New Book! CELEBRATION AT KEW PALACE IN KEW GARDENS

 Bridgerton fans will recognize this palace😊

Book 2, CELEBRATION AT KEW PALACE IN KEW GARDENS, by Marsha Varrow and illustrated by me, is now in the Kew Gardens, London shop!

I will have a link soon to the book on the website.😍

I hope to get copies in my hands soon and stay tuned for book 3!

Sketch

Mozart guest stars

New Book! DENNY-JO AND PINTO AT THE RODEO

 

Just out!

The latest book in the Denni-jo series is out!  DENNY-JO AND PINTO AT THE RODEO is an action-packed story. I learned a great deal about the various competitions at a rodeo. That is the fun of being an illustrator. We learn so much about different things.

Get a copy here!

Join me in Morocco!

 

I had been recently thinking I wanted to go to Morocco and the universe responded!

I will be exploring Essauira on the gorgeous coast of Morocco, September 20-27th in 2026.

Experience an inspiring painting retreat in Essaouira

Make the Most of your Travel Sketchbook

We will have a small classroom each day to go over the lesson modules.

Day 1: Quick Captures and Story Telling - Monochromatic palettes

Day 2: Capturing Complex Scenes - Color Palettes

Day 3: Sketching People - Ink and Watercolor

Day 4: Introduction to Gouache

Day 5: Landscapes in Gouache

Day 6: People and Animals In Gouache

Materials:

Half-inch flat brush

Round brush with pointed tip

Ink Pen of your choice, I prefer something permanent

Fine White Posca Pen

Basic Watercolor Kit

Basic Gouache Tubes

Paper Towels

Tape

Sketchbook with good mixed media paper

I will provide some paper for exercises.

The Itinerary is amazing!

You can read the itinerary details and register here. The limit is 12 people.

Price is in Euros:

Sketcher Fest!

 

All the instructors and volunteers after Sketcher Fest

July 17th-Ice Cream Boat Cruise

This was an amazing event, like sketch heaven.

The Ice Cream Boat

We started with an Ice Cream Cruise on an very interesting boat with hand-painted tables and chairs and stained glass. I drove over with James and Patti Richards. Even though I had my own rental, we were in the same hotel and carpooling is good!

We went to Figurehead, a brewery in walking distance of the terminal, after the ride for sketching. I had a really interesting White Stout on nitro and we sketched each other.

July 18th-Gas Works with Urban Sketchers Seattle

I forgot to get a good photo,
 but fortunately, Jim did!

The next morning, Urban Sketchers Seattle sketched at Gas Works Park. It was such a cool place! I mean literally, it was in the 60s, pleasant after the heat in Ohio.

I met a kindred spirit in Shawne, a sketcher from NYC who is hosting a sketch trip to Italy in October. We went to Rays Boathouse after the event for fresh oysters and, in my case, ceviche. When I am on a coast, I try to eat as much seafood as I can.

I met my friends John and Cheryl from Portland Friday night for beer and hot dogs, including their dogs Vinko and Pogo.

DAY 1 OF SKETCHER FEST

On day one, my workshop was not until 1:30, so I had a little time to sketch with Urban Sketchers Seattle again at the market.

It was such a hive of activity. I am still kicking myself for not getting a free cloth shopping bag. It was the perfect way to warm up for my workshop. I had several stops planned and we ended up at a gelato shop. 

The workshop participants were so engaged and motivated. It was a pleasure to work with them. My friend Polina Gortman surprised me by showing up to my workshop!

We talked about adding narrative to your sketchbook and overhearing conversations. We had three stops and ended up at a gelato shop which seemed to please everyone. I am very inspired by Dan Archer's reportage comics and suggest everyone check them out.

Images from the Edmonds Market and the cute dogs

Workshop Photo by Jim Beckley

Workshop Photo by Jim Beckley

Final throwdown at the gelato shop. Workshop Photo by Jim Beckley

That evening, they had a nice taco dinner for guest artists, guests, and volunteers at Graphite, the central hub of activity.

We went to a bar called Church Key after and sketched. 

