Since the publication of Walks With Willa (my biggest seller yet, so huge thanks!) I've been staying close to home and drawing commission portraits of my Seattle neighborhood, Queen Anne.

I first had the idea of drawing home portraits in Anchorage when I was in high school. I took photos of interesting Alaskan houses to draw but at my desk (a card table!) I saw that I didn't yet have the skills to pull it off. That it's happening all these decades later is sort of weird but fun.

There's plenty to draw here and Willa and I are still exploring the city, but I'm considering outfitting an electric cargo van and doing a cross-country road trip, sketching with you along the way.

I'm thinking I might be ready to head out around my birthday, April 12th, 2024.

I'll plan a route that coincides with Urban Sketchers meet-ups around the U.S. so I can draw with like-minded folks from all over. To fund the trip, I might teach workshops, sell books, and do home portraits (or whatever you like) along the route.

The trip would be the basis of a future illustrated book (On The Road With Willa, or something like that). This idea is in its initial phase so I'm open to suggestions and I'd love to hear what you think of the idea. I have a few invites already for places to park the van for a night, subjects to sketch, friendly dogs for Willa to meet...

Whattaya think? I've explored London, Oslo, Jingdezhen, Singapore, Thailand... but I haven't seen much of my own country. The Grand Canyon, New Orleans, The Redwoods, Niagara Falls. What about your town? What about your house? Want to sketch with me and Willa?

Let me know what you think,

Steven