Mike Hendley

  • 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.

  • Spent time at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology this morning in Ithaca, capturing a Canada goose that decided to nap mid-sketch! It was cold so I went inside and using one the scopes they have set up. Used my Leuchtturm A6, Pentel GraphGear 1000, and 4B lead. Did you know Canada geese mate for life? 🖤

    A hand is holding a notebook with a pencil sketch of a duck and a pen resting on top, with a blurred outdoor background.

  • Just finished this Western meadowlark watercolor in my Etchr sketchbook with a medium Pentel Aquash brush! Worked hard to balance the yellows and shadows, using QoR Paynes Gray (violet) for subtle depth. Did you know their song marks the start of spring? #birds #sciart

    Watercolor painting of a Western meadowlark perched on a post, showcasing a vibrant yellow chest, dark markings, and brown speckled feathers. The artist’s hand is visible holding the artwork.

  • Sketched this blue jay with Pentel pencils in a Leuchtturm A6 softcover. Blue jays’ feather patterns make them great subjects! Use code MIKE20 for 20% off your next Leuchtturm Canada order.

    Graphite drawing of a blue jay perched on a branch in an A6 Leuchtturm sketchbook, showing fine detail in the feathers and realistic shading.

  • Finished this common kingfisher with a crayfish snack in my Etchr sketchbook! Used QoR watercolors from Golden and a medium-size Pentel Aquash brush. Kingfishers dive up to 25 mph to catch prey—nature is incredible! 🐦✨

    A watercolor painting of a vibrant kingfisher holding a crayfish in its beak. The artwork is displayed in an open sketchbook, with a palette of QoR watercolors from Golden and a medium-size Pentel Aquash brush nearby. The kingfisher has vivid blue and orange feathers, with a soft green background wash.

  • Spent Sunday morning finishing this watercolor tiger in my Etchr A6 sketchbook. Used a Pentel water brush and Golden QoR watercolors from my ArtToolkit. Tigers’ stripes are like fingerprints—each pattern is unique! 🐅

    A close-up watercolor painting of a tiger in an Etchr A6 sketchbook, with vibrant orange and black stripes. The artist’s hand is visible holding a Pentel water brush, and a watercolor palette with various colors is seen in the background.

  • My graphite sketch of two owl monkeys (Aotus lemurinus) from Scriptus 2024 in Toronto! Their big eyes were a challenge to capture using just a 0.7 mm Leuchtturm pencil with 4B lead. Fun fact: Owl monkeys are nocturnal and have incredible night vision! #sciart

    A detailed graphite sketch of two owl monkeys with large, expressive eyes and soft, fur details drawn on cream-colored sketchbook paper.

  • Are you in or near Toronto? Have plans on Sunday? Check out the Scriptus show! You can find me at the Leuchtturm booth doing some drawing. Stop in and say hi, bring your sketchbook so I can see. It’s free! www.scriptusinc.com

  • Just sketched a bear catching a fish using a Leuchtturm pencil with 4B lead in my Leuchtturm 1917 sketchbook. Capturing the motion of the water was quite the challenge! 🐻✏️

    Pencil drawing of a bear catching a fish, with splashes of water, in a Leuchtturm 1917 sketchbook. The bear’s detailed fur and expression are depicted using a Leuchtturm pencil with 4B lead.

  • 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.

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