My table in the sketch expo. Photo by Kat Klockow

DAY 2 OF SKETCHER FEST

The Sketchbook Show started at 10am and my talk was at noon. I sneaked and bought a bag from Roam to take to Poland.

My friends Kat, Blayne, and Marisa visited for my talk and we had luch at a really good Thai restaurant after.

There was a good crowd for the talk and two people sketched it. I had worked hard to make sure it stayed on time. I can talk a long time if unchecked. There were a lot of good questions asked.

My lecture! Photo by Kat Klockow

I love this sketch. I am still trying to find out who this is so I can credit the artist.

 

Blayne Fox's sketch. She added color later!

There was a nice after-party at the Waterfront Center followed by a sunset photo. After a quick sunset sketch, we ended up at Church Key again to unpack the day. 

The lunch crew!

    

The timeline is all over the place on this one from the 19th till the 21st.

Monday morning, the Seattle sketchers planned a trip to Port Gamble and Port Townsend.

I was at first going to drive the car to the ferry, but our friend Tracy had a huge Toyota and took 5 of us. That made the ferry ride really fun. The ferry loading process is so smooth, and the ride is delightful but short.

We sketched at Port Gamble and had lunch in Port Townsend at Sirens, a mermaid-themed restaurant/bar. I had an oyster shooter with vodka and fish and chips. Weirdly, they did not allow anyone in the restaurant in under 21, a bit of a surprise. Ohio, like most Midwest states, has some odd liquor laws, but that is not one of them. Leftovers from Prohibition? Although Carrie Nation said even she could not smash all the bars in Cincinnati because there were so many.

We (Matt, Bill, Aiden, Jenny, and Eleanor sketched each other.

I worked on a gouache sketch after lunch and everyone thought Bill Russell was in the picture. He wasn't but it does kind of look like him.

Port Townsend and the sunset from the night before.

After a transcendent day, I went back to the hotel to pick up my stickers(a whole other adventure), which arrived the day after Sketcher Fest, and went to a hotel by the airport, a Best Western a bit less fancy than the one in Edmonds. 

They had one last outing planned the next day for the famous Pike Place Market, but I needed to get home. I have a lot of art to finish before I go to Poland in two weeks.

Thanks again Gabi Campanario for organizing this wonderful gathering celebrating sketching and sketchbooks!

Gabi had us do nametag sketches

Join Us in Romania!

 

✏️ Sketching & Adventures in Romania

September 17 – October 1, 2025
🎨 With Christina Wald & Dr. Ioana Popescu

Discover Romania’s rich history, castles, and culture — sketchbook optional!

🛏️ 14 nights in hand-picked historic hotels
🚌 Comfortable group transport
🍳 Daily breakfast
🏰 Entry to 3 stunning castles included
✈️ Airport transfers included

Highlights:

• Bucharest – Explore Romania’s lively capital & Old Town

• Transfăgărășan Road – One of the world’s most scenic drives

• Sibiu – Saxon citadel with medieval charm

• Corvin Castle – Fairytale Gothic fortress

• Alba Iulia – Iconic citadel and symbol of Romanian unity

• Bethlen-Haller Castle – French-Renaissance gem with Baroque flair

• Sighișoara – UNESCO medieval town & birthplace of Dracula

• Bran Castle – Legendary “Dracula’s Castle”

• Brașov – Charming walled city in the Carpathians

• Peleș Castle – Lavish royal palace with secret doors and Klimt frescoes

🎨 For sketchers: Christina Wald will guide you through amazing locations to fill your travel sketchbooks.
🗺️ For non-sketchers: Dr. Ioana Popescu leads alternate excursions: museums, hikes, and cultural gems.

💲 Price:
$3,800 double occupancy
$4,100 single occupancy

🌐 SketchingTours.com

Reserve your spot now!

Not Included: 

Airfare

Some Meals

Travel Insurance

Sketcher Fest 2025

 

I am so excited to be a guest artist at Sketcher Fest this year! I will be doing a workshop and lecture. Hope to see some of my friends there!

Registration opens this spring! I will update this post with a link. You can sign up to be notified on the website.

