Quidi Vidi Artisan Studios.
Rain backup: Atlantic Place

Signal Hill
Saturday, September 19 | 11 AM–1 PM
Meet in the parking lot at the top of the hill.
Rain backup: St. John’s Farmers Market

Government House
Wednesday, Sept. 23 | 12–2 PM
50 Military Rd — meet at the corner of Military Road and Bannerman Road.
Rain backup: The Rooms

All skill levels are welcome—we’d love to have you join us.

Questions? Email: urbansketchersstjohns@gmail.com

Well, that’s it for today. Thanks so much for reading. I hope the sudden stop of summer doesn’t hit you too badly.

Summer here in St. John’s has been wonderful. Not too hot but with enough sun to make getting outdoors enjoyable, especially for urban sketching.

It’s has been busy here in the studio. I’ve been working to get everything done.

One of the best quotes I’ve heard in the last few years was “as humans, we resist simplicity and consistency”. The interviewee was talking about why it was so hard to get people to wash their hands consistently during the pandemic, but that line has stuck with me ever since.

It’s true, isn’t it? We look for the perfect [insert tool/guru/response/book], but we simply won’t do the thing. We stand on our heads doing anything but the thing we are trying to accomplish. It just makes everything more complicated.

I may be guilty of this (she says looking at her vast amount of art supplies). I say “we” because I really hope I’m not the only one.

Lately, I've been struggling to get started on an illustration project I've been hired to do. I wasn't making much progress and couldn't figure out why. Then I finally did something - you guessed it - simple: I made myself a schedule.

After more than two years of freelancing, I finally wrote down what I wanted to work on each day. Instead of wondering what I should be doing, I just get started.

Now I’m not new to scheduling, but like everybody, I get busy and forget how to go about things, which leaves them stuck in my head. And things are always more complicated stuck in my head.

I guess life is an eternal reset.

What I’m Working On

New Exhibition

This week, an exhibition of sketches from my Türkiye residency has been installed at the Colonial Building on Military Road. It is open to the public until November, and admission is free on Sundays.

Seeing pages from my tiny sketchbook enlarged to fill the gallery walls was very surprising and a bit of a shock. But, after I got over it, it was nice to revisit the trip. If you're in St. John's, I hope you'll stop by. The Colonial Building is well worth a visit on its own—it's a fascinating historic site on its’ own.

Folk Festival Artwork

A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to create the illustration for the 49½ Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival, taking place August 8 in Bannerman Park.

I was happy to be able to do it of course, and I created an illustration that gave a nod to St. John’s accordion legend, Frank Maher. He passed away recently, and it was wonderful to be able to give him a nod.

New Website

I’ve also completed a much needed refresh to my website. It took many gruelling hours, but I’m happy with how it turned out. It’s a better reflection of the work I’ve been doing over the last couple of years.

A shop will be coming in the next few months once I figure out the whole shipping thing.

I’d love for you to have a look. Just visit carolineclarke.ca.

Urban Sketchers St. John’s

We had a terrific July and have passed our 6 month anniversary as a group! When I walked into the Farmer’s Market 6 months ago, by myself, I had no idea where this was going. But meetup after meetup, people keep coming out. I’m excited to see where this goes.

Upcoming Urban Sketchers Meetups

Monday, August 3 | 6:30 PM–8:30 PM
Bannerman Park meeting at the gazebo near The Loop
Rain location: Atlantic Place seating area

Wednesday, August 5 | 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
Royal St. John’s Regatta meeting in front of the King George Soccer Stadium
Rain location: event gets moved to the next day

Saturday, August 15 | 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
Euro Union Car Show at the old Memorial Stadium parking lot
Rain location: event gets moved to the next day

Saturday, August 15 | 3:00 PM–5:00 PM
Hold Fast Festival meeting at Eastern Edge Gallery on Harbour Drive
Rain location: Atlantic Place seating area

Wednesday, August 19 | 2:00 PM–4:00 PM
Pedestrian Mall meeting at the Courthouse on the Water Street side
Rain location: Atlantic Place seating area

Saturday, August 29 | 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
Fort Amherst where the boats dock
Rain location: Atlantic Place seating area

All skill levels are welcome—we’d love to have you join us.

Questions? Email: urbansketchersstjohns@gmail.com

That is all for now. Thanks so much for reading. I hope you're finding a little simplicity and consistency in your own summer—even if it's just one small thing at a time.

The Provincial Historic Sites of Newfoundland and Labrador invited me to teach urban sketching workshops at three locations this past month: the Colonial Building, the National War Memorial, and the Heart’s Content Cable Station. All of this came about because of my residency in Türkiye this past fall which I talked about in a previous Substack. They asked if I’d give these workshops, and there will also be an exhibition of my sketchbook at the Colonial Building this summer and fall - it’s all about the sketchbook. The workshops were made special with a tour from the staff where we got to learn more about our history.

Not so long ago, I swore I’d never teach workshops. My imposter syndrome was such that I couldn’t imagine what wisdom I could possibly impart to students.

However, I couldn’t turn down this wonderful opportunity.

As it turns out, I have lots of things to say about drawing. Maybe a bit too much.

In the end, I had the best time. The weather even cooperated for two of the three workshops, which is no small feat in Newfoundland in June. I had a bunch of great students who all love to draw, and I’m hoping many of them come along to our urban sketching meetups.

Would I do it again? Absolutely.

The funny thing about freelancing is that it never quite looks the way you imagined it would. My idea of what an illustration business would be and how it’s actually evolving are two very different things. At the moment, I’m trying to let go of preconceived ideas and just roll with it.

Whee!

