April 9, 2024

Sketching the Total Solar Eclipse

Maria Coryell-Martin reflects on an other-worldly experience!

By The Art Toolkit Team

an open toolkit and open paint-filled palette with a zig-zag sketchbook with sketches of the sun and the moon all laying on the grass

A total solar eclipse took place on April 8th, 2024 for 3 minutes 30 seconds of totality at approximately 1:35pm local time.


Art Toolkit founder Maria Coryell-Martin ventured out with her family to Texas to witness the total solar eclipse! She brought her A5 Art Toolkit, an assortment of her favorite sketching supplies, and her trusty Folio Palette to capture moments from the trip and, most importantly, of the eclipse itself! Read on for snippets of notes and a short video tour of sketches from Maria’s ZigZag Book!

A Sketchbook Tour

April 8th, 11:15am

a sketch of a view overlooking some low hills peppered with houses
We are in Spicewood for the eclipse... in a community along a reservoir of the Colorado River. The morning skies were partly cloudy, with patches of blue peeking through.

April 8th, 12:30pm

a sketchbook page with a sketch of people sitting under a tree, an eclipsed sun and lots of temperature notes
There is a bite out of the sun! The air temperature is falling!

April 8th, 1:35pm & 2:11pm

sketches of the sun with timestamps, being more and more obscured
The sun is covered! There’s a little red dot near the bottom right. The corona is gorgeous.
sketches of the sun becoming less obscured by the moon, with notes
The birds are noisier! The world is returning to normal... bright and warm once again. At totality, a huge black raven swooped over the field.

This was a breathtaking experience. It felt like an inner look into the workings of our universe, and I feel a new appreciation for the life force that is our sun. And for our communal experience of humanity and the beautiful and precious planet we all inhabit.

an open toolkit and open paint-filled palette with a zig-zag sketchbook with sketches of the sun and the moon all laying on the grass
an open toolkit and open paint-filled palette with a zig-zag sketchbook with sketches of the sun and the moon all laying on the grass
a sketch of people gazing up at a cloudy sky and sun with notes.

Thank you to my family for sharing this adventure with me!

An adult and child stand in a train station with duffles and backpacks at their feet.
En route with bags packed!
a person lays on their back in the grass with solar classes on
Staring at the sun (with eye protection, of course!).

Maria’s Folio Palette

an open toolkit and open paint-filled palette with a zig-zag sketchbook with sketches of the sun and the moon all laying on the grass
Paint list below!
An artist sites on a rock, dipping a paintbrush in a Pocket Palette.

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