Along with the excitement of cliff jumping into the deepest pools, there are quiet pockets of slow moving brook water concealing rainbow trout in this mountain stream northwest of Bethel. Around every corner you will find breathtaking views that cause you to ponder about the important things in life. A beautiful thought is hoping that everyone spend some time traversing this brook and seeking truth in what puzzles them; perhaps this would lead to a more content an accepting public.

The Portland Head Light is the oldest lighthouse in Maine. Construction began in 1789 and it was first lit in 1791. Since then it has been a steady beacon to guide sailors through many a nor'easter.

The Maine town of Cape Elizabeth and Fort Williams has been helping to guide sailors for over 200 years with the Portland Head light. This guiding light cares for the sailors of Cape Elizabeth as well as ports near and far, while the town of Cape Elizabeth cares for the lighthouse. The US Coast Guard maintains the light and fog horn, but the town of Cape Elizabeth cares for the remainder of the surrounding area.

I relive many youthful memories any time I hear the 15 varied songs of the Chickadee. Hardy and resourceful, the Chickadee may contribute to understanding humans’ loss of memory as we age. This little fellow has shown the ability to increase memory capacity for retrieval of stored seeds during harsh winters. Chickadees have always reminded me of my parents and their difficulties with raising six children in harsh Maine winters. They were also resilient and resourceful.

Intelligent, beautiful, and full of song, the Bluejay is easily recognizable. Sadly, it is often labeled as the thief of other bird species' eggs. However, there is little evidence of this.

Easy on the eyes for their beauty and pleasant on the ears with their varying cries, the bluejay has been attributed with promoting the growth of mighty oaks throughout North America as acorns are one of their favorite foods. Capturing the intricacies of their multi-colored feathers was time consuming but quite rewarding. The Bluejay was a joy to paint and to understand.

A true wonder of nature is the annual migration of geese. Perhaps the geese were way ahead of the rest of civilization. This representation was the result of having extra paint, a sense of adventure, and a wife pushing my color borders. Often, we witness a setting sky that looks too vivid to be true. I am always amazed at how Mother Nature’s Palette is fraught with colors not yet in our imaginations. She certainly pushes artists to experiment beyond their expectations.

I cannot recall as a young boy ever seeing an eagle in flight or in any other setting. Thankfully, through conservancy efforts the American Bald Eagle has made a resurgence. These days it is not uncommon to see single males and nesting pairs. It is amazing to witness any person’s first experience seeing an Eagle. The look of respect in their eyes tells the story. This young male was first observed bathing in a small puddle, then perched up high hunting for prey unaware of our presence or perhaps for our benefit.

Messengers of the spirits. Cardinals represent devotion, loving relationships, courtship, and monogamy above everything else in the Native American lore. While some tribes thought cardinals to be the harbinger of rain, other tribes, like the southeastern tribe, associated good fortune and sun with them. From my earliest recollection, I recall many of my family speaking of a visit from a cardinal after the passing of a loved one. I had this experience after the passing of my mother. A brightly colored cardinal visited me while I painted in my art room, thus my inspiration.

This barn, that once stood in Newry Maine, is an iconic passkey to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It tells the story of years gone by where farmers stored hay for the winter and oats for their horses. Unfortunately, this barn met its demise around 2020.

The Androscoggin River flows through the Snow Falls Gorge in West Paris Maine. This bridge once served as a safe passage for farmers and horse drawn carriages. This painting is a rendition created from a photograph taken in the late 1800's.