29: Drawing Connections

Sketchbook Originals, Upcoming Presentation, and Workshops

Mar 01, 2025

Hi friend,

Welcome to the March edition of Drawing Connections! This month, I've refined my sketchbook practice to bridge the gap between quick studies and larger oil and watercolour pieces. I have also taken the brave step of liberating some of my works from my sketchbooks. I've also been thinking about my creative path for the year ahead—how I can connect more deeply with my work, my audience, and the art community.

-Mike

Sketchbook Originals Collection

For the first time ever, I'm releasing a small collection of Sketchbook Originals—a very special collection of artwork created during my regular coffee shop visits early before work and on the weekends. These pieces are deeply personal, capturing moments of inspiration from my sketching on location, interacting with other local patrons as much as I was with the paint and paper.

This collection will launch Monday, March 3rd, at 9 AM EST at shop.mikehendley.com. There are only four originals; when they are gone, they’re gone. You have first access, but I will announce it on social media 48 hours later, on March 5th, 2025.

Gilded Green – $300 CAD
This watercolor of a Chrysina lecontei beetle captures its metallic green glow through many layered washes. It was painted over multiple visits to Equator Coffee in Kanata and built up with Golden QoR paints in an Etchr sketchbook. These beetles have reflective exoskeletons that make them look like living jewels.
Coastal Companions – $325 CAD
A lively trio of puffins, known as "sea parrots" for their vibrant beaks, perched on a rocky coastline. These expert divers use their wings to "fly" underwater in search of fish. This watercolor captures their playful energy and the wild beauty of their ocean home.
Sailor of the Sky – $350 CAD
An albatross enjoying a peaceful moment on a distant shore. This one was a challenge--the subtlety of the feathers and the movement of the ocean pushed me! Painted with Golden QoR watercolors in an Etchr A5 hot press sketchbook using Pentel Aquash brushes. Albatrosses can fly thousands of miles without flapping their wings!
Forest Climber – $325 CAD
This watercolor of an Eurasian nuthatch was a joy to create. It captures the blend of blues and violets in its feathers and the mossy log textures. Painted in an Etchr A5 hot press sketchbook with watercolours, every detail was worth it. Did you know nuthatches can climb headfirst down trees, unlike most birds? Nature is incredible.

Each piece is a page cut directly from my Etchr A5 sketchbook and signed, making it a unique collector's item. The artwork is created on 100% cotton hot press 220 GSM paper from an Etchr A5 sketchbook. The paper size is 5.75" x 9" (14.6 cm x 22.9 cm).

The artwork, unframed and signed, will include a certificate of authenticity and should be mounted behind UV protective glass.

These are one-of-a-kind originals, and prints may come later. If you're interested, visit shop.mikehendley.com Monday, March 3, at 9 AM EST to see the full details and grab yours before they're gone!

Do you know someone who may be interested in one of these pieces? Feel free to share using the button below.

Upcoming Talk at Arteast Art Club: April 29, 2025

The Arteast artist group in Ottawa has kindly invited me to give an in-person talk this April as part of their Grow with Art speaker series on how sketchbooks can fuel artistic growth. In Sketching Your Way Forward: Building Skills and Ideas Through Practice, I’ll share my “late to art“ journey and how my sketchbook practice has shaped my work in graphite, watercolors, and oils. I’ll also pull insights from over 100 artist interviews from my Drawing Inspiration podcast to highlight why sketchbooks are such a powerful tool for creativity and experimentation.

I’ll be bringing a selection of my finished and unfinished sketchbooks so you can see my work up close—everything from quick studies to more refined pieces—along with the tools I use to create it. If you're curious about my tiny oil paintings, I’ll also have some of those with me.

This talk ties into my 2025 theme of connection—how sketchbooks help us connect ideas, techniques, and even with other artists.

If you have a sketchbook you are working on, bring it along so I can see it. Hope to see you there!

Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2025 @ 7 PM

Location: Peter D. Clarke Place, Ottawa

Registration: No registration required—just show up!

Learn more about Arteast

Something Special from Pentel Canada

I have enjoyed working as a Pentel Canada Ambassador. It has been wonderful to get a sneak peek and try new products. My favourite tools are a Graphgear 1000 .5 mm loaded with 4B lead and a .3 mm loaded with 2B lead. I also lean on the Orenz Nero .3 mm and .5 mm because they are lighter, and I do like the feel, albeit at a higher price tier.

As you can see in many of my images, I also rely heavily on all the Pentel Aquash water brushes (large, medium, and small) because they are so easy to work with in a coffee shop or outdoor location.

Pentel Canada has let me know that a new batch of point liners is available, and all are 15% off for the month of March. However, I am sharing the code below for an additional 15% off your complete order! Yes, this is the time to top up your supplies or even try something like the Pentel Sign Pen, which I used for the frogs in the image above.

Use the code PentelAmbassador15 for 15% off your entire order!

Shop Pentel.ca

Looking Ahead: Workshops and Mentorship

I’ve been actively researching and visiting locations for evening/weekend workshops later this year. These first beginner workshops will cover drawing and watercolour in sketchbooks, which would be helpful to everyone, whether refining their drawing, nature journaling, or urban sketching.

I am also looking to host a full-day workshop in late 2025 or 2026. It would be wonderful to spend a day or two at a retreat in the woods drawing and painting nature together. I’ll share some pics of these on-site visits in the next few weeks on my Instagram and Bluesky.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your technique, I want to help you grow. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming sessions; I will announce them via the newsletter first!

Final Thoughts

2025 is shaping up to be a year of growth and experimentation. Whether it’s refining my process, sharing my journey, or helping others develop their skills, I’m excited for what’s ahead.

Thanks for being part of this journey. Let’s keep drawing, painting, and creating together!