On The Art Table in July
Beach Portraits + Short Stories
Beach Portraits + Short Stories
Creating with my hands proves time and time again the most effective and efficient way to express myself. I try to journal now and then (I’m told it’s a healthy, therapeutic practice!), I have a ukulele (I can strum something sort of resembling a Jason Mraz song?), but these hobbies are reserved for those living under my roof (lucky them).
For this Beach Portraits collection, I loved the idea of pairing some pieces with a story. The compositions reminded me so much of book covers, I couldn’t help but fantasize about all the characters they could be. Of course, I knew it would be much more fun (and enjoyable to read) if I had a writer help me out. Many talented writers in my life have helped me with their words in the past (if you remember, Lake Lovers by Sam Corden and my She and I collection by various authors) and to my good fortune, another friend has agreed to lend her talents!
It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Megan Clouse. A soul sister living in Maine, Megan is a creative in every sense of the word. One of her latest creative endeavors is pairing her own photography with stories on her Substack newsletter PhotoStory. Fictional escapes delivered straight to your inbox, you won’t regret subscribing!
Megan has written six short fictional stories to pair with six of my paintings. Over the next several weeks, you’ll receive a short newsletter on Tuesday and Thursday mornings with one of Megan’s stories and an image of my painting. Ideally, these notes are read while sipping coffee on a porch swing somewhere, but if not, may you be transported to that summer happy place, if even for a moment.
Without further ado, here is our first short story:
Beach Portrait I
With sandy fingers and a grinning smile, Andi took eight big bites of her cheese “sam-ich” before she ran back to the water, leaving behind a pile of unwanted crust on the chair. Brooke waved her hand at the pacing wide-eyed seagulls and dropped the sandy bread remnants into the plastic Kroger bag that had become the default garbage bag for the day. With an exhale and smile, Brooke plopped herself into the chair, kicked out her legs, and unwrapped the second cheese “sam-ich”, this one with bright red homegrown tomatoes, just for herself.
Meet Megan Clouse
A handful of years ago we left our native California for a big new life adventure, letting our hearts be captured by an 1880 farmhouse in a small Maine harbor town. This move was a chance for us to leap into our second half of life and pursue new, exciting things.
So here I am, photographing, writing and dabbling with painting on snowy days. Ever evolving, striving, sometimes laughing and sometimes crying, weaving my way through life. Here’s a quote from Billy Jack Brawner that breathed assurance into me recently, “Almost everything you need to be fully who you are is already inside of you.”
Scribbles + Notes
I’m planning a studio show later this month. If you’re in town and would like to attend, reply or comment below which day of the week works best. I’m choosing between Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday and the time will be ~4-7 pm.
My friends Chloe + Joey at Shed Wines are hosting an open house and free tastings in Harbor Springs next week. Here is the link for all the details.
Artfully Walls is having their annual 4th of July weekend 25% off sale. You can shop a curated selection of my prints (with great framing options!) here.
My trusty painting jumpsuit is on major sale this weekend too. Size down!
Another hobby of mine is film photography. I shoot with a Canon AE-1 and use Kodak Portra 400 film. Signing off today with a photo I just got developed from a neighbor’s birthday party last weekend. Ahhh, beach days.
There is so much about this collaboration that I love...painting, writing and summers in Maine! Looking forward to these stories unfolding....fantastic job ladies!!!
Saturday or Sunday would work for me!