Exhale : Cattails in Harpswell, Maine

Oil on Canvas 18 × 24

The Story of Exhale | Cattails, Nostalgia & Nibbles

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Did you know cattails are edible? Neither did I—until recently, when my curiosity about local flowering plants that could be foraged led me down a rabbit hole. If you know when and how to harvest them (and if they’re from a clean water source, of course!) every part of the cattail is usable. Those velvety brown spikes? Steam them like corn! Who knew a plant could double as both display a vase and a dinner plate? While I haven’t steamed a cattail spike or roasted its roots just yet, I love that the option exists.

Cattails seem to fall into two camps: you either grew up with them as a backdrop to your childhood, or they’re an alien plant. For me, they’re firmly rooted (pun intended) in my Northern California childhood, delighting in their velvety ‘flowers’ perfect for twirling. They were nature’s paintbrushes, swords, or whatever else our imaginations conjured.

Fast-forward to adulthood, and now I’m living in Maine while working on a painting this fall, I noticed cattails everywhere. Maine’s marshes were filled with them, though they looked different in the fall: pale, crispy, and weathered, like the cornstalks at the end of a farm season. They were the fall version of themselves, winding down for winter, their roots soon to be tucked under icy waters.

My Oil Painting Process: Creating Cattails

This was foremost an intention and fascination for leading the eye with composition. I was mesmerized by the interplay of height, placement, and variation—it was vital to me that the cattails guided the viewer's eye to what is most important. It was a quiet choreography. (See pictures below!)

Next, portraying the delicate bloom of cattail fuzz needed a layering of translucent and opaque colors, I worked to replicate the soft radiance of fading sunlight and the airy texture of the cattail’s seed heads. I love the completed painting - the lavenders and greens will look lovely and serene in a home one day.

Four Things to Do in Harpswell, Maine

When you road trip to coastal Maine and take the scenic back roads, Harpswell becomes a smile-inducing day trip. Just 20 minutes from where I live, it’s one of those “must-do” whenever visitors are in town. Crossing onto one of Harpswell’s three “fingers,” I’ve often exclaimed, “I could spend a lifetime exploring coastal Maine!” And with good reason—Harpswell is quintessential low-key real Maine.

Here are four things to do while you’re soaking up the magic of Harpswell:

1. Enjoy the Drive Along Route 123
   The journey is half the experience here. Route 123 is a winding, two-lane road bordered by waterways, marshes, and coastal coves. Keep your eyes peeled for a small pond dotted with water lilies on the left and cattails on the right—a scene so lovely, that I couldn’t resist pulling over one day just to bask in its stillness. (Hence the painting.) You’ll find moments like this sprinkled throughout Harpswell, so take your time and enjoy the ride.

2. Hike Along the Cliff Trail
   This 2.3-mile loop offers stunning views of tidal coves and Harpswell Sound. The trail winds through woods and leads to a dramatic cliffside overlook, perfect for snapping photos or just taking in the rugged coastline. It’s a moderate hike that rewards you with big payoffs in scenery and a peaceful immersion in nature. Also - family friendly with a fairy house compound nestled into the woods.

3. Visit the Cribstone Bridge and Bailey Island
   Harpswell is home to the iconic Cribstone Bridge, a marvel of engineering and a photographer’s dream. Once you cross it, you’ll land on Bailey Island, where you can explore tiny shops, visit Cook’s Lobster & Ale House for some fresh seafood, or walk along the pebbled shores of Mackerel Cove.

4. Explore Lands End
   Perched at the edge of Bailey Island, it’s a picturesque spot for a pause with a view. While I adore this often sunny and yet breezy view of deep blue waters and the striations in the frock formations, others treat themselves to a thing or two browsing the Land’s End gift store.