Mike Hendley

  • Not my usual subject but that’s what pulled me in. Layer after layer, pencil after pencil, I let the water shape itself. GraphGear 1000 (.3 2B and .5 4B), a lot of blending, a lot of learning. It scared me. That’s how I knew it mattered.

    Graphite drawing of a woman's face partially submerged in water, only her eyes, forehead, and textured curly hair visible above the surface.

  • Not my typical subject but felt compelled to start this one over coffee today. Maybe a feeling of keeping one’s head above the water. Busy days. Happy to be heading back to Ithaca for a few days. I plan to fit in some drawing and painting.

    A graphite drawing in progress in a sketchbook shows a pair of realistic human eyes and the bridge of a nose emerging from the page. A mechanical pencil with a metal grip, a kneaded eraser, and a blending stump rest nearby on a wooden table, suggesting an artist’s workspace in use.

  • A chipmunk showed up with a nut, cleaned its tail, and something about it made me paint without thinking too hard. Used QoR watercolors and Pentel water brushes in my A6 Etchr sketchbook. Felt like catching stillness mid-chaos. Like holding your own tail. #sciart

    A watercolor painting of a chipmunk sitting upright on a rock, holding its tail in both paws with a soft green background. A few crumbs are scattered on the ground in front.

  • Spotted this tufted titmouse in Sapsucker Woods a few weeks ago. I didn’t notice the band until I started this piece. Light washes in my A6 Etchr sketchbook with Pentel brushes. I always start with the eye and stop when it winks. Like trying to hold a moment still without hurting it. #sciart #birds

    Watercolor painting of a tufted titmouse perched on a branch, painted in a sketchbook with visible palette and water brushes beside it.

  • It’s been a busy week with a big focus around AI in healthcare (my day job). But I finally had a chance this morning to start this tufted titmouse in watercolor. Grateful for these quiet moments especially when life decides that top gear is needed. #birds #sciart

    A watercolor sketch of a tufted titmouse in a sketchbook. The bird has a small crest, gray back, and warm beige breast. A blue waterbrush rests on the page, and a watercolor palette sits to the right.

  • I watched this osprey at Stewart Park (Ithaca, NY) this summer. Its posture, that nest, the feathers in the breeze. Drew it mostly with my Graphgear 1000 .5mm (4B) and some fine .3mm 2B for detail. The nest was my fave part to draw. We’ll dive into this technique in my January course. #sciart #birds

    Realistic pencil drawing of an osprey perched on a wooden post beside its nest, rendered with high detail in a sketchbook using graphite pencils and fine lines.

  • New to drawing or coming back to it? Join me in Stittsville, Ontario. 5 Tuesdays, Jan 13 to Feb 10, 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Learn to see shapes, measure, and shade with simple tools. Supplies included. Waitlist: shop.mikehendley.com/products/… #sciart

    Promo graphic for “Studio Sessions with Mike Hendley, Drawing 1: Seeing and Sketching.” Collage of graphite sketches on sketchbook pages, including a turtle, red panda, blue jay, two small primates, manatees, and perched eagles, with a circular headshot of Mike. Text states a five-week beginner course focused on nature observation and fundamental skills, with supplies included.

  • Painted this one upside down by accident and just kept going. It’s based on a photo of two sandpipers on the shoreline from a friend of mine. Used Pentel water brushes with Golden QOR paints in an Etchr hot press sketchbook. #sciart #birds

    Watercolor of two sandpipers on driftwood near water, in a sketchbook surrounded by paint palette, water brushes, and cloth.

  • After a long week at work, I spent a couple hours in a coffee shop this morning sketching this tree frog from start to finish. Looser than usual, but it felt good to create again. Absence of art really does make the heart grow fonder. #sciart #herp #artist

    A detailed pencil sketch of a frog is featured in an open sketchbook, surrounded by art supplies.

  • Painted this river otter in watercolor using a medium Pentel Aquash for the fine fur. It started curious, turned kind of defiant, and now it’s quietly judging me for working so small. Definitely want to go way bigger next time. #sciart #watercolor #artist

    A watercolor painting of a river otter perched on a rock near water, with fine detail in its fur and a soft, misty background. Art supplies and a palette are visible around the sketchbook.

  • An hour into this watercolor sketch of an otter. I added Washi tape around the edge because this piece will include a background. This was a very tricky start trying to get the details in the eyes with a medium tip Pentel water brush. Paynes grey violet is fantastic for wet brown fur #wip #sciart

    A watercolor sketch of an otter in progress in a sketchbook. Palette and water brush in the background.

  • Between workshop prep, I squeezed in this leopard sketch. The scale pushed me, specifically the spots and face details. Pentel Nero Orenz .2 mm HB for the fine stuff, Graphgear 1000s for the rest, and a 2.0 mm 6B clutch pencil for the dark rocks. Leopards carry prey heavier than themselves. #sciart

    Realistic graphite sketch of a leopard standing alert on a rocky ledge, drawn in a sketchbook with fine shading and spotted details.

