Calais Waterfront — March 2026. A quick ink‑and‑wash sketch capturing the riverbank and winter light along the St. Croix River at the Canadian border.
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These three tiny 5×3 watercolor‑and‑ink sketches are based on places I visited in Downeast Maine in Fall 2025.
I wanted to capture the shifting weather and quiet terrain that I love about this region: the calm, cool waters of Sipp Bay Preserve, the bright simplicity of a Lubec coastal lighthouse, and the dramatic cliffs at Hamilton Cove.
This was my first time working with landscapes in an ink‑and‑wash style. I’ve always found landscapes intimidating because they seem so complex, but I wanted to finally begin exploring them in a small, approachable format.
1. Sipp Bay Preserve, Maine — Fall 2025
A small watercolor‑and‑ink sketch capturing the cool waters.
A small watercolor‑and‑ink sketch capturing the cool waters.
Coastal Lighthouse, Lubec, Maine — Fall 2025
A simple lighthouse study in watercolor and ink, focusing on the silhouette and coastal atmosphere.
A simple lighthouse study in watercolor and ink, focusing on the silhouette and coastal atmosphere.
Hamilton Cove, Lubec, Maine — Fall 2025
A small sketch using ink lines and muted washes to suggest the rugged Downeast coastline.
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Each piece became a small moment of remembering the light, the tide, and the feeling of being there.
In March 2026, I ventured out to sketch a few winter landscapes on location. These quick sketches were made from my car at the Calais Waterfront (along the St. Croix River at the Canadian border) and from the parking lot of Washington County Community College.
I worked with a mini travel watercolor set and a Copic Multiliner.
Washington County Community College Parking Lot — March 2026
A fast sketch of a brick building in winter.
A fast sketch of a brick building in winter.
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BIO: Jess Chua is a writer and sketch artist based in Maine, documenting local landscapes through watercolor, ink, and quiet field notes. She enjoys exploring Downeast trails and coastal towns, and shares her creative work on her website and YouTube channel (@JessWriting).
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Jess Chua
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