Studio Notes • January

What Inspires Me in the Off Season

When Cape Cod gets quiet and cold, the inspiration gets louder and a bit softer around the edges. Winter is when I notice the ocean blues, the shell-pink skies, and the calm little winter rituals that inspire new watercolor pieces.

1) Winter light + quiet beach walks

The summer beach is bright and busy  but winter is all subtle and still. The ocean turns glassy. The wind whips at your face. But there's something about the frigid salt air mixed with the smell of snow that wakes my creative brain right up. The beaches are empty so you can really take in all the little details around you. Some details and colors that only show up this time of year. The dunes look like icy watercolor washes. And sometimes if you're lucky, you find a sunny spot sheltered by the dunes so you can close your eyes and bask in while pretending its summer for a split second.

2) Color palettes I want to live inside

January is always when i experiment with new colors in my palette. Colors truly unnecessary for a watercolor palette, but thats what makes them fun. New colors always inspire me to paint new things or try new techniques. I still keep coming back to cornflower blue, shell pink, my standout favorites from last year and of course sandy neutrals. When the palette feels right, the art almost paints itself.

3) Studio rituals that keep me creating

Off-season is when I reset my space, test new ideas, and make tiny pieces just because they’re cute. A warm drink, e, a few shells, and a fresh sheet of paper, it’s my version of a creative reset button. Lately I've been putting table runners on my desk to make it feel a little more luxurious and using my shells as paint dishes, because why not.

4) The “whimsy” factor

I love coastal calm, but I also love a little storybook charm. Lately I've been having fun with cutting out paintings and photographing them in outdoor settings. A tiny beach friend. A playful detail. A little metallic pop that makes you eyes gleam. Two of my creative goals for this year are to paint with more color and to add more whimsical elements to my paintings.

Off-season inspiration gallery

Six little snapshots that feel like January to me: winter skies, frozen seaweed, snow covered dunes and the colors that make me appreciate the off season.

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