Fall Daisy Fog

Early October

As all of nature warms into a golden hue, there’s a little chill in the air and the mountain mist clings between hillsides. I geek out over the way layers of fog create this really cool effect of desaturation in such a saturated early fall landscape. It’s one of my favorite things to behold in my favorite season of the year. Right on the edge of my driveway there’s the prettiest wild daisy growing up the corner post of a split rail fence: the last signs of summer hanging on. Watercolors are so unique in the way they can be used to capture colors fading in and out and it’s so fun play with water and paints to get that foggy effect.

Four of a Kind

Without fail, my favorite thing to paint is always those blue ridge lines! I love the challenge of capturing way the mountains fade in and out with the fog and mist, the defined layers, and that specific blue color that I love so much. These fellas are very much at home in barn wood frames:

Mountain Layers

Beacon Heights

This was the view from Beacon Heights on an early morning in July this summer. The sun was rising to the left but I could not take my eyes away from the colors and layers of the ranges looking south. Definitely feeling inspired by these hazy hues and trying to capture them in paint swatches.

Hiking Hawksbill

Hawksbill Mountain was on the summer bucket list and has officially joined the favorites list because it's absolutely amazing. The Linville Gorge is UNREAL. 
I can't believe I live next door to some of the prettiest views in the Southeast.

Scenes like this always make me want to pick up the paintbrush.

Looking toward Table Rock

Mountain Laurel in bloom

The colors of the rhododendron against the blue ridges GETS ME EVERYTIME

Views from every side at the top. So, so beautiful.

Wine Labels

I'm so excited to share this project that's been my baby since before I even considered moving back to be full time with the winery: the WINE LABELS! 

The creation of each label starts with a watercolor painting that I bring into my computer to edit into a digital file. Then, all of the label requirements are added and I apply for government approval for each design, which involved a lot of googling "how do I do this???" But it's been SO AWESOME to see it through from start to finish and to have labels that really represent who we are with paintings of our mountain vineyard, the tasting room, the falls, the sunflowers! Getting to bring something artistic to the table for the winery has been really cool, and I'm over the moon with how the labels have turned out and how well they've been received by customers. My heart swells when people remember the wine not only by the taste, but by the label artwork, too.