It starts with a walk in the woods, the garden, and a chance sighting of an elusive critter…
And becomes art.
With this collection, I capture tiny moments in nature to create little paintings for the quiet moments in your day.
🐸 American Toad- “Warts and All” - while working in the garden I often find various amphibians hiding under rocks and undercover of foliage. It’s a little treat to come across a toad or a frog and I am careful to keep their home as undisturbed as possible. I love the chorus of songs in the evening, and I try to really listen to distinguish one from another. inspiration can be found in the tiniest of places.
🐀 Opossum- my son recently bought a house that was built in 1790 and which has a classic New England barn on the property. Being as old as the hills, his barn also has a variety of critters that live around it. Recently, he had a visit from quite a large opossum -It scurried past his patio door in the evening. Now, while they may look a little intimidating, in some ways you could call them cute. For me, it inspired this little painting. I picture it hiding among the old trees, nesting in a cavity during the day out of sight until the sun sets.
🪿Canada Goose- Some of our Canadian neighbors are not deterred by high gas prices or the exchange rate…The Canada geese have been busy flying overhead, honking as they make their journey south for the winter. This week they stopped by my favorite pond for a break, and I am grateful that they timed it while I was there. I stayed a bit just to listen and observe, to take in a tiny memory, a whimsical spontaneous moment, a chance encounter with nature.
🪵🦫Beaver CAUGHT IN THE ACT! Undercover of the setting sun, he goes to work chewing on your favorite trees, collecting branches to stock up his dam before winter arrives . He's hoping you're too busy leaf peeping to notice... 🍂 There's a trail nearby me aptly called Beaver Meadow - if you go far enough you'll come to a habitat that is essentially beaver wetlands. If you're lucky, you'll get to see them in action. I call this little guy "Who, Me?" Sure, sometimes he gets into trouble, picking inconvenient places to fell trees and block up the waterworks. But they are fun to watch.
🦆 Mallard ducks- Every springtime a vernal pool forms along my walking path, creating a temporary watery wonderland, and a pair of mallard ducks move in to forage and nest. There’s something sweet about seeing them swim about together, and I do my best to pass by quietly so as not to disturb them. Once the pool dries up and they move on, I miss them, but their cheerful return is a moment I await after the long winter.
🐢 Painted turtle - Watching painted turtles sunning on a log, heads up toward the sky, they look like the ultimate sun worshippers. Of course, we know they are doing it to regulate their body temperature , but It’s also a view to just quietly observe, to take in a seemingly peripheral moment, and appreciate the wonder of the natural world.
🐦 Tufted Titmouse -Almost all my art is directly inspired by an experience, a chance sighting, the melodic sound of a birdsong. The making of this guy, I have to admit, was mostly just because they're so darn cute. Upon a little research, i discovered that the tufted timouse is the creator of a familiar sound I often hear during summers, so it's nice to put a sweet little face to the song. This was also one of those pieces where the shape of the canvas informed the art- notice how the tuft on its head follows the point of the wood? I love when that happens!
🐧Black-Capped Chickadee- A familiar favorite, these little cuties are a bright spot in the yard year round, but never more so than in the winter. The sight of these little fluffers and the sound of their songs in the frozen landscape makes the season warmer.
🪺Eastern Bluebird - There’s something special about seeing the pop of colors bluebird brings in an earth tone environment. Not always easy to find here in Vermont, but when they are, it is a special treat!
🌿American Woodcock -Woodcocks are known for their unusual appearance, movements, and songs. The woods around my house make for ideal mating and nesting habitat for them, and all throughout spring I hear the singing calls of the males in the evenings. It’s an odd song, but very distinguishable. Woodcocks nest on the forest floor and their feathers are patterned to match their surroundings.
By now, the woodcocks are getting ready to head on their way to their wintering grounds. Come spring, I will be listening for the moment they return.
Cedar Waxwing - my current favorite bird, they hold a memory of lazy summer evenings, watching their playful antics as they call to each other from the highest branches of the trees.
🐍 Milksnake ornament- I made this after talking with some “snake” people- those who have snakes as pets. I figure someone out there is going to love and appreciate that I made a snake ornament. Milksnakes are found in lots of places- forests, meadows, grassland, under rocks, logs, stone walls, debris piles. It’s a wonder I haven’t come across one yet, but I’ll keep looking.
🦉Owl. I hear the call of the Barred Owl all year long. They call to each other across the forest surrounding my home and it is a magical, fascinating sound. In the winter, when the trees are bare, I sometimes see one perched on the branches overlooking the yard.
🦇Bats are my favorite animal, and here I celebrate these often misunderstood creatures. This little bat, nestled among pines, captures the mystery and beauty of twilight in the woods, and a reminder of nature's intricate balance.