Mike Hendley

  • Celebrating National Fossil Day with a graphite rendering of a T. rex skull I spotted at the Canadian Museum of Nature Open House! 🦖 Used my Pentel Graphgear 1000 with 4B lead to capture the bone’s intricate details. Did you know T. rex had one of the strongest bites of any land animal? #sciart

    Graphite drawing of a Tyrannosaurus skull on white paper, showing intricate details of the bone structure.&10;

  • Tried out my Leuchtturm Drehgriffel pencil with .7mm 4B lead for this manatee duo in my 1917 sketchbook! Graphite layers and powder created their serene underwater world. Fun fact: manatees, despite their size, are graceful swimmers!

    A detailed pencil drawing of two manatees gently floating side by side underwater. The manatees are depicted in soft shades of graphite, with subtle bubbles around them, adding to the serene aquatic atmosphere. The drawing is done in a Leuchtturm 1917 sketchbook.

  • These puffins remind me of my Newfoundland trip! Painted with watercolors in an A5 Etchr sketchbook and a Pentel Aquash water brush. This original piece will be up in my store later this week—message me if interested! Fun fact: puffin beaks change color during the year!

    A watercolor painting of three puffins standing on grass, captured in progress. The painting is in an open A5 sketchbook, placed on a wooden table. Next to the sketchbook are a palette with vibrant watercolor paints and various drawing tools, including a water brush.&10;

  • Quick giraffe watercolor today! Subtle use of QoR Paynes Gray for depth. Painted in my Etchr hot press sketchbook with a Pentel fine water brush. Fun fact: giraffes can sleep standing up!

    Watercolor painting of a giraffe's head and long neck, featuring a detailed pattern of spots. The painting is shown alongside a watercolor palette and a Pentel fine water brush. The artwork is done on a white sketchbook with smooth paper.

  • Just finished a sketch of an American alligator! 🐊 Used my Pentel Orenz Nero with .5 mm 4B lead. Those scales were a challenge, but I love how it turned out. Fun fact: alligators have existed for over 150 million years! #sciart

    A detailed graphite sketch of an American alligator's head, showcasing intricate textures of the skin and scales. Two Pentel Orenz Nero pencils (.3 and .5 mm) are placed above the drawing. The shading softens along the neck, blending into the paper.

  • For crocodiles and coffee this morning, I started this one in graphite.

    A detailed pencil drawing of a crocodile’s eye and snout is shown on a sketchbook page, accompanied by a mechanical pencil and a blending stump.

  • Finished another beetle drawing with added environmental detail! Used a Pentel Graphgear 1000 (4B) and a 6B clutch pencil to create texture and light play. It’s fun how these small touches can make a big difference! 🌿 #sciart

    A realistic pencil drawing of a rhinoceros beetle on a textured branch, showcasing intricate details and shading. A Pentel Graphgear 1000 mechanical pencil and a clutch pencil are placed above the drawing.

  • A peaceful morning plein air oil painting at Heart Island in Ottawa. Dodged falling leaves with my umbrella and captured this tiny landscape. Serene and fulfilling, with a few curious visitors stopping by. 🌳🎨

    A tiny landscape painting inside a small metal tin, depicting a lush green scene with trees, shrubs, and a stone bridge. The tin also contains a palette with dabs of oil paint. The real landscape in the background matches the painting.&10;

  • I love insects. I painted this rhinoceros beetle in my Etchr sketchbook with QoR watercolors using Pentel water brushes. Fascinating how these little creatures can lift 850 times their weight! 🪲 What’s your favorite insect to draw or paint? #sciart #insects

    A watercolor painting of a rhinoceros beetle with a yellow and black shell on an open sketchbook, surrounded by a set of colorful QoR watercolors, paintbrushes, and a milky brush pen.

  • Worked on this common kingfisher over a few coffee shop sessions, inspired by a photo by Brett Pearson. Loving how the QoR watercolors bring it to life with the Pentel Aquash water brush! 🐦🎨

    Watercolor painting of a common kingfisher holding a small fish in its beak, perched on a mossy branch. The artwork is surrounded by a QoR watercolor palette, paint tubes, and a water brush on a coffee shop table.

  • Back to morning sketching at a coffee house with my trusty Pentel pencils! Loved capturing the strength and texture of this rhino’s features. Did you know rhinos use mud as natural sunscreen and insect repellent? 🦏 #sciart

    A detailed graphite sketch of a rhinoceros head, capturing the texture of its skin and the shape of its horn. Nearby, two Pentel drawing tools—a mechanical pencil, a drafting pencil, and a kneaded eraser—are placed above the artwork.

  • Back from vacation means back to early morning sketching. Started this pencil sketch of a rhino today. #sciart

    A realistic pencil sketch of a rhinoceros head is accompanied by drawing tools like mechanical pencils on an open notebook.

  • Tried something new today—painting a downtown Ottawa courtyard using Williamsburg oils in an Altoid tin! Stepping out of my comfort zone brought new inspiration. 🌳 But, need to get back nature :-)

    A miniature painting of a park scene is displayed inside a small open tin case with various colors of paint.

