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May 14th, 2026

Sketching Rhododendrons in Bloom

Art Toolkit Founder and Expeditionary Artist Maria Coryell-Martin sketched the Rhododendron Garden last weekend!

By Maria Coryell-Martin

A red art portfolio laid on grass, containing various art supplies like pens, pencils, scissors, and a watercolor palette. An artist's sketchbook featuring floral illustrations is open nearby, along with a water bottle adorned with colorful designs.

The Centennial Rhododendron Garden in Port Townsend is a celebration of Washington’s state flower and especially charming this time of year, with its full range of blooms. I strolled along the garden trails, dodging sprinklers and looking for a nice spot to sketch.

A woman kneels on the grass, sketching flowers surrounded by vibrant pink and red rhododendrons. She wears a green jacket and is focused on her drawing, with art supplies scattered nearby.
Maria sketches pink rhododendron blooms.

I sat in the grass in a beautiful little nook where I could see a variety of colors from white to pink, peach, and red. Working in a Stillman & Birn Beta Series 8 ½ x 5 ½ Softcover Sketchbook, I started playing with materials.

A person sitting on the grass sketches in a watercolor notebook, surrounded by art supplies including a palette of watercolors, colored pencils, and a small sketchbook.
Maria’s sketching setup includes supplies that play well with water, as well as a waterproof sit pad to make sketching on the ground a little more comfortable.

I began with direct watercolor, painting with a Pentel Mini Aquash Water Brush and focusing on the big shapes of petals and leaves. The Beta paper is bright white and also fairly smooth, handling mixed media beautifully.

A blue sketchbook titled "Premium Sketchbook" with the text indicating it is for mixed media and multiple techniques. The cover features a white label noting its dimensions and paper quality.
The Stillman & Birn Beta Series 8 ½ x 5 ½ Softcover Sketchbook.
A red tin containing 10 Caran d'Ache Neocolor II watercolor crayons in various colors, featuring a blue mountain illustration on the front. The tin is labeled with the brand name and "Swiss made."
The Caran d’Ache Neocolor II Aquarelle Pastels.

I used Caran d’Ache Neocolor II Aquarelle Pastels to add details and textures to the flowers. I especially enjoyed using the white water-soluble pastel to create brights. As I added pastel to the initial shapes of the flowers and leaves, they slowly developed dimension.

A hand holding a pen is seen sketching pink flowers in a notebook outdoors, surrounded by greenery.
Bright pink azalea flowers with delicate petals and prominent stamens bloom amidst lush green leaves. The flowers display a soft, inviting color with hints of red speckles.
A close-up of pink rhododendron flowers surrounded by green leaves, with a blurred background of more pink blooms.
Pink rhododendron flowers bloom atop green leaves, reaching towards a bright sky.

Bees buzzed in and out of flowers, and it was so peaceful. I felt I could have spent hours more in the garden, but my legs were asleep, and I started to get hungry! I paused and asked myself if I should add a background to my sketch.

When is something done? Sometimes it’s based on time constraints, or the light changing, or simply because it’s time to eat lunch!

A vibrant watercolor illustration featuring clusters of flowers in shades of pink, red, and white, surrounded by green leaves. The flowers are detailed, showcasing various shapes and sizes.
Maria’s finished rhododendron sketch.

I hope these sketches inspire you to experiment with a new tool and a new approach, and to enjoy finding beauty in the world around you.

Supply List

For sketching the rhododendrons, I carried the following supplies in my Red A5 Art Toolkit:

A close-up of a red art case containing various art supplies, including watercolor crayons, a water brush, and a black felt-tip pen. The crayons are labeled with colors and brands, with a palette of vibrant watercolor paints visible in the background.

If you’re in town this month, be sure to check out the Centennial Rhododendron Garden in Fort Worden, as well as Port Townsend’s 90th Rhododendron Festival the third weekend in May, including our shop’s rhody-filled window display! My Sailish Explorations Exhibit is also ongoing until the end of July.

Wherever you are, I wish you a spring full of sketching!
An artist sites on a rock, dipping a paintbrush in a Pocket Palette.

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