Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦
@mikehendley.com
Artist, naturalist, podcaster, art teacher. Graphite, watercolor, oil, acrylic, and digital. By day, I work in IT & health research.
https://MikeHendley.com/links
https://MikeHendley.com/links
Caught this great blue heron at Mud Lake in Ottawa striking a rare wing-drying pose. I sketched it with Pentel Graphgear 1000s in 2B and 4B, layering blends and erasing to pull form from shadow. Herons always feel like ghosts dressed in feathers and silence. #birds #sciart #artist
November 9, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Not my usual subject but that’s what pulled me in. Layer after layer, pencil after pencil, I let the water shape itself. GraphGear 1000 (.3 2B and .5 4B), a lot of blending, a lot of learning. It scared me. That’s how I knew it mattered.
November 2, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Not my usual subject but that’s what pulled me in. Layer after layer, pencil after pencil, I let the water shape itself. GraphGear 1000 (.3 2B and .5 4B), a lot of blending, a lot of learning. It scared me. That’s how I knew it mattered.
Not my typical subject but felt compelled to start this one over coffee today. Maybe a feeling of keeping one’s head above the water. Busy days. Happy to be heading back to Ithaca for a few days. I plan to fit in some drawing and painting.
October 29, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Not my typical subject but felt compelled to start this one over coffee today. Maybe a feeling of keeping one’s head above the water. Busy days. Happy to be heading back to Ithaca for a few days. I plan to fit in some drawing and painting.
A chipmunk showed up with a nut, cleaned its tail, and something about it made me paint without thinking too hard. Used QoR watercolors and Pentel water brushes in my A6 Etchr sketchbook. Felt like catching stillness mid-chaos. Like holding your own tail. #sciart
October 27, 2025 at 12:15 PM
A chipmunk showed up with a nut, cleaned its tail, and something about it made me paint without thinking too hard. Used QoR watercolors and Pentel water brushes in my A6 Etchr sketchbook. Felt like catching stillness mid-chaos. Like holding your own tail. #sciart
Spotted this tufted titmouse in Sapsucker Woods a few weeks ago. I didn’t notice the band until I started this piece. Light washes in my A6 Etchr sketchbook with Pentel brushes. I always start with the eye and stop when it winks. Like trying to hold a moment still without hurting it. #sciart #birds
October 25, 2025 at 2:03 PM
I watched this osprey at Stewart Park (Ithaca, NY) this summer. Its posture, that nest, the feathers in the breeze. Drew it mostly with my Graphgear 1000 .5mm (4B) and some fine .3mm 2B for detail. The nest was my fave part to draw. We’ll dive into this technique in my January course. #sciart #birds
October 19, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I watched this osprey at Stewart Park (Ithaca, NY) this summer. Its posture, that nest, the feathers in the breeze. Drew it mostly with my Graphgear 1000 .5mm (4B) and some fine .3mm 2B for detail. The nest was my fave part to draw. We’ll dive into this technique in my January course. #sciart #birds
New to drawing or coming back to it? Join me in Stittsville, Ontario. 5 Tuesdays, Jan 13 to Feb 10, 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Learn to see shapes, measure, and shade with simple tools. Supplies included. Waitlist: shop.mikehendley.com/products/… #sciart
October 16, 2025 at 1:24 PM
New to drawing or coming back to it? Join me in Stittsville, Ontario. 5 Tuesdays, Jan 13 to Feb 10, 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Learn to see shapes, measure, and shade with simple tools. Supplies included. Waitlist: shop.mikehendley.com/products/… #sciart
Happy international podcast day! I’m coming back with season 2 of my podcast “Drawing Inspiration” in spring 2026. First season was 109 episodes. Second is 6 😁 This time with a season and episode sponsors. More to come … drawinginspiration.fm
Welcome - The Drawing Inspiration Podcast
Join artist Mike Hendley who is sharing his creative journey through personal projects and interviewing some exciting artists and creatives.
