Montreal Insectarium
April 24, 2018
We need only look at nature to be inspired by its infinite variety.
I love to paint creatures, big or small.
You have to know, you can’t really beat the universe at its own game. Just look at this!
Still, it’s fun to try :) And you learn something from every attempt.
These sketches are making me say this – I think you don’t need an art school or a teacher. You just need to get out and experience what life has to show you. Look at how far I’ve come in eight years since sketching the Insectarium.
The doing is more important than the having done, and the journey is the goal itself.
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Citizen Sketcher 
Reblogged this on Tribalmystic stories and commented:
Inspired by the insect world – Citizen Sketcher.
LOVED your sketches and wonderful prompt: “The doing is more important than the having done, and the journey is the goal itself.” I’ve shared that inspiring thought (with full tribute to the author!) on my Facebook page.
I love it. Reblogged in Tribalmystic blog. Thank you.
Wonderful stuff Mr. Holmes!
What wonderful thoughts to be quoted again & again!
A wonderful collection which we saw when we visited the Montreal Botanic Gardens.
Spectacular. I love both current and past!
I think you are spot on with your comment of “I think you don’t need an art school or a teacher. You just need to get out and experience what life has to show you”.
Juste un simple mot: SUPERBE !
You continue to be a great inspiration, Marc – thank you for sharing yourself so open- and honestly. . . . a mentor, an leader, a friend – no, two friends, thanks to Laurel also.
Very Spectacular, Simple and Beautiful at the same time
Beautiful paintings, as usual!
With respect to whether one needs an art school or teacher, it really depends on personal goals. Few people could get to your level of insight without a super-natural gift that was displayed immediately after receiving a watercolor paint box, or years of creative expression. Everyone else has to learn. This can be accomplished by following someone that is accomplished, taking a class, reading a book on the subject, watching a video, taking part in group process (like the Urban Sketchers), or being driven to a level of artistic communications in which one takes pride.
Art schools and formal classes do help, of course, whether in universities or presented by instructors one admires.
Most important is finding one’s own interests and feeling a desire to express it through drawings, writing, and other artistic endeavors.
What a wonderful pearl of wisdom Marc! Love this! “The doing is more important than the having done, and the journey is the goal itself.” Just keep painting 🎨 🎉
“These sketches are making me say this – I think you don’t need an art school or a teacher. You just need to get out and experience what life has to show you. Look at how far I’ve come in eight years since sketching the Insectarium.” <– Love this. I've been posting drawings for just a few months on my Instagram (and more recently on WordPress) and already started to sell some work – and I've rediscovered my love for creating stuff. Thanks for the inspiration.
Absolutely stunning!
Love the bugs! Your closing comment about “the doing being more important than the having done” is right-on. I learned this from my Life Drawing instructor at Illinois State back in the day. She told us, “The process is more important than the product.” My mantra while learning the rudiments of watercolor came from a one-day workshop’s excellent painter/ instructor, Roger King: “You can ‘rules’ yourself to death”. I just keep on learning by doing!
Tried to email you, Marc, but couldn’t find your address. I left a review of DIRECT WATERCOLOR on amazon. Read it cover to cover in two sittings, and will use your paintings and tips . Bonus: DW is a vicarious painting tour around the world. Really had a fun “trip”…
So glad to hear you had a great time on the world tour :) It really is remarkable what we were able to do with Urban Sketchers. I feel privileged to have had the chance to volunteer with them! Once our situation at home stabilizes, I wonder if we’ll get back to world traveling and painting? It might have been a once in a lifetime opportunity!