The Story of Plump | A Painting of Gorgeous Maine Blueberries

$295 set in a black floating frame

When I first laid eyes on my five acres of Maine land, I saw more than just trees, rocks, and patches of scruffy grass. I saw potential—a blank canvas. It didn’t take long for me to decide that blueberries would be part of the masterpiece. This wasn’t some grand, elaborate plan to start a blueberry empire, but rather the ongoing desire to be a steward of the land, and learning about local fruit. Just one bush at a time.

Every year, I planted a few more bushes. There’s something therapeutic about returning to this routine. And yes, there were the years when I’d look around and think, Is this actually going anywhere? It didn’t exactly scream “blueberry farm.” But as I added little by little, that single, scraggly bush became two, then four, and now, well, I’m up to a dozen.

Looking back, I realize that planting those blueberry bushes taught me more than how to grow fruit. It became a quiet reminder that I don’t have to do everything all at once. I can plant my ideas, my projects, and my dreams the same way: one small effort at a time. Some things take years to ripen, and that’s okay. Every bush that makes it through Maine’s brutal winters (and, let’s face it, I leave most of the work to Ms. Nature) feels like a small victory. Just like the blueberry bushes, they’ll grow steadily, as long as they’re given time, care, and, of course, a little humor along the way (I swear the bushes grow a little faster when I tell them a good joke).

Highbush Blueberries

• Highbush varieties grow on taller bushes, reaching heights of 6-12 feet, and produce larger berries. Highbush blueberries are common in farmer's markets, grocery stores, and many U-pick farms.

Lowbush Blueberries

• Lowbush blueberries are the quintessential "wild Maine blueberries." They grow low to the ground, often only 6-18 inches tall, and spread through rhizomes, creating dense patches across rocky, acidic soil. Lowbush blueberries are small but intensely flavorful, packing a sweet-tart punch with higher antioxidant levels. They’re often used in baking, harvested commercially, often by hand or with specialized rakes, and are widely used in products like jams, pies, and muffins.

My Oil Painting Process

Discipline for me is carefully finding beauty in subtlety. I start with a raw umber ground, which sets a warm, earthy foundation. Next, I locate the tones by carefully mapping out the darkest and lightest areas, even though the contrast is subtle. In this piece, I’m not aiming for vibrant color play; instead, it’s more of a gentle gradient between the blues and the muted tones around them. I keep adjusting the tones, adding in blues and greens, letting them mingle and settle as the layers dry. This technique lets the blueberries take on a slightly softened look.

Where to Find Blueberries When Visiting Maine

If you want to choose wiser and support the best possible practices, search for certified organic wild blueberry, hand-harvested, organically managed, and traditionally farmed, and MOFGA. (Maine Organica Farming and Gardening Association.)

This is possibly the best blueberry-finding website out there. Check out the map, farms, dates, etc here at Wild Blueberries. I especially love the pages on Why Wild and Growing and Harvest. Beautifully done!

Early August is the time to plan and often you will head north of here so of course stop in by my studio on your way!

• Gray Wild Blueberry Festival - August annually; on the second Saturday every August; blueberry menu items and delicious food trucks: Wild Blueberry Pie Eating Contests & Bake-off, Live Music, Crafters & Vendors, Farm Animals. Adding this to my calendar now!

• Crystal Spring Farmer’s Market: Located just outside Freeport in Brunswick, this vibrant market features an array of fresh produce, flowers, and handcrafted items, connecting you to the community’s rich agricultural heritage. You will find me here on most given summer Saturday mornings.