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Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦

@mikehendley.com

3.4K followers 460 following 590 posts

Artist, naturalist, podcaster, art teacher. Graphite, watercolor, oil, acrylic, and digital. By day, I work in IT & health research. https://MikeHendley.com/links

MikeHendley.com

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Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · 5d

After a long week at work, I spent a couple hours in a coffee shop this morning sketching this tree frog from start to finish. Looser than usual, but it felt good to create again. Absence of art really does make the heart grow fonder. #sciart #herp #artist

A detailed pencil sketch of a frog is featured in an open sketchbook, surrounded by art supplies.

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Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · 9d

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

Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · 12d

:-) thank you

Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · 12d

Thank you

Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · 12d

You’re right! ;-)

Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · 14d

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

A watercolor painting of a river otter perched on a rock near water, with fine detail in its fur and a soft, misty background. Art supplies and a palette are visible around the sketchbook.

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Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · 18d

Thank you

Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · 18d

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

A watercolor sketch of an otter in progress in a sketchbook. Palette and water brush in the background.

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Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · 19d

Thank you

Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · 19d

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

Realistic graphite sketch of a leopard standing alert on a rocky ledge, drawn in a sketchbook with fine shading and spotted details.

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Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · 21d

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

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Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · 24d

Thanks so much

Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · 25d

Thank you

Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · 25d

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

Realistic colored pencil drawing of a green heron perched low on bare branches, body stretched forward with its beak aimed down as if about to strike prey.

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Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · 25d

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.

A glass container with two mushroom caps inside sitting on a lawn surrounded by other mushrooms.

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Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · 26d

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

An unfinished colored pencil drawing of a green heron on paper is surrounded by various colored pencils.

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Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · 27d

It’s Mr Canoehead!

Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · Sep 6

Awesome! :-)

Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · Sep 6

Thank you

Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · Sep 6

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

A green heron work in progress facing to the left with neck fully extended. Colored pencils laying on the paper.

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Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · Sep 6

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.

Two hand slaying flat with the nails painted with a Spider-Man theme. Mix of webs, Spider-Man’s mask and spiders.

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Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · Sep 5

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

Graphite sketch of a monarch butterfly with a torn lower wing resting on a flower, faint wildflowers in the background.

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Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · Aug 31

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

A start of a sketch of a monarch on a flower in a sketchbook. Pencil sits below.

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Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · Aug 30

Finished this red-footed falcon in colored pencil. My first time on Stonehenge White mounted to aluminum. I’d painted it in watercolor months ago, but coming back to pencil allowed me to explore the medium and the leaves a bit more. #birds #sciart

Realistic colored pencil drawing of a red-footed falcon perched on a branch with autumn leaves, surrounded by colored pencils on a wooden table.

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Mike Hendley 🎨 ✍️ 🇨🇦 @mikehendley.com · Aug 26

Thank you and on it 👍