Inspiration Monday - Fall in New England

Fall in New England can be often unpredictable, but most always breath-taking beautiful. This year is no exception.  The last two years we had heavy rains and early snows which robbed us of the full range of nature's colors, but this year has been magnificent.

This picture was from one of those absolutely beautiful perfect fall days. Lots of sun, but not hot. Color was not quite at peak, but still amazing. I took my three boys and our dog for a hike at Breakheart Reservation. It really made me wish I had a little more time this fall to get out and paint en plein air.

All too soon the snow will fly - but I am glad I have a bunch of colorful photos to get me through the grey days ahead.....

Inspiration Monday - Local Food

The local Farmer's Markets are winding down for the season...making me very sad.
Some of the markets continue through the winter on a limited schedule, using mainly crafts and prepared foods to keep people coming. But this is really getting to the end of the local produce for the year here in New England.

This year I pledged to myself to buy as much as possible locally throughout the growing season. I have been a frequent visitor to nearby Farmers' Markets and local farms. I have discovered a few new farmstands. I  have been buying mostly local milk, eggs and bread as well. It has been a wonderful experience - I've even gotten the kids to try a few new things! I plan to continue for as long as the apples and squashes hold out - and definitely plan to resume the challenge next year.

In the meanwhile, I will  be working on a few new fruit and veggie paintings.....

Inspiration Mondays - Water!

Yep, back to Maine for this week's inspiration......

I will be working on paintings for an upcoming exhibition at the MixtMedia Gallery in Ipswich, Massachusetts. The name of the newest show is The Four Elements. Water is my inspiration for the pieces I am currently working on. This is a photo of Shin Falls. Its power and beauty always amaze me.

Inspiration Mondays

Yes, I know I have been MIA, but I have been off the grid in Northern Maine for the last few weeks. Not even cell service without a bit of a hike! While I did manage to make it into town for supplies every few days and check in on my email, I wasn't able to post here. Some day I will get a smart phone and make those tasks a little easier when I am away from home.

At any rate, I am now back in Massachusetts with a crazy busy schedule for the next month or so. Look for details on upcoming shows and exhibitions - I hope to post more information soon.

In the meanwhile, the photo above (taken while in Maine) is the beginning of one of the changes I plan to make in this blog over the upcoming weeks. I do plan a redesign, and I hope to make a few content changes as well. One thing I want to add is  "Inspiration Mondays" - posting something, most usually one of my photos, that provides inspiration for the work that I do. A kind of little peek into the process of creating art - and maybe revealing a little more about myself as well.

The photo above shows just a bit of the landscape in Northern Maine that inspires a lot of the landscapes that I paint. The beauty of that part of the country always takes my breath away - the trees, the mountains, the skies, the water - and I always feel a need to get back to painting landscapes after spending time there.