For the past several years I have carried sketchbooks with me everywhere. Some were tiny enough to fit in a pocket, others were broad enough to capture a landscape. Some had good cotton paper, others had crummy newsprint, and I even made a few from scratch, and they were all just right for practice and creativity. On family outings my husband and children have become accustomed to leaving me behind when I pull out my paints and brushes, with a plan to meet down the trail.

Since quarantine began, the sketchbooks haven’t left home. Instead of sketching scenes of exploration and adventure, I am instead tackling scenes right here in the house and the yard.

I started by drawing my littlest child’s new home classroom, then moved outdoors to farm machinery. It’s been a rewarding way to divert my focus from current events, and instead really see many aspects of home, in detail, for the first time. Instead of feeling trapped here, I am finding that there is a lot to see right outside the back door.