  • Back to sketching bugs at Equator Coffee in Almonte with my new Golden QoR watercolors and a Pentel Aquash water brush! Loving how the colors pop. Did you know some beetles can lift over 1,000 times their weight? 🐞

    A watercolor sketch of a vibrant green and blue insect, possibly a beetle, climbing a piece of wood, drawn on an open notebook. Nearby are a watercolor palette with various colors, a Pentel Aquash water brush, and a Pentel Graphgear 1000 mechanical pencil.

  • Painted a tiny landscape at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology this morning. Still learning, but enjoying the process! Using Golden Williamsburg oils in an Altoid tin for some portable plein air practice.

    A small landscape painting inside an open Altoid tin, depicting a tranquil lake surrounded by lush green trees. The painting is done with oil paints, which are visible in the bottom half of the tin, arranged in a colorful palette. The real-life scene of the lake is blurred in the background.

  • Captured this sunset scene at Stewart Park in Ithaca using my new Williamsburg oil set from Golden. Took about 90 minutes, still learning oils and working alla prima. Loved how it turned out!

    A small landscape painting in an open metal tin, held by an artist in front of a sunset scene at Stewart Park in Ithaca. The tin also contains vibrant oil paints in various colors. The painting captures trees, a distant island, and sailboats on a serene lake.&10;

  • My Leuchtturm 1917 is more than a sketchbook! This ural owl drawing I did in colored pencil is in the same book as some graphite work. My daughter uses a Leuchtturm notebook for her computational chemistry at Cornell. Versatile, just like our passions! Use the code MIKE20 for 20% off #sciart

    A realistic colored pencil drawing of a Ural Owl perched on a mossy branch with its prey, a small rodent, hanging beside it. The artwork is done in a Leuchtturm 1917 notebook, with colored pencils arranged below.

  • Quickly sketched an osprey and a green heron that were fishing at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology this morning—bucket list item checked! The 120 g Leuchtturm paper handled graphite beautifully. Use the code MIKE20 for 20% off for anything from Leuchtturm Canada!

    A sketchbook page featuring detailed graphite drawings of an osprey and a green heron. The osprey is shown catching a small catfish. The artist holds the sketchbook, with a beautiful nature scene visible in the background. Notes on the page indicate the sketches were made at Cornell Ornithology Lab, Ithaca, NY.

  • Painted this mini sunflower field in an Altoids tin using oils—my second time with the medium! 🌻 Took about 90 minutes, most of it spent in my car due to rain. Already planning to go bigger next time! #sciart

    A close-up of a miniature oil painting of a sunflower field inside an Altoids tin, held by the artist. The painting features bright yellow sunflowers under a blue sky with fluffy clouds. Below the painting, a palette with dabs of various oil paints is visible. The scene behind the tin shows a real sunflower field, slightly blurred.

  • Finished this graphite loon sketch during lunch. Used a Pentel Canada .5 mm Graphgear 1000 with 4B lead, BluTack, and a blender. Paddled beside one last week–such a haunting call and mystical bird. Did you know loons can dive up to 200 feet underwater? 🐦 #sciart

    A detailed graphite drawing of a loon with wings outstretched, created using a .5 mm Graphgear 1000 pencil. The drawing is displayed in an open sketchbook with the pencil placed beside it.

  • It’s been a little while since I posted. Painted this leopard frog start to finish at Equator coffee in Kanata. Used QoR watercolors and a fine detail Pentel aquash water brush to capture it. Did you know leopard frogs can jump up to 3 feet? 🐸

    A detailed watercolor painting of a leopard frog on an open sketchbook, surrounded by watercolor paints and brushes. The green and yellow hues of the frog contrast with the earthy tones of the sketchbook and painting supplies.

  • Finished this watercolor puffin sketch tonight! 🐧 Inspired by Newfoundland. Used QoR watercolors and a Pentel water brush in my A6 Etchr sketchbook. Puffins can dive up to 200 feet to catch fish! 🎨 #sciart

    Watercolor painting of a puffin standing on a rock, holding fish in its beak, displayed alongside a watercolor palette and a Pentel water brush.

  • It started with a quick penguin sketch but ended up with a barn owl, hornbill, and blue heron. All done with Pentel Graphgear 1000 pencils. 🖊️ I’m planning some in-person drawing & watercolor workshops in Ottawa in fall 2024/spring 2025—stay tuned! Subscribe to my newsletter #sciart

    A sketchbook page featuring pencil sketches of various bird heads, including a penguin, a barn owl, a hornbill, and a blue heron. The drawings are accompanied by a Pentel Graphgear 1000 mechanical pencil, a blending stump, and a piece of BluTack used for erasing. The sketches show a range of textures and details, highlighting the artist's technique and tools.

  • A fruit bat in watercolor using a Pentel water brush with my Art Toolkit palette and QoR watercolors in an Etchr hot press sketchbook. Fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, are crucial pollinators in many tropical regions! #sciart

    Watercolor painting of a fruit bat with wings spread, next to a watercolor palette and a Pentel aqua brush.&10;

  • Just finished this vibrant Cassowary bird using colored pencils in my Leuchtturm 1917 sketchbook! Did you know the Cassowary is one of the most dangerous birds in the world? Their kick can be lethal! 🦅✨ #sciart

    A detailed colored pencil drawing of a Cassowary bird in a Leuchtturm notebook. The bird features a striking blue head, a brown casque, and vivid red wattles, with two colored pencils beside the drawing.

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