Garlic is my favorite and reliable staple in my garden. Onions? I am still trying to figure out. Thank goodness for a canvas and some paint.

My love affair with the vibrant colors of vegetables didn’t start in my own garden—it all began at a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) near Walden Pond in Massachusetts. Then, came the blueberries. Lowbush, highbush, and the inspiration to have my own.

My love affair with the vibrant colors of vegetables didn’t start in my own garden—it all began at a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) near Walden Pond in Massachusetts.

Cornered, from the In Their World series.

I used a palette of delicate playful tones, layering on shades of muted browns and grays to capture the natural patina of the shell. The variation in mark-making, from bold, textured strokes to fine, delicate lines, conveys the complexity of its form. My deep saturation of colors plays with a hint of glimmering, floating -almost mystical quality- with a bit of playfulness.

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What comes to mind when you say Spring in Maine? The challenge lies in the word Spring. The reality is mud. Or, begrudgingly, the late winter blizzard. But, by June, in the understory of dry woods and boggy areas, you can come across a Pink Lady Slipper with a 1 to 3-inch long pouch-like flower that grows singly on a stalk emerging from 2 broad, fuzzy leaves at the base of the plant. (Please don’t pick them.) My Lady Slipper was created during one of those late March blizzards while my wood stove kept the house warm. It’s a tiny oil on acrylic, on a 5x5 birch board panel.

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How I LOVE painting on large canvases! The bigger the better. So creating a little beauty on a ‘itsy-bitsy’ of a 5x5 was a wonderful exercise on just capturing the essence with brushstrokes. Color is key to capturing the vibrancy, without overwhelming with detail. I look forward to an entire series of flowers, farm veggies, and birds in these ‘itsy-bitsy’ sizes that are perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, and hallways.

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