Urban Sketching

We had our best-attended Urban Sketchers meetup yet in June, and I’m so happy to see this group growing. We even have a shiny, brand-new newsletter now, which you can sign up for here » urbansketchersstjohns.beehiiv.com

Upcoming Urban Sketchers Meetups

Saturday, July 8 | 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
O’Brien’s Farm
Rain location: Second Cup, Avalon Mall (next to Coles)

Saturday, July 11 | 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
Coastal Railway Museum
Rain location: St. John’s Farmers’ Market

Tuesday, July 14 | 2:00 PM–4:00 PM
Courthouse on Water Street
Weather backup: Atlantic Place (indoors)

Saturday, July 25 | 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
Courthouse on Water Street
Rain location: Atlantic Place (indoors)

All skill levels are welcome—we’d love to have you join us.

Questions? Email: urbansketchersstjohns@gmail.com

What I’m Working On

With a month of urban sketching over, I’m back at my desk working on my current book (yes, still—books take forever!), and I’m pleased to say I’ll be creating the illustration for this year’s Folk Festival in Bannerman Park. It’s been a couple of years, and I’m glad to be back.

Stay tuned!

Thank you for subscribing and reading. Have a great July!

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Trip

The beginning of May saw me travelling to Calgary to take a workshop with watercolour greats Lisa Wang and Joseph Zbukvic. It was a week-long intensive workshop, and myself and about 20 other attendees from all over tried our best to absorb as much as we could. I painted, I sketched, and I met new friends.

I took a lot of notes, but I think the biggest ah-ha moment came when Joseph said he paints something four or five times before he figures it out. Imagine — somebody like Joseph Zbukvic making mistakes along the way. It makes perfect sense, but I think in the back of my mind I believed I should be able to paint something in one go. From now on, I’m aiming to paint things at least five times before giving up on them.

Here are some photos from the trip. I absolutely loved the magpies.

Back Home

Once back on The Rock (our affectionate term for Newfoundland), I hit the proverbial ground running. On what seemed like the one sunny day in May, we held our first outdoor Urban Sketchers meet-up on Water Street. It was midweek, but we still had six people come out, including myself.

Matt Murley, the other Urban Sketchers admin, and I were also invited to speak to the Arts Association of Newfoundland and Labrador about urban sketching. Matt and I approach sketching entirely differently. He is methodical and detailed in his beautiful sketches, while I’m much more “in the moment” and painterly. He brings a carefully considered, limited set of materials to a meet-up. I bring everything but the kitchen sink.

There’s no “right way” to draw or paint. You just have to get out there and do it.

It was great to share those different approaches with such an engaged crowd.

Upcoming Urban Sketchers Meet-Ups

Saturday, June 6 | 11 AM–1 PM
Bowring Park, Peter Pan Statue
Rain location: Farmer’s Market

Thursday, June 11 | 2 PM–4 PM
Harbour Drive & Baird’s Cove (Atlantic Place building)
Weather backup: Atlantic Place indoors

All skill levels are welcome — we’d love to have you join us.

Questions? Email: urbansketchersstjohns@gmail.com

What I’m Working On

At my desk right now, I’m up to my eyeballs in baby animals for a new book I’m working on for Acorn Press. I’ve been experimenting more with gouache and watercolour lately, and I’m really having fun with it. My favourites are the piping plovers. They are so friggin’ cute I can’t stand it.

I’ve also been working on upcoming workshops and an exhibition in partnership with Provincial Historic Sites.

Remember my Türkiye residency in November? I’m excited to say it will be turned into an exhibition at the Colonial Building for six months. The opening date is still to be determined, but I’ll be sure to let you know when it is.

On top of that, I’ve been working with Provincial Historic Sites to put together three urban sketching workshops that tie history and sketching together. The workshops are free with registration and will take place over the last three Saturdays in June.

Urban Sketching Workshop Series

Drawing on History

Join illustrator and urban sketcher Caroline Clarke (that’s me!) for a three-part workshop series that invites participants to slow down, observe, and connect with place through sketchbook practice.

Set in three unique heritage locations, each session begins with a 30-minute guided tour of the site, offering context and visual inspiration before participants settle in to draw.

Bring your favourite drawing materials. All you really need is a pencil and a sketchbook, journal, or paper on a clipboard. Bring something to sit on if needed (a camping stool works great), and of course, dress for the weather. It is Newfoundland after all.

June 13 | Colonial Building | 10 AM–2 PM
(indoors if the weather is bad)

June 20 | National War Memorial on Duckworth | 10 AM–12 PM
(weather backup: Colonial Building)

June 27 | Heart’s Content Cable Station | 10 AM–2 PM
(indoors if the weather is bad)

These workshops are free, but class size is limited to 20 participants, so registration is required in advance.

For the Colonial Building and War Memorial workshops, register by calling 709-729-6259 during opening hours (9:30 AM–5 PM, seven days a week).

For Heart’s Content, register by calling 709-583-2160 during opening hours (9:30 AM–5 PM, seven days a week).

Okay, that’s a wrap!

It’s time to zoom into June. As always, you can follow me on Instagram or Facebook, where I’ll be posting updates about workshops, urban sketching meet-ups, and whatever else I happen to be drawing.

Thanks for reading!

xo
Caroline

How well do we really know each other?

It’s something I think about more and more in this age of digital everything.

So, I thought I’d invite you in—just a little—and give you a peek at where I work.

First, meet the staff

This is Phonse (short for Alphonsus, of course).

He’s four years old, tailless, and takes his role as studio assistant very seriously: part lawyer, part trainer, part confidant.

Phonse has always hung out with me while I work—to the point where I had to get him his own cat tower. He’s a friendly little bear of a cat, but he does have an unfortunate habit of nibbling on my paper, pens, pencils… really anything that might get my attention when he’s bored.

