This painting was started as a plein air painting at the Emery House of Newburyport, Massachusetts, a monastic guest house and spiritual retreat center of the Society of St. John the Evangelist.
I often start paintings with the process called "en plein air" which means "outdoors."
Some of my paintings start with sketches in charcoal or watercolor, while others start on the actual canvas that I intend to finish later in the studio. Other times, I take photos on location and use those as my springboards.
My painting process takes me weeks, not an hour or two. Therefore, I take my work indoors to my studio. But I am always inspired by nature, outdoors, as my starting point.