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Parakeets in Paradise
The parakeets find the perfect camouflage among the colorful tropical foliage. Don’t they look happy? Appropriately, this journal spread...

Kaaren Poole
Mar 33 min read


A Bold Departure
It took a lot of creative courage, but I finally got to adding the first stage of the flowers to my portrait of Nikki. As I said last...

Kaaren Poole
Feb 172 min read


An Inauspicious Start
I started this piece with great enthusiasm, but it was soon replaced by dismay. It was to be a great new adventure. But after this start,...

Kaaren Poole
Feb 103 min read


The Process of Illustration
I’ve been working on illustrations for my next Milkweed Christmas book and wondered if you’d be interested in seeing and hearing how an...

Kaaren Poole
Feb 33 min read


Venturing Beyond my Color Comfort Zone
I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised to encounter trouble once I ventured outside my color comfort zone. Purple, red, and orange: what...

Kaaren Poole
Jan 273 min read


Intentional Errors
With this drawing, I was trying to accomplish a full value range with pencil, and I think I succeeded. There are areas that are the...

Kaaren Poole
Jan 202 min read


The True Nature of Squirrels
I was enjoying drawing with Ida Anderson Lang’s 2025 New Year’s Drawing Retreat so much that I just kept on drawing after the retreat was...

Kaaren Poole
Jan 132 min read


New Things
I incorporated a few new things in my latest art journal spread, "Hares and Moon." It’s graphite pencil and collage, where the collage...

Kaaren Poole
Jan 63 min read


A Great Time
I’m giving myself a treat these nine days! I’ve joined Ida Anderson Lang’s 2025 New Year’s Drawing Retreat and am really enjoying it, as...

Kaaren Poole
Dec 30, 20242 min read


A Dream Come True
For years—even decades—I’ve been dreaming of making a mouse house for a Christmas decoration and I’ve finally done it. Almost! I was on...

Kaaren Poole
Dec 23, 20242 min read


The Rest of the Story
Last week I posted the first part of a very short story (which I call a “vignette”) along with its illustration. Here’s the second and...

Kaaren Poole
Dec 16, 20244 min read


A New Format
Some months ago I felt burned out on writing and illustrating books. The writing would take at least three months, but often much more....

Kaaren Poole
Dec 9, 20243 min read


A Special Piece
I finished another of my projects which had been languishing partly finished. It’s a triptych with my patron saint, St. Melangell. It's...

Kaaren Poole
Dec 2, 20242 min read


Thankful for the Garden
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, of course I’m reflecting on all the things I have to be thankful for, and close to the top of...

Kaaren Poole
Nov 25, 20243 min read


A Long Time in the Making
This poor barn owl and her friend have been waiting soooo long for me to finish their portrait. I think the last time I worked on this...

Kaaren Poole
Nov 18, 20243 min read


Ursa Finished
I’m excited to be finished with a longer term project I’ve been working on and to now be able to get back to several pieces that I’d...

Kaaren Poole
Nov 11, 20243 min read


A Simple Wish for Us All
Sadly, here in the United States, our election has become a time of heightened stress for so many people. It makes me sad, especially...

Kaaren Poole
Nov 4, 20241 min read


Strawberry Shortcake
Strawberry Shortcake is now finished! I must admit that this spread makes little, if any, sense, but it’s just what came to me, and...

Kaaren Poole
Oct 28, 20243 min read


Progress?
I’m still working on a project that has a pretty tight deadline, so I haven’t been able to create anything new to share with you this...

Kaaren Poole
Oct 22, 20243 min read


Pale Deer
Deep in my memory is the suggestion of an amazing image—a pale deer. I think maybe it was from Ivanhoe , but don’t quote me on that....

Kaaren Poole
Oct 14, 20243 min read
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