I’ve done some training with him to keep him engaged, which helps. But he still requires a fair bit of attention.

I wouldn’t change a thing.

And yes—I’ve drawn him many times.

The studio

It took me years to go from the kitchen table to a room of my own.

It’s not a huge space, but I’ve managed to fit in everything I need (and then some). There’s even a comfortable chair where I can sit and collect my thoughts—or, occasionally, have a nap. It feels a bit dreamy, if I’m honest. Phonse agrees.

I have a Sweet Baby Jane printing press that I use for making cards, and a friend built me a beautiful custom shelving unit that’s exactly the right height for my printing station.

Our house is about 124 years old and sits in the heart of downtown St. John’s. From my studio window, I have what feels like a million-dollar view overlooking Signal Hill. Phonse spends a good part of his day chirping at birds from his perch when he isn’t pestering me. Or sitting in my chair.

I’m genuinely happy every time I walk into this space. It’s where I try—successfully, most days—to leave my inner critic at the door.

That feeling hasn’t worn off.

In the community

Our little urban sketching group is really starting to gain some momentum—though we did have to cancel this past weekend thanks to a snowstorm.

Yes. A snowstorm. On April 25.

As a friend put it: “Spring in Newfoundland is not for sissies.” Small comfort but a comfort nonetheless.

Still—onwards and upwards.

Matt (who I mentioned in my last post) has been a huge help. He’s getting a small website together, setting up a newsletter, and helped launch our shiny new email account. We’ve also got an Instagram account and a Facebook Group to go along with our Page.

We’re well on our way to becoming an official Urban Sketchers chapter, which feels kind of amazing.

And truly—thank you to everyone who keeps showing up.

May meet-ups

(Also—side note: I’m still not convinced “meet-ups” is the right term. If you have a better one, I’m all ears.)

Thursday, May 14 | 2–4 PM
📍 Water Street, Downtown St. John’s
Meet at the Courthouse

If it snows (and I’m not ruling it out), we’ll head to Atlantic Place.

Saturday, May 23 | 11 AM–1 PM
📍 Bannerman Park
Meet at the Gazebo near The Loop

Surely it won’t snow… but if the weather turns, we’ll stick to the Gazebo.

Hopefully the weather cooperates. If not—well, we’ve established we’re not sissies.

What I’ve been up to

Lately, it’s been a mix of graphic design work and wrapping up grant applications. I’m finally settling back into a routine, which I love—once I find the rhythm, I’m all in. But if I fall out of it, it takes me forever to get back.

I’m also getting ready for what feels like a trip of a lifetime.

Watercolour master Joseph Zbukvic (along with Lisa Wang) is leading a 7-day intensive workshop in Calgary, and I’ll be there. I’ve been buzzing with excitement for days.

I can’t wait to tell you all about it next month.

That’s it for now.

Thanks, as always, for reading. And feel free to reach out if you have thoughts, questions, or just want to talk art.

Until next time.

XO Caroline

Last week, we saw the passing of my father-in-law after a brief but difficult illness. We are all still just trying to process what happened over these past few weeks.

He was a quiet man who loved his family and his garden. Over the last little while, I discovered he also loved poetry. I had no idea. I guess we never really get to know people fully, and it makes me think that I need to make a better effort to truly know the folks around me.

I spent the last week with my mother-in-law at her house in Glenwood. We went through photo albums and told stories. One day we were shut in by a snowstorm (yes, it is somehow still winter in Newfoundland), so we stayed in, talked, and played cards. I drew the view from the kitchen window — the same view where we used to cross the garden to go to Aunt Joan’s house when she was still alive. Life is always changing.

John, my partner, was also passed on a couple of his father’s things, including a powder horn that belonged to his great-great-grandfather and namesake, dated 1882. He had scrimshawed some beautiful and interesting patterns into the bone. It is such a cool piece, and we will display it proudly. It is interesting the “e” wasn’t included on the last name, but they were more fluid with last names back then.

There’s something about spending time with family history — through stories, photographs, and objects — that makes time feel both very long and very short.

In the community

The urban sketching group met again in March, this time at the QEII Library and at the Farmers’ Market. We haven’t been able to get outside quite yet, but we are going to give it a go in April.

Here are our April meet-ups:

Thursday, April 9 | 2–4 PM
Avalon Mall
(meet at the Starbucks in the food court)

Saturday, April 25 | 10 AM–Noon
Courthouse on Water Street

Hopefully the weather will cooperate. If not, we will meet again at the St. John’s Farmers’ Market as a backup. Follow us on Facebook for any weather updates.

I would also like to introduce Cynthia (in the pink jacket) and Matt (in the grey sweatshirt). They have kindly stepped up to help with the group and took over last weekend to help me out. We are becoming official!

What I’ve been up to

I haven’t been drawing much this past month, so I don’t have a ton to share.

However, during February, I did a daily challenge with one of my nephews, and our theme was birds. We alternated choosing which birds we would draw, so of course I made it my mission to find birds with the weirdest names possible.

I think the Fluffy-Backed Tit-Babbler was my favourite. It’s a beautiful bird, and it absolutely has the best name.

Oh, and I almost forgot — I have been named a finalist for the City of St. John’s Applause Awards for the artist category.

I’m still a bit in shock about it and truly honoured to be named alongside the other nominees. The winner will be announced on April 14, so stay tuned.

I’ll end it here for now.

Thank you, as always, for reading. And please feel free to reach out if you have questions, thoughts, or just want to talk art.

Until next time.

