Painting a Story

Sunrise Fox 🦊 One morning this winter I woke up a little early and opened my curtain to see a red fox in my yard, sniffing around the rock wall where the voles like to hunker down for the winter. It lifted its head up, as if sensing my presence, but continued its mission for another few moments before the sun started to rise enough for it to run back into the security of the forest. Although its tracks are usually imprinted around the yard, I had never seen one that close!

These unexpected sightings are a reminder that the world is still beautiful, that nature keeps on, even in the quiet of winter.

Turtle 🐢 There is a bounty of streams and rivers that run through the area I call home.  I am a frequent visitor to these spots because I love to hear both the calming sound of a babbling brook and the thunderous roar of a waterfall in spring when the snow melts.  All these water sources also brings an array of critters, including turtles. Not always easy to find, but worth taking the time to look for them, and observe the whimsical wonders that await!

Squirrel: Ready for Winter 🐿️ This little squirrel is all ready for the winter with its bounty of acorns stored away in the tree cavity. This piece was inspired by simply watching these industrious creatures as they prepare for the long winter months. 

Even though these pieces are small, there's a lot of time and heart that go into getting the details right. For example, I redid the eyes on the squirrel about 5 gazillion times because I wasn't happy with the way they were coming out (if you've never tried painting two eyes to look alike, let me assure you it's a royal pain in the arse!). There's designing, choosing colors, layering, blending, revisions, and all those little details!

Red-Breasted Nuthatch 🪺 For a couple weeks, on a spot along my usual walking path, a menacing nuthatch would fly at me repeatedly and dive-bomb my head - there must have been a nest nearby it was protecting. I couldn't see where it was located, but obviously in a nearby tree. While both slightly bizarre and comical, it was also amazing to observe the amount of effort the little guy put forth to protect its nest.

That moment on the trail when you stop, catch your breath, and realize you are sharing space with the critters of the woods-that is a precious, unplugged moment. I carried that feeling back to the studio for this piece.

This spirited nuthatch has built its nest inside this wood slice -notice the bark on the outside? A miniature slice of nature perfectly sized for a cozy little nook.

Ruffed grouse 🪵 Our resident ruffed grouse was nice enough to pose for a reference photo for me after I rescued it from a precarious situation. The colors and patterns in its feathers are so beautiful, and I was surprised at how soft they were too. Fun fact: This bird is in the same family as chickens…maybe that’s why I have a soft spot for them. 

The best part about painting on wood is the unique shape and rich texture it provides, and the bark is a natural frame. These pieces are meant to be picked up and enjoyed for their texture as much as for the art - like a little piece of the outdoors.

Kitty in the Catnip🪴 🐈It seems kitty has curled herself up in quite the cozy catnip garden!

This one is a bit special because it was inspired by my kitty, who loves to frolic in the catnip bed I plant for her in spring (and also in the oregano 🤷🏼♀️) She’s now a senior, but her inner kitten still emerges when she plays and when it gets warm enough to go outside after the long winter. She already walks to the door whenever it’s opened on a sunny day, sniffing the air and looking for signs of spring. In the meantime, we’ll both curl up on the couch and dream about gardening season.

Northern Flicker 🐦 Of all the birds that visit my yard, perhaps the one I find most intriguing is the Northern Flicker. The first time I saw one pecking at the ground for ants in the grass, I had no idea what it was but with its distinct and beautifully spotted feather pattern,  it didn’t take long to figure out.  However… it took multiple layers of paint to get the look I wanted. So goes the quest to find the best way to portray feathers - the trials and tribulations of being self-taught I suppose.

The beauty of an original is that you can see and feel the work that went into making it- every brushstroke, every layer, whether visible or underneath other layers, contributes to the textures and colors that ultimately make the piece unique.

Moose 🫎 So many moose tracks….so few sightings. 🐾🪾

I know they’re out there in the woods throughout my neighborhood, but actually spotting them….well, they are elusive! My husband saw one walking through the yard once, years ago. I created this piece as a reminder of nature’s hidden surprises  - a tiny window into the deep forest and the life that peeks out from the quietest corners of the landscape.

The good thing about this tiny, slim painting means you can have your very own moose sighting anywhere, in any little space, nook, shelf, or that tiny sliver of a wall that nothing else fits in.

