Plum Island

Plum Island is a barrier island shared by Newbury and Newburyport, Massachusetts.  Approximately a half of the island is settled with cottages and small homes.  The other half is a wonderful, fiercely protected wildlife refuge.  A home to migratory birds and insects, native animals and plants that has many natural features that support a wonderful biodiversity. I have been visiting this beach from childhood- as my father and his brothers did, and their parents before them.

I have witnessed the Monarch butterfly and Swallow migrations, the geese preparing for their journey south, the winter arrival of the Snowy Owl.  I have seen deer, fox and raccoons raise their families and the Piping Plover make a comeback from near extinction on this tiny island.  I have ridden the waves- what they call body surfing these days- and been slammed into the undertow and riptides by them.  And I have found the treasures those waves leave behind- the wonderful shells that I have studied and attempted to represent in my still lives.

This ongoing collection of paintings feature those studied over several sessions- sometimes taking weeks to complete while waiting for a particular light or weather effect to return, and those done in less than an hour- chasing the fast moving storms, clouds and atmosphere so spectacular in this enchanted place. (to view collection, please click here)