The places that inspired my paintings!

At long last, I have three new art prints up in my shop (yay!), and I wanted to share a few photos of the REAL places that inspired my art!

First we have a couple cafes around RI, which came together to become the waterfront cafe the otters are enjoying. :)

I just loved these airy porches, and I put my cafe right on the water -- where otters would like to be, of course!

Next is the real camp office in NH that Camping Bear is getting books from! Inside, it looks pretty much identical to my painting. And yes, there were moths all over the screens! That's my kids examining them. It was just so old and nostalgic in there, like a musty library book. ^_^

Lastly, we have a photo from Tangled Garden, a lush, magical garden in Nova Scotia that A. and I stumbled into one afternoon. It seemed like just the place for a critter to go on a quest.

I hope you liked this peek into my inspirations! I take lots of photos, often seeing future art in what's in front of me. Sometimes it can take years for the places and scenes to make their way into paintings. I do remember my "future art" even when it's just stored away in my brain, and when the time is finally right (whenever that is!!), I comb through old photos and sketch things out. It feels REALLY GOOD to make "future art" into real art! Very satisfying, like I've fulfilled old promises to myself. :)