Well I guess I can blow my own horn. I’m finally able to share my sketchbook from Türkiye with you all. I’ve created a video tour (below) where I flip through the pages from the three and a half days we spent in Çanakkale and Gallipoli, capturing the moments that stood out to me. I also talk a bit about the materials I used and my thoughts on the trip.

You’ll notice there’s a bit of everything in this sketchbook. While I did try to keep it more polished—knowing I would be presenting it at the end of my residency—for me, a sketchbook is ultimately a safe place for mess, experimentation, and random thoughts. I see it as completely my own space. It holds everything from drawings to grocery lists to clippings tucked between the pages.

So really, in sharing this, I’m letting you into a secret space.

In the Community

We held two more Urban Sketching meet-ups this past month—one during the week and one on a Saturday. Both had a solid turnout, which is always encouraging.

We’ve had an incredible amount of snow this month (possibly a record!), so outdoor drawing hasn’t really been an option. But spring is coming. Soon-ish.

In March, our meet-ups will be:

• Tuesday, March 10th | 2–4 PM – QEII Library at MUN

• Saturday, March 21st | 10 AM–Noon – St. John’s Farmers’ Market (one last time before spring - if spring cooperates that is)

The Farmers’ Market has been incredibly generous in offering us space and even helping promote the group. I’m very grateful for their support.

What I’ve Been Up To

On February 8th, with the Group of 77, I gave a talk at The Rooms. I shared a short presentation, followed by a panel discussion with three other members. We spoke about our experience drawing at the Canada Summer Games, and several members brought sketchbooks to pass around. We had a warm, appreciative audience, and I’m so glad we had the opportunity to share the work publicly.

Just a few days later, I presented my Türkiye sketchbook to the delegation that organized the Gallipoli trip. There were government officials and staff present, and I passed the sketchbook around the room. It was received very positively, and I think my little book held its own.

A lot of presentations for me this month. Not exactly my natural inclination—but growth, right?

Oh Yes… I’ve Turned Two

It’s been two years since I stepped out on my own to freelance. Can you believe it?

And honestly? I love it.

There are moments when I miss the bi-weekly paycheque. There are things I would probably do differently if I were starting again. But overall, I’m happy. I feel aligned. And I’m going to keep going.

I still need to get better at sticking to daily goals—but I am getting better.

I saw this quote recently and it felt perfectly timed:

“I’m not everything I want to be yet, but I’m a lot of things I wanted to be 2 years ago, and what a wonderful thing it is to realize that.”

That about sums it up.

Thank you for following along these past two years—for reading, watching, encouraging, and being part of this community.

And as always, feel free to reach out if you have questions, thoughts, or just want to talk art.

Until next time.

Like most I wander around in a mild state of shock these days, while also trying to stay warm. I can’t ignore what is going on in the world - who can? Nor can I live only by the day-to-day news briefings. My strategy has been to pay attention where I can, build community bigger than I have before, and to stay as healthy as possible. I don’t want to delve into politics too much on this platform, as I am not an expert, but I can’t ignore completely what is on my mind—and on many others’ minds too..

What are your strategies for these times?

Anyhow, as a good friend pointed out, we need to hold on to goodness where we can.

And on the bright side, there have been many good things happening.

Canada Games: Talk at The Rooms

Remember that? You can come and reminisce with some of The Group of 77 on February 8th at The Rooms theatre from 2:30 - 3:30pm.

There will be a short talk on how all this came about and what it was like to draw live sporting events. Afterward artwork created at the Games will be laid out on tables for the audience to view, giving folks a chance to chats with the artists.

Tickets are $12 - free for Rooms members.

You can get your tickets on The Rooms website.

If you want to know more, I wrote about my experience here and here .

Urban Sketching in St. John’s

Look at that fine crowd!

Last week, I organized the first official Urban Sketchers group for St. John’s. I know right?!? You thought there was one. Nope. But there is now. The intention is to become a chapter of the International organization, but we have to have been on the go for six months—so the count down is on.

We had a great crowd, much to my relief, and we doubled our followers on FB overnight. Urban sketching is challenging in the winter in Newfoundland, but we are going to get together a couple times a month. We can head outside once the weather is fit.

We’ll be sketching again on Tuesday, February 10, 10am at Atlantic Place and Saturday, February 21, 10am at the Farmer’s Market.

You can follow along on the Facebook page as well.

What I’m working on: Türkiye Sketchbook

I’ve been in the final throes of putting the finishing touches on my sketchbook for an upcoming presentation on my residency with The Trail of the Caribou Pilgrimmage in November. It’s been super fun going through my memories—it feels like I went there years ago.

Some of my favourite memories are of the cats. There were a lot of cats.

What I’m reading

I’m still on a bit of a Maira Kalman bender and got her book Still Life with Regrets, but I got sidetracked by On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder. I bought the graphic novel version, illustrated by Nora Krug.

With everything going on in the world, I don’t know about you, but I can get caught up in the despair of it all. I found this book was an excellent, clear-headed approach that offers a path for regular people to follow. I also listened to an interview of Timothy by Stacey Abram here on Substack where he said you don’t have to do everything—just do something. Hopeful.

I guess that’s really what I’m doing through drawing. From bringing the Canada Games group together to organizing the Urban Sketchers meet-ups, I’m trying to do “something”—building community and making connections through art. I’m lucky to live in an amazing place, surrounded by people I’m grateful to call friends. I look forward to more of this.

Support

If this writing resonates with you and you’d like to support my work, you can do so by becoming a paid subscriber. I’ll continue to keep my writing free to read, and paid subscriptions are entirely optional. That said, your support helps sustain my creative practice and allows me to keep sharing openly and regularly. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who chooses to support the work in this way.

Thank you for reading!