  • Coffee shop sketches, photography, and patience with wildlife feed my art. Practicing in public is how I grow. Bringing that approach into my first in-person drawing workshops starting in 2026. I wrote about it here. www.pawstrailsmagazine.com/practice-… #sciart

    Watercolor painting of a caiman head in profile, showing textured scales and a bright yellow eye, on white paper.

  • I watched this green heron hunt in Stewart Park, Ithaca, NY. Sketched in coffee shops using Polychromos colored pencils on Stonehenge paper mounted to aluminum (Legion Paper). Moments after this pose it caught a catfish. Green herons are one of the smallest herons in North America. #birds #sciart

    Realistic colored pencil drawing of a green heron perched low on bare branches, body stretched forward with its beak aimed down as if about to strike prey.

  • It’s almost time to open registration for my first in-person workshop in 2026. Course materials, supplies and a new community web site for all attendees. Happy though to get back to this green heron in colored pencil on Stonehenge white mounted to an aluminum panel. Thanks Legion Paper. #sciart

    An unfinished colored pencil drawing of a green heron on paper is surrounded by various colored pencils.

  • Drew this monarch with Pentel Graphgear pencils and a blender. Its wing was torn, its life near the end, but its offspring are likely preparing for the long trip to Mexico. I’ll be bringing monarchs into my 2026 workshops too–they feel like drawings that keep teaching me. #invertefest #sciart #art

    Graphite sketch of a monarch butterfly with a torn lower wing resting on a flower, faint wildflowers in the background.

  • Finished this red-footed falcon in colored pencil. My first time on Stonehenge White mounted to aluminum. I’d painted it in watercolor months ago, but coming back to pencil allowed me to explore the medium and the leaves a bit more. #birds #sciart

    Realistic colored pencil drawing of a red-footed falcon perched on a branch with autumn leaves, surrounded by colored pencils on a wooden table.

  • Progress from this morning’s coffee shop drawing of a red-footed falcon with colored pencil. I really enjoy practicing in public. Love the interest from others in my materials and process and also sharing pics of their work like artist Sabine visiting from Germany. #bird #sciart #coloredpencil

    A detailed drawing of a red footed falcon perched on a branch is in progress, surrounded by various colored pencils.

  • I haven’t used coloured pencils in quite some time but I had to try this paper mounted on an aluminum panel from Legion Paper. This red-footed is the perfect subject. I also reorganized my coffee shop kit to accommodate the panel and roll of Polychromos pencils. More to come #wip #sciart #birds

    A detailed drawing of a red-footed falcon’s head is surrounded by colored pencils on a sketchpad.

  • Painted this green heron after spotting one at the pond in Stewart Park in Ithaca. Done in my Etchr A5 hot press sketchbook with QoR watercolors + Pentel waterbrushes. Green herons are rare tool users–they’ll drop bait on the water to catch fish. #sciart #birds

    Watercolor painting of a green heron perched on a weathered stump, done in a sketchbook with a palette and brush visible beneath the page.

  • Painted this Aldabra giant tortoise slowly with a limited palette and a lot of coffee (literally). These gentle giants can live over 150 years. That kind of long, steady survival feels like a small miracle lately. #sciart #addherper #watercolor

    A watercolor painting of an Aldabra giant tortoise, detailed in soft browns and grays, walking with its neck extended, sketched on hot press paper.

  • Tried to capture the soft but ancient stare of a spectacled caiman. Textured scales, muted greens, that fierce yellow eye all painted with Golden QoR watercolors on Etchr hot press paper using Pentel waterbrushes. Did you know they’re named for a “spectacle” ridge above their eyes? #sciart

    Watercolor painting of a spectacled caiman's head in profile, with detailed scales in grays and muted greens, and a striking yellow eye. Painted in an Etchr A6 sketchbook using Golden QoR watercolors and Pentel waterbrushes, with paints visible in the background.

  • A coffee shop start on a young caiman. Just laying in the first washes with my waterbrush to catch that textured skin and sharp eye before heading back to the studio. Love taking these small moments to warm up. #sciart #artist #watercolor

    Watercolor sketch of a caiman’s head in profile, showing textured scales, sharp teeth, and a striking yellow eye, painted on a sketchbook page with a watercolor palette visible below.

  • Planning my first beginner graphite workshop in Ottawa this fall has me so excited, but I took a break to sketch this tiger. Even as a dog person, I love these wild cats. Just graphite, some blending + indentation. No two tigers share the same stripes. #sciart #drawing

    Realistic graphite sketch of a Bengal tiger mid-step, mouth slightly open in a soft snarl. Fine pencil shading captures its stripes and muscular form. Drawn in a sketchbook with mechanical pencils visible on the table.

  • Snowy owls visit here in winter and they feel like living spells, silent and huge. Quick sketch with Pentel mechanical pencils and blending for soft shadows. Males can hoot loud enough to be heard seven miles away, a ghost voice on the tundra. #sciart #birds

    A pencil sketch of a snowy owl in flight, wings outstretched low over the ground, heading toward a small mouse. Soft shading captures the delicate feathers and motion.

subscribe via RSS