Written by My name is Jean Mackay and I’m an artist, naturalist, educator, and writer, but not always in that order. I’ve lived in upstate New York most of my life, but recently moved to Connecticut, which means I have a lot of learning and exploring to do. Two years ago I created a blog, Drawn In (Follow me by clicking here!) to share my art more widely—and it has taken me much farther out into the world of art and artists than I ever imagined.
I’m best at drawing, but I also love watercolor. I took art in high school and college, but couldn’t see my way to making it a career. So I first became a social worker and then traveled around the country and got a Master’s degree in environmental education. At that point, art became a way for me to study nature and record what I saw.
Years later, I took a watercolor class to learn some basics and taught myself from there. As you can see, I also like adding text to my artwork. I think that stems from many years of making holiday and birthday cards as a kid. By 5th grade, I remember wanting to make my letters fancier. I picked up books on calligraphy, tried out all sorts of pens and inks, and have had a fondness for letters ever since.
One thing that has had a major impact on my artwork is my lack of time for drawing and painting! I’m married, have two sons, work full time, do volunteer work, and occasionally do housework. So I have to really work at finding time for art. That’s not ideal, but it’s my life. So I’ve have to do a few things to compensate:
First, I need to work fast. Sometimes I only have ten minutes or half an hour. So I have taught myself to get my lines down quickly and without much fuss. Second, I’m patient. I don’t mind if it takes me a week of stringing together 20-minute sessions to finish a page. The most important thing I’ve done is to make my artwork portable. I’ve been keeping an artist journal for more than 25 years. I carry it all over, working in all kinds of settings, from tide pools to farm fields to museums.
My supplies fit in a small backpack, sometimes my handbag, so I have them on the go. I use a fairly basic kit: primarily Stillman and Birn sketchbooks, Micron pens for both drawing and text, and Winsor & Newton artist grade watercolors.
I mainly sketch directly in ink and then add watercolor. If you’ve sketched in pen you know that it forces you to really look at what you’re drawing because you’re going to commit on paper. It also keeps the momentum of drawing and seeing going—no erasures, no critique, no stopping and starting. I sometimes paint right in the field, sometimes back at home. I rarely work from photos because I like the direct connection that comes from working from life, though I do sometimes take photos for color reference.
From the start, I’ve used my journal as a tool for learning about nature. But over time I’ve expanded the subject matter to include the art of everyday living—travels, meals, seasonal cycles …almost anything goes. For me, the best pages capture an honest impression, experience, or moment in time. Page by page, they are sometimes jumbled, sometimes cohesive, sometimes beautiful, occasionally messy. And so my journals have become a record of my life—and my life as an artist.
There are so many fascinating things in the world, so many places, so many experiences…and so little time. As artists, we must seize the day—or the ten minutes—and allow ourselves to be drawn in, and to draw and paint. Thanks for being part of that greater world of art and artists!
Jean Mackay
Drawn In
Jean, I am a fan of painting birds and flowers, so I am really DRAWN INto your beautiful work. How fascinating it must be to go through all your journals and remember the moments and see how you’ve grown. I am now following along on your blog journeys and am eager for more!
So happy you liked Jean’s feature! Thanks Carol! 😃
Thanks Carol– Glad you found me and welcome aboard! Do feel free to comment or ask questions on what you see on my blog! — Jean
Amazing art Jean! I will be following along. Seizing the day or ten minutes. Thank you Charlie for sharing!
Awesome! yay to the follow! Thanks, Susan! 😃
Thanks Susan. So glad you like what you see! And thanks for following!
Wow! Hi, Jean – I am a new follower now, too. Thanks, Charlie, for featuring Jean.
Yay! So happy to hear you’re a new follower, Cynthia! Glad you liked Jean’s work! 😃
Thank you! It’s great to widen the circle of artists in my life.
This is such wonderfully spontaneous and lively work
Thanks for commenting Lance! Glad you liked Jean’s work! 😃
Thanks! I appreciate your thoughtful comment!
beautiful art Jean! Started following you to see more and more birds and flowers 🙂 Thank you so much Charlie 🙂
Yay! So happy for the follow for Jean! Thanks so much Snehal! 😃
Great! Glad you will be following. Spring is such a good time to get outside and see all the seasonal changes. I’m looking forward to flowers blooming and migrating birds returning!