Wishing everyone all good things for 2026. And thank you for sticking with me here for another year.

I always look forward to the start of a new year. I don’t set resolutions, exactly, but I love the feeling of a fresh beginning. It’s a bright spot in the middle of winter.

What I like most about beginnings, and being a beginner, is that there are fewer expectations. You can draw for two minutes or have an experiment flop and be met with great applause. So for 2026, I’ve decided there’s no reason not to be a beginner every day. It’s more fun, it’s easier to play, and it leaves more room for curiosity. Ready, set—have fun!

This past fall—and really the entire year—has been incredibly inspiring. Lately, I’ve spent a lot of time meeting friends for coffee and reconnecting with people I care about. I’m always reminded how much I learn when I leave the studio and go out into the world. Inspiration has a way of showing up when you do that. One thing that’s become very clear to me is how essential connection and community are. If I do have one goal (just a little one) for the year ahead, it’s to share more and continue growing my community.

So, here’s a little update on what’s been happening lately.

In the News

Remember Turkey? How could you forget. CBC recently published a lovely write-up about my time as artist-in-residence on the Pilgrimage to Gallipoli. You can read it here on the CBC website.

Reading

I met a new artist friend recently who introduced me to the work of Maira Kalman. After our conversation, I went down a wonderful internet rabbit hole (where has she been all my life?). I ended up buying The Principles of Uncertainty, a title that feels particularly fitting right now. The book is thoughtful, playful, and beautifully illustrated. I highly recommend it.

Sketching

I’ve started a new social media page for urban sketching! I’ve been emailing a small group for sketching meet-ups when I’m able, but because it’s been so informal, it’s also been easy to let it slide. So I’m making it official on Facebook.

The group is free, open to all skill levels, and focused on drawing from life. With time, we may even work toward becoming an official Urban Sketchers chapter. If you want to join in there is a Facebook page, and I’ll also post meet-ups on Instagram. It’s brand new, but I’m excited to see where it goes over the next year.

Art Supply Talk

Oil pastels. I’ve always hated them. Truly. I never understood how they worked. But recently I took an affordable online workshop by Elina Ellis, and it made me realize I hadn’t given them a fair chance. Coincidentally, a friend sent me an article about Caran d’Ache oil pastels, and when Jackson’s had a sale (another coincidence), I decided they’d make a perfect extra Christmas gift to myself, so I ordered a few colours.

While still not totally loving them yet, I’m looking forward to experimenting more. Here’s a small drawing experiment to start and here’s to being a beginner.

One Last Note

If this writing resonates with you and you’d like to support my work, you can do so by becoming a paid subscriber. I’ll continue to keep my writing free to read, and paid subscriptions are entirely optional. That said, your support helps sustain my creative practice and allows me to keep sharing openly and regularly. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who chooses to support the work in this way.

Thank you for reading to the end. I hope your year gets off to a start filled with fun beginnings.

Well, it seems we have nearly come to the end of 2025.

It has been such a wonderful month, visiting with old friends, meeting new friends, doing some printmaking, reading books and discovering new things. I feel I’m going into the Christmas week with renewed energy. I love this time of year, and while I can’t ignore what is happening in the world these days, I feel just a little bit lighter.

I wish you all a wonderful holiday and a well deserved break.

I’ll see you in the New Year!

Much love,

Caroline

There has been so much happening lately that I barely know where to start—but I guess I’ll begin with the sad news.

We had to say goodbye to our 17.5-year-old cat, Stewie, this past week. He was very old and had a good, full life, but we’re going to miss him terribly. We also lost our 14-year-old cat, Rory, this past summer, so it’s been a hard year on cats in our house. My partner and I are both animal lovers, and we’ve been so lucky to share our home with such wonderful companions. Stewie—Great Big Stew—was an orange giant with a lot to say. Rory, our sweet cow-cat, was more timid but had a huge presence. Both of them have made their way into my artwork over the years and have served as excellent (and opinionated) art critics.

On a brighter note, the latest book I illustrated was released at the end of October. Cormorant Press asked me to illustrate a beautiful story by Governor General Award–winning author Philippa Dowding, and I jumped at the chance. It follows the unlikely friendship between a robin and a wee bat, and I have to admit, it made me cry the first time I read it. It’s a truly tender story that already feels like a classic. It’s available now on Indigo and other online retailers—just in time for Christmas.

Here is the cover illustration, along with a couple of the interior black-and-white pieces. I actually love working in black and white; there’s something deeply satisfying about sticking to pen and ink.

And finally, I can’t wrap up without mentioning my trip to Türkiye. As you can tell, I’m back in Canada now. It was a whirlwind visit, but one that left a big impression. I’ll have much more to share in my next newsletter as I work my way through my sketchbook, but for now, here are a few pages. Türkiye was all about cats, history, and remembrance. I also started experimenting more boldly in my sketchbook, and it felt so satisfying. Stay tuned.

I’ll leave it there for this week. I’m aiming to write more frequently—there’s always so much happening, and it’s hard to fit everything in.

Have a great week everybody. Thanks for reading!

Over the last couple of years, I’ve become increasingly drawn to reportage illustration—the art of documenting real events as they happen through drawing. I love the idea of artists acting as visual reporters, capturing the feeling of the moment. It overlaps with urban sketching, which I also love, but reportage has a certain immediacy and purpose that excites me.

I wouldn’t call myself an expert in either, but I’ve been experimenting, sketching, and learning—and it’s been incredibly rewarding.

If you’ve been following along, you might remember that I organized a group of artists to draw the Canada Summer Games here in St. John’s this past August. We spent two weeks documenting the events through our sketchbooks—our own kind of live reporting. It felt amazing to be part of something bigger, to draw with purpose, and I have to admit, I was a little sad to return to “civilian life” afterward.

