In Summer 2018, I had the opportunity to spend two months in the Adirondacks, on a small lake called Arbutus Lake. Arbutus Lake was home to a pair of loons, an otter family, a common merganser and her dozen chicks, an elusive mink, three feisty red squirrels, a white-tailed doe and her twins, a very large snapping turtle, a great blue heron, dozens of toads, Brook trout, a turkey family, and a chipmunk who had no fear when it came to raisins - along with dozens of song birds, woodpeckers and the occasional bald eagle and broad-wing hawk. During the mornings we would listen to the chirping sounds of chickadees and nuthatches, and in the afternoon hike around near by lakes that were home to chubby beavers and more otter families. Or we would climb into old growth forests, and kayak across lakes and ponds following the loons. At night, we fell asleep listening to the loon calls, thunder, and scurrying mice.  For two months, the spirits of the forest - the creatures, the weather, and the colors ignited my curiosity, imagination and inspired this collection of work.

Most of the following drawings and paintings were inspired by creatures I met in the Adirondacks. The only pieces that are not based on an Adirondack experience are two abstract ink pieces, the bears, the great horned owl and the coyote - these are past pieces I thought I'd include because these creatures are also found in the Adirondacks. Though, I did hear a Great horned owl, and see a coyote. But I never saw a black bear, nor did I see a moose. Some reasons to go back. ​

If you are interested in purchasing a piece, please email me for more information. 

Raisin Stealer (Eastern Chipmunk.) 14x11" Mixed Media

"Nature always wears the colors of the spirit"
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Stopped (Red Squirrel.) 8x10" Pastel

Summer evening. 5x7" Acrylic Sold

Mama Deer (White Tailed Deer.) 10x8" Pastel

Old Growth. 7x5" Ink Sold

Searching (Pileated Woodpecker.) 7x5" Mixed Media

Edge of the Forest. 6x6" Ink

Deep in the forest. 6x6" ink

Warm Summer Sun. 6x6" Ink Sold

Hermit Thrush Study. 8x10" Watercolor/Mixed Media Sold

That Island. 5x7" Acrylic.

Afternoon (White Tailed Deer) 7x9" Mixed Media.

I see you too (red squirrel.) 7x5" Mixed Media

Summer Light. 7x5" Pastel Sold

Curious Otter. 9x7" Mixed Media.

Resting (Snapping turtle.) 8x10" Mixed Media

Portrait of a toad. 5x7" Mixed Media

On the Edge (Baby Black Bear). 9x12" Pastel

The Adirondacks. 7x5" Acrylic

Wings up (Common Loon.) 5x7" Mixed Media.

Caught (Southern Flying Squirrel.) 8x10" Colored Pencil

Chipper. 7.5x10" Mixed Media Monoprint

Just walking (White Tailed Deer.) 8x10" Colored Pencil.

---

Common Loon Chick. 10x8" Colored Pencil

Spirits of the Forest. 20x16" Acrylic

Fawn (White Tailed Deer). 10x8. Pastel

Hello there (Eastern Chipmunk.) 5x7" Mixed Media.

In the water (American Beaver) 8x10" Pastel

Eating Breakfast (Eastern Chipmunk.) 9x12" Pastel

Swimming Beaver. 8x10" Pastel

In the Forest. 5x7" Mixed media

Passing by (White Tailed Deer.) 8x10" Watercolor/mixed media

Great Horned Owl. 8x10" Pastel

Portrait of Sir Chipmunk. 6x8" Colored Pencil Sold

Blue Heron. 24x18" Mixed Media

Just Hanging. 12x9" Pastel

Lightning Storm. 18x24" Mixed Media

Turkey Family. 18x24" Mixed Media

Mr. Woodchuck. 5x7" Colored Pencil

Waters Edge. 5x7" Acrylic

You can't see me (Eastern Chipmunk.) 8x10" Pastel

You found me (Flying squirrel.) 5x7" Mixed Media.

High Peaks. 5x7" Acrylic.

Mink at the Lake. 11x14" Mixed Media.

Lazy Bear. 10x8" Mixed Media

Always Watching (Broad-winged Hawk.) 24x18" Mixed Media

Peak-a-boo (Red Squirrel.) 10x8" Mixed Media

Lake Arbutus. 5x7" Acrylic sold

---