Line & Landscape: Drawing with Ballpoint & Rollerball Pens in Central Park
Last week, I hosted my first in-person drawing workshop in Central Park, and the day could not have been more perfect. Bright blue skies, sunshine, and low humidity created the ideal conditions for plein air drawing beneath the tree canopies just north of Sheep Meadow.
Like my online workshops, this session focused on my pen and ink techniques—specifically with ballpoint and rollerball pens—but condensed into a focused, four-hour experience. The biggest difference? We were completely immersed in the landscape itself. Surrounded by nature, students had endless inspiration right in front of them: twisting tree limbs, shifting light, and the energy of the park around us.
We spread out on picnic blankets, making the day feel intimate, casual, and hands-on—something that’s hard to replicate in online classes or traditional classrooms. As I moved among the group, guiding and chatting, I caught myself thinking how much it felt like stepping into a scene from an Impressionist painting—people creating art together in the heart of nature.
Being my first Central Park workshop, this was also a chance to observe and fine-tune my teaching style in this kind of setting. I learned what students valued most and how to give them the time and space to fully develop their work. That’s why I’m excited to announce that my next plein air drawing workshop will take place in October. This time, we’ll extend it to six hours—plenty of time to get into the flow. And because the park will be glowing with autumn color, I plan to introduce watercolor into our process for an added layer of richness.
After going through a number of exercises the workshop culminated in drawing a group of trees directly in front of us. I did a demo on how I start my drawings and how I plan it out. This was also a good chance for me to use my new Scriveiner rollerball and to show students the difference between this pen and the others we used early on. This drawing is off to a good start and I’m looking forward to continue working on it in the studio.
As if the day wasn’t memorable enough, I had an unexpected guest join me while I worked—a cicada. After returning from a short break, I noticed what looked like a lifeless shell on my blanket. I’d never seen one up close before. On closer inspection, I realized it wasn’t just a shell—inside was a vibrant green body, seemingly in the process of emerging, but perfectly still. I gently brushed it onto the grass and went back to drawing.
An hour later, I glanced over to see the cicada climbing up my tote bag. It made its way to the very top and settled there, facing me directly, as if keeping watch while I drew. For the rest of the afternoon, it stayed close by, its gaze fixed in my direction. I couldn’t help but wonder why it felt so safe and comfortable in my company. By the end of the afternoon, it felt like I had acquired a tiny studio assistant, a new friend—so, naturally, I named him Johnny Cicada. Eventually I had to say goodbye to little Johnny, and so I pulled it off my bag and brought it to the tree I was drawing. That little one put up a strong fight though, it did not want to let go of my bag. My friend Johnny had a strong grip! I wonder what ever happened to it, and if it will join my next workshop.
I’ll be announcing the fall workshop date soon. If you’d like to be the first to know when registration opens, sign up for my newsletter so you don’t miss your chance to join. Until then, enjoy these photos from a truly inspiring day in Central Park.
