Mike Hendley

  • 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.

  • I also had some time to start this owl sketch this morning. As with many drawings, I don’t get caught up with an outline but rather focus of head and eyes and use measurements from there to bring the subject to life. Sketching with the blender helps define the larger areas. #sciart #bird #birdart

    An open sketchbook features the start of a detailed pencil drawing of an owl with a mechanical pencil and an eraser placed nearby.

  • Painted this western lowland gorilla from using QoR Payne’s gray and gray violet layers + Pentel water brushes. Working on a creature so human-like was unsettling. It was like staring into a quiet mirror. They can even recognize themselves in reflections. #sciart #watercolor

    A realistic watercolor painting of a western lowland gorilla's face in profile, showing deep wrinkles, soulful amber eyes, and textured fur in muted grays and browns.

  • I am really enjoying painting this one in my sketchbook. Some pieces just pull you in and slow you down. This gorilla is a fun exploration of colors and hues. Slowly pushing the darks, bringing forward the highlights and wrapping it in warmth with this layer. Should I add a background? #wip #sciart

    A nearly finished watercolor painting of a lowland gorilla’s face, taped with black-and-white polka dot tape to a sketchpad and clipped with a green binder clip. Richer details and warmer tones define the gorilla’s fur and expressive eye. A watercolor palette, brush, stained cloth, and a coffee mug are visible on the wooden table in the background.

  • Busy week last week. Happy to be back in the sketchbook starting this challenging gorilla. #wip #sciart #watercolor

    Watercolor painting of a gorilla’s face in three-quarter view, taped with polka dot tape to a sketchpad. A water brush and compact palette sit nearby on a wooden table, with brushes and a paint-stained cloth in the background.

  • This red squirrel sketch took more time than normal and still doesn’t feel finished. But she’s a signpost, not a destination. Time to move on. Drawn with Pentel Graphgear pencils + graphite powder. Red squirrels can rotate their ankles 180° making them tiny forest acrobats. Parkour! #sciart #pencil

    Realistic graphite drawing of a red squirrel clinging upside down to tree bark with a detailed, softly shaded background.

  • I started this little friend this morning over coffee. #pencil #sciart

    A starte of a pencil sketch of a req squireel going down the side of a tree is drawn on an open notebook, surrounded by pens and a pair of glasses.

  • Sketched this American kestrel after it and its mate perched by our lot. Used Pentel Graphgear pencils, 0.3mm for fine detail, 0.5mm with 2B and 4B lead for depth. Makeup brushes with graphite powder for the background. These tiny falcons can hover like helicopters! #sciart #birdart #birds

    Realistic graphite drawing of an American kestrel perched on a branch, rendered in fine detail with smooth shading and soft background gradients. Pencils in the background.

  • Finished my green frog today over coffees this morning after letting sit in my sketchbook all week. Painted with QoR watercolors and Pentel brushes in an Etchr sketchbook. Many of these noisy friends hang out at our pond. Some calls can travel a mile! 🐸 #sciart #artist #watercolor

    A detailed watercolor painting of a frog resting on a log is surrounded by art supplies, including a palette and brushes.

  • Coffee-fueled sketch session today! WIP American kestrel in pencil to loosen up and added watercolor layers to the frog using Golden QoR paint. Loving the contrast in texture and detail so far. Frogs hydrate through their skin—nature is wild! #sciart #bird #birdart #artist

    Two sketchbook pages show an American kestrel pencil sketch and a detailed watercolor frog, with art supplies like a Pentel Graphgear pencil, brush pen, and watercolor palette.&10;

  • Painted this yellow warbler from a photo I took at Mud Lake in Ottawa. Yellows are a challenge, but QoR’s Green Gold helped it pop! Done with a Pentel Aquash brush in an Etchr A6 sketchbook. Fun fact: males sing over 3,000 times a day during breeding season! #sciart #birds #birdart

    Watercolor painting of a bright yellow warbler perched on a budding branch, created in a sketchbook with a visible waterbrush and paint palette.