Now, for the big news.

If you follow me on Facebook, you may have already seen it: I’ve been chosen for the inaugural artist residency for The Trail of the Caribou Pilgrimage in Türkiye. That’s right—I’m going to Türkiye!

I’ll be drawing my way through the journey, reflecting on what it might have been like for the young Newfoundlanders who travelled to Europe in 1915 to fight in the First World War. On September 20 of that year, 1,076 men landed in the Dardanelles, spending four months in the trenches under enemy fire before moving to the even harsher Western Front. Many were from very small communities like Moreton’s Harbour that you can see in the picture I shared at the beginning of this writing.

I’ll be following in the footsteps of war artists like Herbert William Hillier, Ellis Silas, and Horace Moore-Jones. I’ve also been inspired by Canadian artist Mary Riter Hamilton, who was denied permission to paint the front lines because she was a woman—but went anyway, at her own expense after the war, creating more than 350 paintings of the battlefields.

I’m already learning so much, and I know my head will be full when I return. I can’t wait to share what comes of it—with drawings, reflections, and maybe a few stories from the road.

I hope you all had a great long weekend and are easing back into the swing of the school season.

I’m back with Part Two!

Last week, I shared my notes from the first week of drawing the Canada Games. As you may know, I and 25 other artists were hired to sketch the events over two weeks. I was there every single day, except one, and I’m still processing it all.

Here’s my diary from Week Two:

Men’s Soccer
It took me a while to find a subject, but under the evening lights the goalie caught my attention and became the star of my sketch.

Swimming at Sunshine Park
I challenged myself to just two colours—blue and orange. Luckily, the volunteers were all dressed in bright orange on the dock, which made the experiment a success.

Music & Women’s Baseball
I ducked indoors to see the Old Contemporaries and did a quick sketch of one of my favourite bands. Later that evening, I headed down to the inaugural women’s baseball game. Drizzle, a buzzing crowd, and history being made—it was unforgettable.

Mountain Biking & CBC
On the 20th, I dashed to the mountain biking event but arrived just as it was ending. I did manage to meet a lovely member of the NL Cycling Team. That same day, I drew CBC’s On the Go live at the Athletics Field. Nerve-wracking, but everyone was kind, and I survived! They also did a wonderful article on the group which you can read here » Art of the Games

Baseball, Again
The next day found me behind home plate. Baseball is always fun, and I had a great chat with two folks from Baseball Canada. They told me it took 14 years of lobbying to get women’s baseball into the Canada Games.

Wrestling at The Glacier
This day brought my favourite story. A young boy asked to borrow a pencil, then returned for watercolours. Since mine were too toxic for kids, my 10-year-old friend Owen, a budding artist, offered him pencil crayons instead. The boy—Jacob—drew his sister, who was wrestling that day. When Owen told him, “It’s actually really good,” my heart just burst.

Final Day
The women’s gold medal soccer game came first, and I had a few pins to hand out. I quickly discovered the surprising magic of pins—the kids adored them. By now, I have become excellent at drawing the backs of people in bleachers. That night, I made it to the Closing Ceremony. Exhausted, sketching in the dark, I ended the Games the same way I started: just a pen, and a sketchbook.

That ends my Canada Games saga. This experience is one I will never forget. I so thankful the Games brought us aboard.

Thanks for sticking with me to the end of this story!

How was your summer?

Back in my last post, I mentioned something a little unusual: I was hired—along with 25 other artists—to draw the Canada Games as they unfolded.

Being asked to sketch sporting events might be the greatest irony of my life. I am not exactly an athlete. But as it turns out, it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.

Let me take you through it.

I began at the Opening Ceremonies. Out on the street, athletes paraded in and I found myself standing in the middle of the crowd, sketchbook open. Normally, I’d be overwhelmed in that kind of chaos, but the energy was so electric I didn’t even notice. I was completely absorbed.

Later, I moved inside to try capturing the ceremony itself. The day before, I had gone to the dress rehearsal hauling twenty pounds of art supplies—completely ridiculous. By Opening Night I had learned my lesson, pared everything down, and managed to draw in near-darkness with just a pen and graphite.

The next day, Day Two, was soccer. I was nervous: how on earth do you keep up with a game that never seems to stop moving? It was blisteringly hot, but then I noticed a woman in the stands shading herself with a big umbrella. Perfect. She helped me get into the drawing.

Then softball. By Day Three, I was beginning to get the rhythm of things. Again, the heat was relentless, but I had a wicked spot right behind home base. Fans around me kept shouting “Toba! Toba!” and I spent half the game trying to figure out which player this mysterious Toba was. Only later did I realize—of course—they were cheering for Manitoba. Duh.

Day Five was the hardest. Wildfires had broken out close to St. John’s, and several sports were relocated, including lacrosse. Newfoundland isn’t used to heatwaves like this, and everything felt scorched. Still, I pushed myself to go. The alternative venue was sweltering, but I stood sweating with my sketchbook anyway. I’m glad I did. This Games was the first time Newfoundland fielded a women’s box lacrosse team.

Later, Lacrosse Canada shared my drawing online, and to my surprise, the family of one of the players reached out. They recognized their daughter immediately—from the position she played. She was the youngest on the team. We exchanged a few messages, and they were so kind. That moment alone made all the sweat worth it.

Day Six brought rugby. I had no idea what was happening on the field, but luckily the artist I went with had played and gave a play by play to me as the match went on. Honestly? I still don’t get rugby. But I had fun. Afterwards, I wandered downtown to Water Street, where it turns into a pedestrian mall for summer. Wonderbolt Circus was performing, and I stayed, sketching acrobats in motion.

