I enjoy spending time in Hanging Rock State Park in Danbury, NC (north of Winston Salem) with its beautiful trails and natural wonders. I painted this waterfall scene with fallen leaves after a visit this past October, 2024.
Scenes from Maine
My husband and I traveled to Maine in May for a canoeing trip on the St. John River. It was a magnificent adventure, and we were so glad that we could go! The St. John River is located in northern Maine and flows north towards Canada. The river is very isolated and beautiful, heavily forested with fir and birch trees.
From the river, we had an impressive view of Mt. Katahdin, which is the highest point in the whole state of Maine. It is also the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail peaking a mile above sea level. Its summit is often obscured by clouds.
1st Place Nature Painting
I was recently delighted to learn my watercolor painting of a waterfall in Hanging Rock State Park I had entered in the Kings Mountain nature painting contest was selected as the first place winner.
The jurors’ comments were:
We were intrigued by Martha’s use of watercolor to build up impasto passages of paint, as opposed to employing the medium in its typically diluted form. The painting also recalls the “fidelity to nature” reminiscent in the Pre-Raphaelite artists such as John Ruskin and John Everett Millais. Martha has really used vivid color, texture, and detail to bring this subject to life. Congratulations to Martha on her remarkable work.
“Hanging Rock Waterfall”
We enjoyed a wonderful camping experience earlier this year at Hanging Rock State Park in NC. There are numerous trails with such beautiful scenery, including this waterfall.
8 x 10″ matted prints are available of this piece as well as any other painting I have created. Prints fit a standard 11 x 14″ frame and are $35 each with free shipping.
“Appalachian Trail in Winter”
My daughter sent me a photo from a hike she and her husband took this winter. This section of trail passes through the G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area.
“Hickman’s Bridge”
Last fall we did a road trip out west and spent some time in Capitol Reef National Park in Utah. I painted this inspiring scene of Hickman’s Bridge, which is a huge, impressive, natural stone formation.
“Under the Pier”
I am proud to say I finished this watercolor painting, a massive endeavor because it is so large. It is satisfying to work hard on a project and feel good about that effort when it is complete. This scene is the underside of one of the beach piers in Myrtle Beach, SC, looking out at the Atlantic Ocean.
“Under the Pier” in process
My nephew shared a photo he had taken of the underside of an ocean-front pier. The details and weathering were fascinating to me! I am working on an oversized painting of this image that is so large, I had to begin work on the floor because it is too large to manage in my usual work space.
“Issaquenna Falls”
This impressive waterfall is in Stumphouse Park in Oconee County, SC. This park is 440 acres and has much history and beauty for visitors to enjoy.
“7th Street Barn”
This unusual barn is located in Indianapolis , IN. The weathered red board were so intriguing to me to paint.