I have a variety of things for you this month, thanks to pops of color and beauty I’ve encountered in my mini adventures around Wilmington, NC. Think of it like a peek inside my sketchbook, showing you a few of my favorite spots!

First up, the Camellias in bloom at Airlie Gardens. Talk about jaw-dropping. The more I wandered through the gardens, the more I felt like I had stepped into the world of Pride and Prejudice.

Eventually, I found myself under the Spanish Moss, surrounded by giant Camellias. Just me, God and nature. I made a couple of quick, loose sketches; breathed in the fresh air; and headed back to my studio to paint.

I ended up with two (acrylic and pencil) paintings on hand-torn, watercolor paper: 4x5.75 in. and 4x5.25 in.

They would look stunning in pressed glass frames. Like this 5x7 in. tabletop frame, or this 7x9 in. frame!

Each painting is $60 plus shipping.

Up next is a painting from one of my favorite spots to watch the sunset, the Intracoastal Waterway at Wrightsville Beach.

Something about the little figures of birds soaring across the pink and orange clouds captivated me one evening. They have such an incredible view!

So back at my easel, I grabbed a seashell, dipped it in some paint and swiped it across my panel to create tiny birds in flight!

This acrylic painting is on a 5x7 in. birchwood panel. It’s 1.5 in. deep and has a matte finish.

It’s $100 plus shipping.

And just for fun, I created this keychain from a paint splattered piece of fabric I’ve been using to clean my brushes while painting! It’s one small way that I’m repurposing materials in the studio.

The keychain is $35 plus shipping.

The February Drop is set for Friday (2/4) at 10 a.m. EST. See you then!