Mike Hendley

  • This graphite study was all about playing with textures–wet hair, sand-speckled skin, and the depth of a blurred ocean. Used Pentel mechanical pencils (.5mm 4B, .3mm 2B, .2mm 2B), a blender, BluTack, and an electric eraser to get the details just right!

    A graphite pencil drawing of a woman sitting on a beach with wet hair, arms wrapped around her knees. Her gaze is intense, and sand clings to her skin. The drawing captures light and shadow masterfully, with a blurred ocean in the background. Art tools are laid out beside the sketchbook.

  • Experimented with a human sketch for a change! The paper’s texture was tricky, but layering graphite with my Graphgear pencils, clutch, wooden, and powder made it work. Might explore this as an oil study later. Always fun stepping out of the comfort zone!

    A graphite sketch of a woman in profile with her head slightly bowed, wearing a loose garment. The shading is soft, with smooth gradients blending into the paper’s texture. Surrounding the sketchbook are Graphgear pencils, clutch pencils, Faber-Castell Pitt graphite, graphite powder, brushes, and an eraser.

  • Layered up and ready to go! This Chrysina lecontei watercolor took a couple coffee shop visits (plus a dozen layers in spots) to get the glow. Painted with golden QoR paints, an Art Toolkit palette, and a water brush–soon, it’ll be leaving my sketchbook for a new home! #insects #sciart

    A detailed watercolor painting of a Chrysina lecontei beetle in an A5 sketchbook. The beetle has a metallic green sheen with intricate shading and highlights. Surrounding the artwork are an Art Toolkit palette with golden QoR paints and a water brush

  • Loved working on this European robin sketch, especially getting lost in the details of bark and feathers. Used Pentel Graphgear 1000 (.3mm & .5mm, 2B & 4B) and Orenz Nero .2mm 2B for the finest touches. Fun fact: European robins belong to the flycatcher family! #birds #sciart

    A realistic graphite drawing of a European robin perched on a weathered tree stump, created in a sketchbook. The fine details of the bird's feathers and the bark's texture stand out. Surrounding the sketchbook are mechanical pencils and an eraser, tools used for the artwork.

  • Painting this Eurasian nuthatch was a rewarding challenge! Its blues, violets, and the mossy log textures tested my watercolor techniques. Slight differences from the nuthatches in our yard. Did you know nuthatches can climb headfirst down trees? Nature is amazing. #birds #sciart

    A detailed watercolor painting of a Eurasian nuthatch perched on a mossy log, created in an Etchr A5 hot press sketchbook, with a watercolor palette and brushes visible nearby.

  • Slow and steady wins the art race! This snail sketch was created using a 0.7 mm Leuchtturm pencil loaded with 4B lead, focusing on its shell’s texture and bumpy body. Did you know snails can sleep for up to three years? 🐌

    A detailed pencil drawing of a snail in a sketchbook, rendered with precise textures on its shell and body. A black mechanical pencil rests below the sketch on a wooden table.

  • Captured the quiet strength of bald eagles with this graphite sketch. Fun fact: female bald eagles are larger, with wingspans up to 8 feet! Pentel Graphgear 1000 .3 mm and .5 mm used for those fine details. #birds #sciart

    A realistic pencil sketch of two bald eagles perched on tree branches, drawn in a sketchbook. Two mechanical pencils, a Pentel Graphgear 1000, are placed nearby on a wooden surface.

  • Watercolor sketch of Taughannock Falls in Ithaca to prep for winter plein air painting tomorrow with oils. Using a photo I took last year, I was focusing on light, value, and shape while dreaming of summer hikes. Nice to sketch over coffee. Did you know this waterfall is 215 feet tall? 🌿🎨

    A vibrant watercolor sketch of Taughannock Falls in a sketchbook, surrounded by a compact watercolor palette, water brushes, and a blue-stained paper towel. The waterfall cascades between towering rock cliffs, framed by trees and a bright blue sky.

  • This lilac-breasted roller was a joy (and challenge) to paint in watercolour! Balancing its vibrant colors with a soft sky background was tricky but so rewarding. These “flying rainbows” are native to sub-Saharan Africa! 🎨 #birds #sciart

    A watercolor painting of a vibrant lilac-breasted roller perched on a thorny branch, displayed in an open sketchbook. The bird has vivid blue, purple, pink, and brown tones, with a soft sky in the background. Nearby are water brushes and a watercolor palette.&10;

  • It’s been a big year of growth! I explored oils, became a Leuchtturm ambassador (code MIKE20 at checkout), partnered with Etchr & Gwartzman’s for a demo, and visited Golden in NY. Stepping away from the podcast gave me time to focus on art. Here’s to creativity in 2025! Keep drawing! #artvartist

    A collage of artistic sketches and paintings featuring animals, nature scenes, art supplies, and a person speaking at an event is displayed.

  • This Eurasian eagle owl came to life through a graphite sketch that started in a coffee shop, then to a pharmacy, and home. A nice mix of tools for this one including some makeup brushes for the background. Known for their striking orange eyes, these owls inspire elegance and power. #birds

    A detailed graphite drawing of an Eurasian eagle owl in a sketchbook. Tools, including graphite pencils, blending stumps, brushes, and a kneaded eraser, are displayed beside it on a wooden surface.

  • A wintery crow with festive vibes for a friend who loves them! Using Etchr cold press greeting cards. Masking fluid brought the snowflakes to life, and Payne’s gray + ultramarine + cerulean captured the crow’s rich tones. #birds

    A watercolor painting of a crow standing in snow beside a blue ornament decorated with snowflakes. Snowflakes fall in the background. The painting is on a cold-press greeting card, shown alongside a watercolor palette and a Pentel water brush.&10;

  • Painted this rufous-eyed brook frog with Golden QoR watercolors in an Art Toolkit palette on an A6 Etchr sketchbook. 8-10 layers for the chest alone! Inspired by a photo from Cynthia Bandurek. For 10% off your next Art Toolkit order use the code MIKEART10 #sciart

    A detailed painting of a tree frog on a leaf is accompanied by a watercolor set and brush.