Your art is so beautiful!!! 💕😃 I love your journals! I’m now following you on your art journey – thanks Charlie for sharing Jean’s art! 😍
Yay to the follow! Thanks so much Jill! 😃
Thanks Jill. I’m glad you found me here and I appreciate Charlie sharing my work. I’ll be sure to check out your blog too.
Thanks Jean! 😄
The night sky is amazing. Beautiful work. (K)
Glad you liked Jean’s work Kerfe! Thanks! 😃
Thanks! That was such a fun piece to do!
Oh Jean – what great stuff – look forward to getting to knowing you better. Thanks for the intro Charlie O!
Yay! Thrilled you liked Jean’s work! Thanks so much Jodi! 😃
Hi Jodi- I am grateful to Charlie for the exposure and longer introduction. I’ve appreciated your “likes” and comments on my blog! Keep it up!
Absolutely beautiful work! I do know how it is to lay down ink and live with the consequences but I could never do work as gorgeous as this without graphite under drawing first. Going to follow Jean now!
Yay to follow!! Thanks Teresa!! 😃
Hi Teresa- Keep at it! I use pencil as a guide for careful bird drawings, but I’ve given it up for most everything else. I love the flow of the line. I enjoyed taking a look at your blog and appreciate you following me!
Delightful Jean, I am Drawn In! Thanks Charlie.
Yay! So glad! Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃
Hi Sharon! So nice to be introduced here! I’ve seen your gravitar in the Likes of other blogs, but haven’t connected until now. I look forward to seeing more of your artwork.
Jean, your work has been an inspiration to me for many moons. So bright and crisp and wonderful. So glad to see your beautiful work here on Charlie’s blog. You deserve a larger audience! Thanks, Charlie!
Yay! So happy you are already a fan, Laura! Jean’s work is soooo cool, it was a pleasure to feature her! 😃
Thanks Laura! What a lovely thing to say! I appreciate it and I’m glad to widen the circle thanks to Charlie.
This is the first I’ve seen of your art, and it looks fantastic! I love the nature journaling feel of a lot of it.
Thanks for following and for the nice comment. Glad for the connection. –J
Thanks for commenting! So happy you liked Jean’s feature!
I don’t know if this is a case of great minds thinking alike but I did a hashtag search on watercolor and came across Jean’s blog the other day and well I’ve been reading and studying it like a crazy person ever since. I admit I put my name on the Jean’s waitlist for her class in Maine this summer. Such a fan of Jean, her beautiful art and clear and concise writing resonates with me. Hugely inspirational and encouraging. Thank you Charlie and Jean!
That’s so awesome!! What a cool coincidence! Thrilled you’re a fan too, Cathe! 😃Jean’s work is amazing… hope you get to take her class!
Hi Cathe- Just catching up to your thoughtful comment! Wow– here I am just doing what I do and sometimes wondering whether it matters. Then I get an amazing comment like yours and it is very motivating for me to keep exploring, seeing, recording, and sharing. I hope a spot opens up for you in Maine– it’s such a wonderful place and great setting for artwork. It would be great to meet you. In the meantime, feel free to email me or comment on the blog so we can get better acquainted. — Jean
Gorgeous jaw-dropping art. I could get lost in these sketches, and happily so. From the lettering to the drawing and composition, such a big fan and admirer. And now I learn it might only involve 10 minutes of direct pen sketching?…I am both awe struck and inspired. Thank you for a fantastic feature post Charlie.
Well…I did say it is sometimes 10 minutes plus 10 minutes plus 10 minutes. But it’s worth diving in! Thanks for being a fan!
Yeah, Jean is truly amazing!! So happy you liked these, Haunani!! 😃
Your work is wonderful – I especially like the nature studies.
Jean, I really admire someone who can find the time to paint when their life is so busy, and your work is so amazing.
I like your work and can’t believe you do such great work with such a small amount of time…I love that you still fit it in so important for your well being..