By Day Seven, I had to admit defeat to the sun. I headed indoors, tucked myself away in the cool of the Convention Centre, and sketched Graham Lindsey and Carole Bestvater during their set.

I realize I’ve already gone on for too long, and we’re only halfway through the Games. So I’ll stop here, and save the rest for Part Two, next week.

Stay tuned and have a great long weekend.

Ah, summer.
A time to relax and soak up the sun—except around our household.

Right now, I’m getting ready to draw the Canada Summer Games that are taking place in St. John’s, NL this August.

Yep. I’ll be on the sidelines with my sketchbook, capturing the action as it happens.

Now, I’m probably the least likely person you’d expect on a sports field, but here I am, preparing to race between venues with pens flying.

How did this happen?

Great question.

After leaving my job to pursue illustration, I joined a local life drawing group called The Group of 77. Around the time I started volunteering, the group lost its arts funding—money that helped cover models and our year-end exhibition.

We were trying to figure out how we’d keep going. Thankfully, a fairy godmother and godfather stepped in with some short-term financial help. But we were still worried about what came next.

Then one evening, I floated an idea to my partner (who works with the Canada Games): what if they hired us to draw the Games? After all, we draw people.

He pitched it, they loved it, and just like that, we were in.

I put out a call for volunteers, and 26 of us will be sketching events across two weeks.

We’re now a month out, and I’ve started “training”—working on speed, simplifying my materials, and prepping for all kinds of weather. (This is Newfoundland, after all.)

Here’s a recent sketch using only gouache, Posca pens, and pencil crayons with a limited palette. I'm still figuring out how to make gouache work outdoors, but I’m getting close to a solid kit.

I’m so excited. After years of drawing in cafés and public spaces, I am getting to draw the event of a lifetime.

Let the sketching begin.

I couldn’t resist sketching a woman I saw in the grocery store line-up ahead of me. I had to draw her from memory, but it was really all about her fabulous hair and that amazing pink coat.

I wanted to share a little update about what I’ll be up to over the next few months—it’s shaping up to be a super busy (and hopefully much warmer!) summer.

First up: The Canada Summer Games are coming to St. John’s in August! I’ll be there, along with the Group of 77, sketching the events as they happen. I’m so excited to be part of what promises to be an incredible experience. I haven’t done a ton of reportage illustration before, and those athletes move—so I’m brushing up my drawing chops every chance I get - even while waiting to vote.

Next: On June 18th, the statue of Armine Nutting Gosling—Newfoundland and Labrador suffragette and key figure in the fight for women’s right to vote in 1925—will be unveiled in Bannerman Park. I was honoured to be hired by PerSIStence Theatre to create the interpretive signage, including a couple of illustrations. I’m so proud to have worked on this project from and can’t wait to share it with you.

Thirdly: I’m currently working on a new children’s book! I can’t say much about it yet, but it’s a delightful project that’s set to be released early next year.

And finally: I’m beginning a longer-term project that I was fortunate to receive NL Arts funding for. I’ve taken on large-scale projects before, but this one will be the most ambitious yet—and I’m so looking forward to diving in.

I’ll be sharing updates and progress on social media over the coming months, so feel free to follow along on Bluesky, Instagram, or Facebook.

This time of year always fills me with hope - hope for completed projects, renewed energy, and inspired creativity.

But where do you find inspiration? Sometimes getting started is the hardest part. I often find myself staring at the dreaded blank white piece of paper, wondering what to draw.

So I thought I’d share some of my tips to break out of a creative slump. They don’t always work instantly, but with consistency, they’ve helped me time and time again.

My Top Three Sources of Inspiration

1) Community

I recently rejoined our local Group of 77 Drawing Group, a life drawing group that meets three times a week, offering both nude and clothed sessions. I can just drop in when I can and it’s wonderful to be around people who love drawing people as much as I do.

I also started a small group of urban sketchers. We meet once a month at different locations to sketch together. I’m fairly new to drawing in public, and it’s nice to have a group for support. It’s a very informal—No Facebook page, no official structure—just a few people sketching together.

Here is a sketch from our last outing at the mall.

2) Learning Opportunities

I’m definitely a lifelong learner and I find that taking a course or workshop often kickstarts me when I’m stuck.

I first have to mention Good Ship Illustration. Just over two years ago, I broke my kneecap (among other injuries) in a hiking accident. It wasn’t as dramatic as it sounds—I wasn’t dangling from a cliff or anything. I simply tripped, badly, in the woods. With my leg in a full brace, I had plenty of time to listen to podcasts, which is how I discovered Good Ship. The rest is history.

They currently offer three courses: The Picture Book Course, Fly Your Freak Flag, and The Business Course. The illustrators behind the program—Helen Stephens, Katie Chappell, and Tania Willis—are all inspiring artists who have made careers out of illustration. Their courses are fantastic, and the best part? You can go at your own pace with lifetime access. I haven’t quite finished Fly Your Freak Flag or The Business Course yet, but I love that they keep adding new content.

They genuinely love helping illustrators find their path and their enthusiasm is infectious.

Here is my take on one of their fun exercises.

I also like to pick a topic and dive into learning on my own. Lately, I’ve been focusing on anatomy. There are tons of great online resources, and I recently discovered that the National Gallery of Canada sometimes offers free online workshops, which they announce in their newsletter. This past month, they just happened to have one on anatomy—perfect timing!

3) My Own Backyard

I came across an excellent piece on Substack by Amy Stewart called “Be the Artist-in-Residence of Your World.” It really resonated with me. It’s so easy to overlook the world right in front of us, but when I take the time to really observe my surroundings, I find endless inspiration.

