The Best of Times is Now

“With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts” — Eleanor Roosevelt

The quote above inspires me after a long snowy winter. How about you?

It’s been a long time since I’ve written a newsletter and reviewed my website. Specifically, my art website. Lest you think I have been eating bon bons and sipping champagne, I assure you that I have not! I’ve been painting every day and taking classes with the most outstanding teachers in the area. I also have created 30 watercolor cards for a dear friend who is recovering from a medical procedure with subjects that are a mix of whimsy and whatever we are experiencing at the time such as the Super Bowl, snow and more snow, and highlights from the Maine summers we have shared.

This new and improved website is going to be strictly for showcasing my art, so it will not include any personal photos. It is going to be a gallery with a digital storefront to view and purchase my paintings. I’m delighted with the way it is turning out so far. You’ll be able to purchase an original piece, cards, and prints directly from the website.

The website will also highlight upcoming art shows and festivals in the area. For example, The North River Art Society Festival at the end of May is a wonderful 2 ½ day event where you can view all kinds of art, paintings, photographs and participate in a variety of activities. And, I’ll let you in on the event’s biggest secret (shh!)— the ART Barn is overflowing with boxes filled with individual artists’ works that are available for a fraction of the cost. I feel this is a perfect way to begin your art collection, as you can become familiar with the artist and their style. Then, you can grow into purchasing art that speaks to you at the appropriate price point.

Just a word about starting your art collection. You might be wondering, “where do I start?”. Personally, I would recommend that you start with pieces that speak to you, to your heart. Maybe it reminds you of a place you’ve visited, a garden you nurtured, or a retreat you escape to when times are overwhelming. I wouldn’t recommend purchasing a mass produced “print” from HomeGoods or other retailers just because it “matches” your sofa; let’s be grownups and invest in true art.

I hope to write a newsletter once a quarter, so please follow me to get the latest news about all things art and my own journey as an artist. In addition, I’ll also feature local art shows and exhibits, as well as what’s on my mind at the time.

RECENT EXHIBITS

To kick things off, this past month I was lucky enough to travel to New York City the weekend right before the blizzard hit. I spent my time there with two of my artist friends, and we had the pleasure of seeing two wonderful exhibits. The first one we visited was at The Morgan Library and Museum, an under the radar place that is brimming with rare books, manuscripts, and art.

One of the exhibits that really captured my attention was called “Subway Stories” by William Anastasi. Anastasi used an accordion book where he sketched people, as well as conversations, within a bubble, and in bold lettering wrote “This is Grand Central and 42nd”. It was so interesting to see how an artist spent his time during his train commute.

Another exhibit was called “Life Stories” by Dawn Clements. My friend, Lisa, knew this entire story (it’s always a great idea to go to museums and galleries with other artists). The art was on a piece of paper where markings had been left from folding it in on itself several times. I learned that at the time she created the piece, she was living in a very small place, so she had to work with one tiny portion of the piece at a time. The piece is very intimate, depicting a bandaged arm as one of the main areas of focus. Paired with the fact that Clements created the piece only a few months before her death, it elicits an emotional response from its audience.

We also had the opportunity to visit the Metropolitan Museum, which features the paintings of Helene Schjerfbeck. This show was titled “Seeing Silence”. Schjerfbeck was a prodigy and spent a portion of her life studying art in Paris. She loved to paint landscapes and figures. Personally, one of my favorites is her series of 40 self portraits that spanned across her lifetime. The series started out with youthful expressions, and as the years progressed, they evolved into distorted, haunting faces near the end of her life.

Sometimes, I wonder if I will create more intuitive paintings such as hers as I become more experienced?

UPCOMING ART SHOWS AND FESTIVALS

North River Arts Society’s 49th Annual Festival of the Arts is returning this Memorial Day Weekend—Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24, 2026 - in the heart of Marshfield Hills.

Featured below is the event's cover by Pagie Railsback.

Savage Godfrey Gallery will be featuring the Holding Grounds Exhibition from April 10th - June 4th, 2026.

What’s on My Mind?

I’ve just finished reading two excellent books, both written by first time novelists. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, was recommended to me by my friend and sister-in-law. It unravels a story about friendships and life via a series of letters written by each character, each of their voices distinct from one another. The fine art of letter writing has almost been lost to us with the rise of texting, and with it a large part of the emotion and personability it conveys. I think that is what really drew me to The Correspondent, seeing this form of written connection so beautifully displayed.

The second book, The of Golden, by Allen Levi, follows the life of Theo of Golden– an intriguing man visiting the town of Golden. At times, I didn’t quite understand his purpose? Were his intentions pure or not? Levi’s wonderful writing transported me to the town of Golden and is so descriptive that I could easily paint portraits of the characters based solely on his words.

I’ve been a huge fan of Sean Hayes ever since I saw him star as “Just Jack” on Will & Grace. Hayes’ comedic talent immediately captured me, and he always managed to make me laugh harder than anything else every week.

I had the privilege of seeing him sing and act in “Promises” with Kristen Chenoweth, where he gave an unforgettable performance. More recently, I saw him perform in “Unknown”, an incredible one man show that’s a bit like a game of cat and mouse. One of the characters that he plays is a playwright struggling with writer’s block, amongst a wide variety of other characters. The show runs for a total of 90 minutes, and the show’s brilliant dialogue leaves the audience captivated through its entire duration.

Sean Hayes is also part of SmartLess, a podcast featuring Jason Bateman and Will Arnett. If you’re a fan of any of these talented actors, it’s a must listen!

If you’re looking for a movie recommendation, “Hamnet” is a visual and inspiring film that’s worth the price of admission to see it on the big screen. The film’s imagery and cinematography is beautiful, and seeing it in theaters allows you to fully appreciate every little detail put into its creation.

Friends, have a wonderful Spring, breathe in the warm fresh air, dream, create a new garden, and start your art collection.