I’ve recently returned from two very enjoyable art shows. The first was in Mystic Connecticut where I’ve exhibited for many years. The second showing was in Chatham, MA, on Cape Cod. Between these two shows, I spent a few days exploring Martha’s Vineyard and have returned with a wide range of ideas for paintings. Most prominent in my mind were the western cliffs at Aquinnah. I’ll be spending a lot of time pouring over my sketches and photography the next few weeks planning paintings on my sketchpad. On the return trip from Cape Cod, I stopped in Newport and was treated to some dramatic sky effects out on Breton Point. This is an important place for me, having been a key source of inspiration to William Trost Richards, one of my favorite artists from the 19th century Hudson River School.