Nesting Owl 🦉  A few years ago on a night warm enough to have the windows open, I heard almost monkey-like sounds coming from the darkness. It was so creepy - a sound I’d never heard before nor expected to in the northern woods of Vermont! After a little research, I discovered the sounds were the call of young barred owls. I often hear mysterious and creepy noises coming from the woods that surround my house. In this case, I was happy to hear them and to know there was a new generation of owls growing up in the cover of the nearby trees - much like this sweet little owl , nestled in the tree cavity of this piece.

Bat 🦇 My lifelong love of these nocturnal critters has been showing itself lately in my artwork. When I picked up this piece of wood, its purpose came to me immediately. Notice how I incorporated the knot to have the bat clinging to it? It is part of the story.  The shape of the wood informed the design. I love designing the art to fit odd shaped pieces.

Painting on these beautiful wood slices feels like a collaboration with nature-They are the perfect, organic canvas for these little woodsy critters. I study the natural grain of the wood before I even start painting in order to reflect as much of it as possible in the design.

Groundhog 🦫 This one is a tribute to Rufus, a groundhog who dug himself a burrow in the  rock wall in our front yard, near my garden. Surprisingly, the only damage he did was eating the melon leaves. He was fun to watch for a while until we decided it was best for him to dig himself a home elsewhere. I have a feeling he’ll be back, at least for a visit, next summer.

Alpaca 🦙 During their school years, my  boys had short stint in the 4H club, and the place they met was a farm that had some newborn alpacas. There’s something about baby animals  that is just so precious and heartwarming! There are also a number of farms around my town, and during spring I can’t help but look for the year’s new babies frolicking in the fields.   

Hydrangeas🌸 Nantucket holds special memories for me - it’s the first place my husband and I vacationed together when we first started dating. The island has a bounty of hydrangeas and it’s quite beautiful to see so many concentrated in one place. I’ve planted Hydrangeas here in my own yard too. There’s something about those big colorful puffy flower balls that just brings a feeling of happiness.

Garter Snake 🐍 I know there are many who don't like snakes, but I am not one of them! Especially the cute little ones. I frequently see garter snakes soaking up the sun along my rural dirt road, trying to warm up on cool mornings. Being the softie I am when it comes to animals, if one is in the middle of the road, I will gently coax it to slither over to a safer spot closer to the grass and away from the path of the occasional passing vehicle. Does anyone else do this?

Once the temps rise, the snow melts, and the road dries out to once again provide a sun drenched reptile oasis, I will be looking for them in the sandy soil among the rocks and grass.

Garden Vole 🐀 What? Your spring garden is starting to grow? Time to put a stop to that! The snow is finally melting, revealing the maze of tunnels this little guy was busy creating all winter. If you've ever had voles tunneling in your yard, you probably know what that means for your early season garden. Apparently the roots of just-blooming perennials are tasty morsels... But nonetheless...I couldn't help but paint this little cutie coming up from his winter hideaway, eager to greet the new season and all it offers.

Eastern Screech Owl 🦉 Do you ever hear sounds among the trees or forest and wonder, what the heck is that? My curiosity frequently gets the better of me and I embark on a mission to try to figure it out...Which led me to this guy. It has likely made itself a home in an abandoned cavity in one of our trees. Night sounds seem a little less creepy when you know what's making them.

Spring Peeper 🐸 One of the best moments in spring is when the peepers begin to sing their peeping song in the vernal pools around my house and along the path I take on my walks. Here in Vermont, spring feels like it takes forever to arrive and once it gets here it is short and fleeting, so I do not take these joyful little moments for granted! Their presence is a melodic reminder of warm days ahead and the promise of renewal. Mr. Peeper here is ready to emerge from under the cover of leaf litter and mossy bark to make his way to the water and sing his heart out!

Snowshoe Hare 🐰Snowshoe hares, aka varying hares, change color with the seasons - white in winter, brown in summer in order to blend into their surroundings. The thing about the changing of the seasons here in Vermont is that it can be sporadic and actual spring comes on suddenly (snowing one day, 60 degrees the next), catching us all off guard. This little one is lying low under pine branches while shedding the rest of its winter whites, getting ready to hop into summer color.