  • Whenever I visit Ithaca, I stop at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This time, snow kept me indoors, sketching birds overlooking the Cornell FeederWatch Cam. Blue jays, cardinals, titmice–they all kept me busy in my Leuchtturm A6 sketchbook. Use MIKE20 for 20% off at Leuchtturm Canada! #birds

    A sketchbook page features detailed pencil drawings of various animal heads, including birds and a small mammal, with a pen resting on the page.

  • I painted this festive fawn on an Etchr cold press card! Sketched with Graphgear 1000 (.5 mm - 4B lead), painted using QoR watercolors and Pentel Aquash brushes.

    A watercolor painting on a greeting card of a fawn standing on snow, with a red ornament featuring white snowflake patterns resting near its back leg. Tools and materials like water brushes, a mechanical pencil, and a watercolor palette are visible around the card.

  • A Cape Fur Seal sketch with a Pentel GraphGear 1000 .5 mm pencil (4B lead) and a blender in my Leuchtturm A6 sketchbook. 🦭 #sciart

    pencil sketch of a Cape Fur Seal sitting on a rock, drawn in a sketchbook. Tools visible include a Pentel GraphGear 1000 mechanical pencil, a blending stump, and a kneaded eraser.

  • Created this festive mouse card over lunch for an event this evening! 🐭🎄 QoR watercolors (with interference magic) on an Etchr greeting card with a Pentel water brush. Mice are as tidy as cats–did you know? Perfect for a holiday vibe!

    A detailed watercolor painting of a brown mouse holding a red Christmas ornament, created on a folded Etchr cold press greeting card. Nearby are a watercolor palette, a Pentel aquash brush pen, and a mechanical pencil on a wooden surface.

  • This little piglet found its way into my Leuchtturm sketchbook! 🐗 Drehgriffel Pencil (4B lead), blending, and a bit of BlueTack magic. Did you know wild boar piglets have stripes when young for camouflage? Use the code ‘Mike20’ on the Leuchtturm Canada site for 20% off your order. #sciart

    A realistic pencil sketch of a small wild piglet drawn in an A6 sketchbook. A Leuchtturm Drehgriffel Nr. 2 pencil and blending stump are shown alongside the artwork on a wooden table.

  • This squirrel started as a sketch at a demo I gave at Gwartzman’s last weekend. I added some color using QoR watercolors and a Pentel water brush in my Etchr A5 hot press sketchbook. Fun fact: squirrels bury thousands of nuts every season and use memory to find them later! 🐿️ #sciart

    A watercolor painting of a squirrel holding an acorn in its mouth, perched on a branch. The artwork is on a sketchbook page with a vibrant watercolor palette and a Pentel water brush in the background.&10;

  • A 25 minute sketch of a black-capped chickadee with mushroom ink and walnut ink that I made. Etchr A6 cold press sketchbook. I’ll bring them to the demo I am doing in Toronto this Saturday from 1-4 at Gwartzman’s so you can try them out. Link in my bio. #birds #sciart

    A drawing of a bird on a branch is surrounded by bottles of mushroom and walnut ink, along with drawing tools on a wooden surface.

  • Here’s my first full-sized piece (9”x12”) on Etchr’s new hot pressed watercolor block–a dormouse in all its delicate detail! 🐭✨ The paper’s slightly textured surface is perfect for balancing detail and smooth washes, and the 350 gsm weight is a dream to work on. #sciart

    A watercolor painting of a dormouse perched on a branch, surrounded by a watercolor palette, two water brushes, and glasses on an Etchr hot-pressed watercolor paper block.

  • Happy Watercolor Day! Sharing a few recent paintings, from puffins to harvest mice. Let’s keep celebrating creativity–what are you painting this weekend?

    A collage of watercolor paintings showcasing diverse subjects: puffins on a grassy hill, a shoebill stork, a botanical study of autumn leaves, an old architectural building, a blue parrot, a honeybee, a hanging bat, two harvest mice perched on poppy heads, and a small bird on reeds. Text reads: "Happy Watercolor Day."

  • Just finished this great spotted woodpecker in watercolor! Loved using brighter colors, and rendering weathered birch bark was tricky. Painted in my Etchr A6 sketchbook with QoR colors and a Pentel Aquash brush. Fun fact: woodpeckers can peck 20 times a second without harm! #bird #sciart

    A watercolor painting of a great spotted woodpecker perched on a tree trunk, created in a sketchbook. Nearby are watercolor pans, a Pentel Aquash water brush, and an array of pens in a green fabric case.

  • This eastern bluebird pushed my skills with its detailed feathers and textured birch perch! Painted with QoR watercolors and a Pentel Aquash brush, it’s all about the layers and a larger palette of about seven colours for this one. Thanks to Jan Allinder for the inspiring photo reference!

    A watercolor painting of an eastern bluebird perched on a weathered birch stump, created with vibrant colors and fine details. A palette of QoR watercolors and a Pentel Aquash water brush are visible next to the artwork.&10;

  • Join me on Sat, Nov 30th from 1-4 pm at Gwartzman’s Art Supplies in Toronto for an in-store demo hosted by Etchr! 🎨✨I’ll be showcasing sketching techniques covering graphite, watercolour, and more. Also, a limited-edition stamp for sketchbooks purchased that day. 🖊️📖✨tickets link in my bio!

    An art demo event flyer featuring Mike Hendley and promoting Etchr's art materials at Gwartzman's Art Supplies in Toronto.

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