  • Started a yellow warbler this morning for my morning coffee sketch before work. #birds #sciart #wip

    A watercolor painting of a yellow warbler perched on a branch is shown above a palette with various paint colors and a brush.

  • Quick morning sketch of a night heron spotted at Mud Lake—just one cup of coffee’s worth of drawing. Loved playing with the lily pad perspective and reflections. Night herons are stealthy dusk hunters, which adds to their mystique. #sciart #birdart #artist

    A graphite pencil sketch of a night heron standing in still water, surrounded by lily pads and subtle reflections.

  • This graphite sketch captures a female belted kingfisher I saw at Stewart Park in Ithaca. Drawn with Pentel Graphgear 1000s and clutch pencils, with plenty of blending and a blu-tack. She only stayed a few seconds but gave me all the inspiration I needed! #sciart #art #graphite

    A detailed graphite drawing of a female belted kingfisher perched on a gnarled branch, sketched in black and white with rich shading and fine textures.

  • Just finished this brown-lipped snail from Mud Lake in Ottawa 🐌 Had such a relaxing time with it using QoR watercolors and a Pentel water brush in an Etchr sketchbook. Grabbed new references in Ithaca yesterday too – totally beat but happy this one’s done! #sciart #artist

    Watercolor painting of a brown-lipped snail crawling on tree bark, rendered with high detail and realism in a small sketchbook.

  • This frog was too photogenic not to draw. Used a mix of Pentel Graphgear 1000 pencils and the Orenz Nero for the tiny bug. Took some time this morning to finish the texture and light work–feels good to wrap it up! #sciart #frog #artist

    Detailed graphite pencil sketch of a green frog resting on the ground, with reeds in the background and a small insect nearby.&10;

  • Quick Pteropodidae bat study started before work and finished at lunch. Used Pentel Graphgear pencils (.3mm 2B, .5mm 4B, .2mm HB) and blending for a shallow depth of field. Loved playing with fur textures and getting those expressive eyes just right. #sciart #artist #bat

    Realistic graphite sketch of a flying fox bat hanging upside down, with blurred wings and soft fur, drawn in a sketchbook.&10;

  • Painted this fairy wren over a latte at Equator Coffee in Indigo in Kanata. Quick 4B pencil sketch erased with BluTack, then detailed with Golden QoR watercolors on Etchr A6 hot press using Pentel Aquash brushes. Male fairy wrens sing to their chicks before they hatch–amazing! #sciart #art #birds

    Watercolor sketch of a fairy wren, painted in vivid blues and browns, perched on a stump; artist's hand holds a compact watercolor palette above.

  • Started this bumblebee drawing for World Bee Day. I focused on texture with my .3mm Pentel Graphgear and 2B lead, resisting the urge to create too much detail. Flowers got less love, but still pop. Tagging this with #RareLittleThings as a teaser–announcement coming soon! 😉😊 #sciart

    Graphite drawing of a bumblebee mid-flight next to a cluster of flowers, rendered in fine detail on white paper.

  • It’s World Bee Day so of course I had to work on this for my morning coffee shop pencil sketch. #wip #worldbeeday #sciart

    A start of a bumble bee being drawn in flight with two mechanical pencils off to the side as well as a blender.

  • This cougar sketch was all about exploring texture–from bark to fur. I used a range of Pentel mechanical pencils, but my go-to was the .5mm 4B. Loved capturing the tension in its stance and the flow of the coat. #graphite #artyear #cats

    Detailed graphite sketch of a cougar climbing a tree, showing varied fur textures and intricate bark details, drawn in a sketchbook.&10;

  • I won a Legion Paper prize pack: Stonehenge blocks, oil paper, oil and watercolor aluminium panels, even a tee. What should I hit first–watercolour, oil, or pencil? Big thanks to Legion Paper. Check out the full video via the link #art #paper youtu.be/X6XLDEcXX…

    Mike Hendley smiling in green shirt holds a tall stack of Legion Paper pads and panels; bold text reads 'I WON SOME ART SUPPLIES' with product images floating around him.

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