drawinginspiration.fm
October 1, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Happy international podcast day! I’m coming back with season 2 of my podcast “Drawing Inspiration” in spring 2026. First season was 109 episodes. Second is 6 😁 This time with a season and episode sponsors. More to come … drawinginspiration.fm
Painted this river otter in watercolor using a medium Pentel Aquash for the fine fur. It started curious, turned kind of defiant, and now it’s quietly judging me for working so small. Definitely want to go way bigger next time. #sciart #watercolor #artist
September 26, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Painted this river otter in watercolor using a medium Pentel Aquash for the fine fur. It started curious, turned kind of defiant, and now it’s quietly judging me for working so small. Definitely want to go way bigger next time. #sciart #watercolor #artist
An hour into this watercolor sketch of an otter. I added Washi tape around the edge because this piece will include a background. This was a very tricky start trying to get the details in the eyes with a medium tip Pentel water brush. Paynes grey violet is fantastic for wet brown fur #wip #sciart
September 21, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Between workshop prep, I squeezed in this leopard sketch. The scale pushed me, specifically the spots and face details. Pentel Nero Orenz .2 mm HB for the fine stuff, Graphgear 1000s for the rest, and a 2.0 mm 6B clutch pencil for the dark rocks. Leopards carry prey heavier than themselves. #sciart
September 20, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Between workshop prep, I squeezed in this leopard sketch. The scale pushed me, specifically the spots and face details. Pentel Nero Orenz .2 mm HB for the fine stuff, Graphgear 1000s for the rest, and a 2.0 mm 6B clutch pencil for the dark rocks. Leopards carry prey heavier than themselves. #sciart
Coffee shop sketches, photography, and patience with wildlife feed my art. Practicing in public is how I grow. Bringing that approach into my first in-person drawing workshops starting in 2026. I wrote about it here. www.pawstrailsmagazine.com/practice-… #sciart
September 19, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Coffee shop sketches, photography, and patience with wildlife feed my art. Practicing in public is how I grow. Bringing that approach into my first in-person drawing workshops starting in 2026. I wrote about it here. www.pawstrailsmagazine.com/practice-… #sciart
I watched this green heron hunt in Stewart Park, Ithaca, NY. Sketched in coffee shops using Polychromos colored pencils on Stonehenge paper mounted to aluminum (Legion Paper). Moments after this pose it caught a catfish. Green herons are one of the smallest herons in North America. #birds #sciart
September 15, 2025 at 11:22 AM
A neighbor remembered I like making mushroom ink. These shaggy mane ink cap mushrooms are perfect. Only a couple were ready. The remainder should be ready in a day or two. I’ll be back for them.
September 14, 2025 at 11:30 PM
A neighbor remembered I like making mushroom ink. These shaggy mane ink cap mushrooms are perfect. Only a couple were ready. The remainder should be ready in a day or two. I’ll be back for them.
It’s almost time to open registration for my first in-person workshop in 2026. Course materials, supplies and a new community web site for all attendees. Happy though to get back to this green heron in colored pencil on Stonehenge white mounted to an aluminum panel. Thanks Legion Paper. #sciart
September 13, 2025 at 8:44 PM
It’s almost time to open registration for my first in-person workshop in 2026. Course materials, supplies and a new community web site for all attendees. Happy though to get back to this green heron in colored pencil on Stonehenge white mounted to an aluminum panel. Thanks Legion Paper. #sciart
Started a new colored pencil piece. This is one is based off a photo I took in Ithaca moments before this green heron caught a catfish. I recorded most of this drawing so far. I decided to do this one @clarkeocrinus.bsky.social to highlight the long neck extension you mentioned #wip #sciart
September 6, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Started a new colored pencil piece. This is one is based off a photo I took in Ithaca moments before this green heron caught a catfish. I recorded most of this drawing so far. I decided to do this one @clarkeocrinus.bsky.social to highlight the long neck extension you mentioned #wip #sciart
When your daughter asks you to paint her nails for Ottawa Comiccon, of course you say yes 😊 I am going to need a better brush if I do this again.
September 6, 2025 at 1:33 AM
When your daughter asks you to paint her nails for Ottawa Comiccon, of course you say yes 😊 I am going to need a better brush if I do this again.
Drew this monarch with Pentel Graphgear pencils and a blender. Its wing was torn, its life near the end, but its offspring are likely preparing for the long trip to Mexico. I’ll be bringing monarchs into my 2026 workshops too–they feel like drawings that keep teaching me. #invertefest #sciart #art
September 5, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Drew this monarch with Pentel Graphgear pencils and a blender. Its wing was torn, its life near the end, but its offspring are likely preparing for the long trip to Mexico. I’ll be bringing monarchs into my 2026 workshops too–they feel like drawings that keep teaching me. #invertefest #sciart #art
Started this monarch butterfly sketch this morning. I need to draw or paint them regularly. Especially with them heading to Mexico soon. #invertefest #invertebrate #pencil
August 31, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Started this monarch butterfly sketch this morning. I need to draw or paint them regularly. Especially with them heading to Mexico soon. #invertefest #invertebrate #pencil
I worked a bit on the tail end of this falcon before branching out and then leafing it for the day 🤣 I’ll finish it at the next session. #birds #wip #sciart #coloredpencil
August 26, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I worked a bit on the tail end of this falcon before branching out and then leafing it for the day 🤣 I’ll finish it at the next session. #birds #wip #sciart #coloredpencil
New newsletter is out: changes to U.S. art imports, a beginner drawing course for Jan 2026, Patreon relaunch, and a studio update with new falcon, heron, frog, and beetle pieces. Plus art supply discounts. mikehendley.substack.com/p/32-drawing...
August 25, 2025 at 11:52 PM
New newsletter is out: changes to U.S. art imports, a beginner drawing course for Jan 2026, Patreon relaunch, and a studio update with new falcon, heron, frog, and beetle pieces. Plus art supply discounts. mikehendley.substack.com/p/32-drawing...