To help with this, I set up a little drawing desk by a window overlooking the street. It lets me be both a nosy neighbor and an artistic observer of the world outside.

I’ve also made a commitment to draw everywhere I go. Just last Friday, I brought my sketchbook to a basketball game with a friend and her two boys. I have to admit, basketball is an incredibly hard sport to capture in a sketch—but having a pen in hand is what matters most.

That’s it for this week! I’d love to hear how you stay inspired—whether through art, music, sports, or something else entirely.

Thanks for reading and have a great April!

So, today marks the anniversary of my last day of office work.

Well, technically, it’s tomorrow because of the leap year, but close enough.

Whew.

It’s been a whirlwind of a year.

Over the past twelve months, I’ve taken on a variety of marketing, graphic design, and illustration projects—each rewarding in its own way. I love the mix of work and the many people I get to collaborate with.

At the very start, I designed the logo and signage for Birdie on Water Street, a local bakery (which, by the way, has the most delicious treats). I remember showing up with my tape measure and notebook for my first job meeting, feeling like I was free-falling—unsure of where things would lead. But diving into the branding for this new bakery was something I could really sink my teeth into—literally.

I still feel like I’m free-falling. Maybe that feeling never goes away. Relying entirely on myself is something I’ve never had to do before.

But I’ve learned a lot over the past year. Here are three key lessons:

Diversify. Illustration is a competitive field. Taking on part-time work or branching into other areas—like graphic design, printmaking, and marketing—helps keep things steady. For now, I’ve accepted that variety is part of the journey.

Be patient. I recently finished illustrating one book and have another lined up for this year—both opportunities that came from an email I sent when I first started freelancing. Publishing moves at a slow pace, but persistence pays off.

Take your work seriously. For years, I kept my illustration and art as a side project—maybe as a way of avoiding full commitment. But now, I have no choice but to fully invest in it. Thinking deeply about my art, what I want to say, and how to improve has become my priority. I’m learning to embrace the process, take my time, and push myself to get better every day.

Tonight, I’ll be celebrating this past year and all the lessons learned with sushi.

Thanks for reading!

November marks eight months since I embarked on this path.

Crazy. Wonderful.

I won’t say it’s been a cakewalk—transitioning from a full-time job to freelancing has had its challenges.

One challenge has been organizing my time. When I was working full-time and doing side projects, every minute of my day was accounted for. Now, I have to create my schedule from scratch, which can be overwhelming.

Another challenge has been figuring out what I want to do. Suddenly, I have countless options, and I’m not always sure what to choose. I now have time to experiment with different styles and mediums, time to dream, time to plan, and time to reach out to potential clients. I’ve never had so much opportunity for growth as an artist. But rather than just a blessing, it's also overwhelming.

So, what have I actually done over the last few months?

Well, I watched 19 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, took afternoon naps, stared at blank sheets of paper, and sometimes did nothing at all.

Which brings me to my biggest challenge: managing expectations.

When I say I did nothing, it wasn’t completely nothing. I finished the massive Bowring Park Map project, handled graphic design work for Kittiwake Dance Theatre, created a marketing plan and managed social media for the Cupids Legacy Centre Art Fair, illustrated four images for CBC article We asked, you answered: A reimagined St. John's harbourfront, applied for several projects, and took on other smaller jobs. I drew a lot of illustrations.

And now, I’m about to start working on illustrations for a book set to be released in 2025!

The thing is, I felt like I should have done much more. I had this idea that I would wake up bright and early every morning, work out, eat healthy, walk for hours a day, and be an amazing illustrator—rainbows, unicorns, and sunshine every day.

But it didn’t happen that way, and I struggled. Some days, I felt like I was just floating and I lost direction for a bit.

I’ve had to learn to accept this period as a time of adjustment. I wasn’t going to be a superstar—not right away, anyway. But I can do the best I can each day.

I think it’s all part of the process. Like learning to draw, you have to make a lot of bad drawings before they become good. Starting something new means having a lot of bad days before a new routine becomes the new reality.

I’m learning to embrace the process, and maybe those unicorns and rainbows might show up a bit more often.

Happy November. Rainbows and unicorns to you all.

Happy first day of May! Although it doesn’t quite feel like it yet here in Newfoundland, but at least I can sketch the RDF (rain, drizzle, fog for those not from here) from out my windows.

Lately, I've been fortunate to be part of two groups of friends. "The Fast Enoughers" are musicians I jam with weekly, and "The Amblers" are hiking buddies I've known for years. With “The Fast Enoughers” we play tunes at whatever speed it takes for all of us to learn and enjoy playing the tunes. “The Amblers” take leisurely walks through the woods with plenty of breaks to look around, take photos, and enjoy the hike. We don’t worry about how far we go or how fast we get there.

Everything these days seems to have become a competition, and I believe healthy competition is becoming rare. From competition shows to social media, the pressure to compare and perform better is relentless. Productivity isn’t measured by what is reasonable to do in a day anymore. We are constantly being pushed to race harder, produce more, buy more.

This unhealthy competition fosters a myopic view of the world and causes anxiety. We fear being last or excluded above everything else. Unfortunately, this doesn't build a sense of community or confidence; it only perpetuates an ever-shifting goal of “better”.

And, competition is death to art.

When we compare our work to others', we hinder our creative growth. Art should be about exploration and sharing, not fitting into some predetermined standard.

I have gone down the social media rabbit hole and have given myself the “am I good enough?” willies, as comparison on these platforms is unavoidable. But, these days I’m trying to just focus on the act of drawing, playing music, or walking in the woods rather than wondering if I’m doing them right.

It’s much more rewarding.

Have a good week!

Caroline