COMING SOON! Online Workshops

 

I am going to do some online workshops next year. People keep asking!

I am still working out the logistics.

So far, the topics will be:

• January: Negative Space and Perspective
• February: ILLUSTRATION Animal Portraits
• March: Urban Sketching with Gouache
• June: ILLUSTRATION Animals in Action
• July: Composition in Urban Sketches
• August: Animals in Gouache
• October: Animal Gesture Sketches

Some may change and right now, I plan for my Patrons to attend any workshop free of charge and non-patrons (limited to 10 per workshop) will pay a fee.

Sign up to my mailing list to get notified when you can register.

Join my Patreon to access these for free!

Demo for Dick Blick using Caran d'Ache

 

I was really excited to do a demo for Dick Blick of Caran d'Ache materials. I gave them several holiday options to choose from and they picked the tree at Rockefeller Center sketch I presented. I visited there last year before Christmas and took a bunch of photos.

I really enjoyed using Caran d'Ache's materials. They are all so well made. Their water brushes are the best I have ever used. They are so easy to fill and add water while painting. Their palette is great too. It is my gouache go-to.

Seeing Merrily We Roll Along last year in NYC

The Professional Artist Episode 26: The Power of Sketching

 

I will be on Echo Cherniks Podcast The Professional Artist tomorrow at 4pm EST LIVE on Facebook and YouTube!

More info here: https://echochernik.com/blogs/echo/the-professional-artist-e026-the-power-of-sketching

Watch more episodes on her channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@EchoChernik

Tuscany 2025!

 

Join Christina Wald in Tuscany!

May 2025, immerse yourself in a 11-day/10-night art adventure!

• Explore Val d'Orcia's rich history & beauty

• Savor local food, wine, and transport on us!

• $4500 single, $4200 double, or $3800 for non-sketching partners

Includes:

• 10 nights accommodations

• 10 breakfasts, most lunches & dinners

More info here: https://www.lisastatkus.com/christina-walds-a-sketching-obsession-in-tuscany-workshop-info/

Register here: https://www.lisastatkus.com/product/christina-walds-sketching-obsession-in-tuscany-2025/

Sketching Here & Everywhere at Sketcher Fest!

 

Exciting news! Sketching Here & Everywhere was in the Sketcher Press store at Sketcher Fest last weekend.

I hope to attend the next one!

Join me in Tuscany in May 2025!

 

I am teaching an amazing workshop in Tuscany in May!

We will sketch, paint, and absorb the Tuscan atmosphere. We stay in one place the whole time and take some excursions. Food and transport during the trip are provided.

This is a 11 day/10 night adventure in the Val d’Orcia Region of Tuscany, an area rich with history, beauty and incredible food.

Learn more here.

Pay your deposit here.

It is $4500 for single occupancy and $4200 per person double occupancy.

For non-sketching partners, it is $3800.

Included in your workshop are the following:

• 10 nights accommodations, double or single occupancy
• 10 breakfasts, most lunches and dinners (with the exceptions listed above during our various outings)
• Wine with meals
• Instructor’s fees and instruction
• Transportation from and to Peretola International Airport in Florence, Italy on
• designated days and times
• All ground transport to various places we visit
• Entrance fees where required
• A printed summary on the last day of all the places you have visited and seen.

Not included in your workshop:

• Airfare
• Travel insurance for the full value of your holiday (required)
• Extra wine or snacks you may wish to have in your room
• Staff gratuity (we present this to our house staff and drivers on the last evening – guidelines will be included in your registration packet)
• 
  
  
  
  

Romania 2024

 

We had an amazing visit this year to Romania! The itinerary was very different from our 2022 trip and we visited Constanța and the Black Sea.

I worked to journal every day but I did get a few days behind. I keep pushing myself to write more.

Once again, I will be putting together another travelogue. I am still deciding on the cover image and keep changing my mind.

I had my main Sillman & Birn book and a few feeder sketchbooks including a square zigzag I will post later.

So many great stories I look forward to expanding in the travelogue.

I also just updated the website for our September 2025 trip!

We have two 15-day trips available. 

Stay tuned!