Morning Sketchbook: Blueberries, Coffee, and Family

The morning I painted this started the way I wish more days did. with a strong cup of coffee, a quiet moment, and my sketchbook open to a fresh page. While my youngest was off picking blueberries in my grandfather’s garden, I sat nearby, letting the stillness of the morning guide my pencils and brush.

The result is this loose little sketch, inspired by the shapes and shadows of the berry patch but filtered through something older. The colors and style echo the art of my great grandmother, who painted prolifically in the late ’70s and early ’80s. She’s from the other side of the family, but I like to think she would’ve appreciated the way both sides came together here: her spirit in the paint, and my grandfather’s legacy in the soil.

I didn’t set out to paint something profound just to capture a sliver of what the morning felt like. These are the moments that fuel my work lately where generations overlap and the past doesn’t feel so far away. A few scribbles, a mug of coffee, and a little boy in his great grandfather’s garden. That’s more than enough inspiration for one morning.

Do you ever sketch outside with your coffee? Drop a note or photo in the comments I’d love to see what your mornings look like,

MERC