January 2026
Monthly Muse
Happy New Year!
It’s the little things . . .
Winter has made its long-awaited arrival—sudden, forceful, and unmistakable. As I sat down to write the first newsletter of the new year, an ice storm settled in and we began watching the lights, half-expecting them to flicker. Of the four adults in the house, only one attempted to head out, but a short, slippery shuffle toward the car made it clear that travel was not in the cards. Any lingering doubt disappeared as we watched the first snowplow back up our country road, its sander working overtime to give the truck traction enough to do it’s job..
Today, we’re especially grateful for a bit of common sense, a warm home for shelter, and a steady wood fire keeping winter at bay.
Gilford High School Annual Holiday Craft Fair
We wrapped up our 2025 show season with a strong and rewarding showing at the Gilford Holiday Craft Fair. As always, we were impressed by the scale of the event and the steady stream of visitors throughout the day—it’s truly one of the region’s most vibrant holiday shows.
Our location in the Middle School gymnasium allowed us to display work both inside the booth and along the exterior walls, giving us space to present nearly sixty artworks, along with holiday cards and ornaments. We were delighted to place several original pieces during the fair, with additional sales in the days that followed.
Our sincere thanks to everyone who braved the cold to stop by, visit, and support our work—whether through conversation, gifts, or new art finding a home. Your continued encouragement and patronage mean more to us than we can say.
2025: A Year of Adjustment, Resilience, and Renewal
Like most years worth remembering, 2025 came with both highs and lows. Stephanie and I faced challenges we never anticipated—tight time constraints and extended family responsibilities that required real adjustments and continue to shape our daily lives.
Several years ago, when we became empty-nesters, we reimagined our home to support our creative work. A bedroom became Stephanie’s art studio, while my former office evolved into a photography post-processing and art-digitization space. In 2025, however, our commitment to helping family members through periods of need and transition meant letting go of both of our 300-square-foot studios. Today, we’re creating in spaces roughly one-third the size. Creativity, thankfully, isn’t the problem—but remembering where everything lives has become a daily puzzle.
Despite those changes, 2025 turned out to be a strong year for original art and fine art print sales. Our personal schedule limited us to just three shows, but attendance was excellent. We met many new people, placed a gratifying amount of work into new homes, and saw gallery sales strengthen notably in the second half of the year. We take this as a hopeful sign—confidence appears to be returning, and historically that confidence brings renewed interest in collecting art. And yes, art is a luxury—one we’re grateful people continue to value.
Teaching was another bright spot. Stephanie’s in-person classes at the Lakes Region Art Gallery, launched in late 2024 with Watercolor for Beginners and Watercolor on Canvas, continued successfully through 2025. These were joined by three well-received additions: Intermediate Watercolors, Introduction to Pastels, and the newest offering, Watercolor Workout. The Workout class—requested by returning students—serves as a confidence-building bridge between beginner and intermediate levels, reinforcing fundamentals while encouraging growth.
Looking back, 2025 was a good year. Life will always present challenges, and how we meet them often defines who we become.
So what about 2026? After a year like this, we’re cautious about putting too much in ink. Still, we’re optimistic. Our goals are simple and energizing: spend more time creating in our smaller studios, bring new and original work to market, return to five or six shows, and streamline the logistics of exhibiting so the process is as enjoyable as the outcome. And on a personal note, I’m determined to reclaim my woodworking shop and begin crafting our own real-wood frames once again.
Here’s to 2026—fresh work, fresh energy, and forward momentum.
Bring it on. We’re ready to get started.
Fresh Out of the Frame Shoppe
Winter Landscapes and the Quiet Power of January Light
Winter has a way of simplifying the world around us. In January, New Hampshire’s familiar fields, forests, and shorelines grow quieter and more contemplative. For artists, this season offers a rare opportunity to slow down and truly see the landscape—an approach that often results in some of the most timeless and emotionally resonant work of the year.
One of winter’s greatest gifts is January light. With the sun staying low in the sky, light stretches gently across the land, creating long shadows and soft transitions that reveal form, texture, and depth. Subtle color takes center stage—cool blues and silvery grays balanced by moments of warm gold at sunrise and sunset. These restrained palettes bring a sense of calm and balance that feels especially welcome during the winter months.
Winter scenes also carry a sense of honesty. With foliage gone and visual noise reduced, the landscape reveals its underlying structure—stone walls, bare branches, quiet water, and open sky. This simplicity allows the viewer to connect more deeply with a place, without distraction. Whether painted or photographed, winter landscapes tend to feel grounded, peaceful, and enduring.
The season is not without its challenges. Cold weather demands patience and care, and winter light can be fleeting. Yet it is precisely this deliberateness that gives winter artwork its strength. Each piece is created with intention, attention, and a respect for the quiet moments that often go unnoticed.
For collectors, winter landscapes offer something special: artwork that brings stillness into a space, reflects the natural rhythms of the season, and continues to reveal subtle beauty over time. These are pieces meant to be lived with—art that doesn’t shout, but gently invites you in.
If you find yourself drawn to the quiet beauty of the winter season, we invite you to explore our available winter landscapes—both original works and fine art prints—created here in New Hampshire’s January light. Whether you are looking to add a sense of calm to your home or simply enjoy the subtle elegance of winter-inspired art, we hope these pieces offer a moment of reflection and connection during the season.
Walking in the Winter Woods
Winter Waterfall
Winter Orchard
Dead of Winter
The Gift That Lasts:
Why Art Finds Its Moment in January
After the lights are packed away and the calendar turns, January invites us to slow down. Homes grow quieter, routines return, and we finally take time to notice the spaces we live in every day. It’s often in this pause—after the holidays—that art truly finds its moment.
Unlike many seasonal gifts, fine art doesn’t fade with time. In January, artwork takes on a new role: bringing warmth to winter rooms, offering calm after a busy season, and creating a daily point of reflection. A landscape filled with winter light, a quiet shoreline, or a softly colored scene can subtly shift the mood of a space—adding balance, depth, and a sense of place.
We often hear from collectors that January is when they finally hang a piece they’ve been thinking about for months, or realize a wall feels unfinished without something meaningful. Art has a way of settling in, becoming part of the rhythm of a home rather than a moment tied to a single occasion.
At McQuade Fine Arts, many of our winter works—both paintings and photographs—are created during this reflective season. They are shaped by quieter mornings, low January light, and the simplicity of the New England landscape at rest. These pieces are meant to be lived with, revealing something new each time you pass by.
If you find yourself looking for something lasting to carry you through the winter months and beyond, January may be the perfect time to let art find its place in your home.
Winter Home
Winter Birches
A New Beginning
Atlantic Morning
Nubble Lighthouse in Sea Smoke
Recent Sales
December 2025 Artworks Hanging on New Walls
We are deeply grateful for every purchase—whether it’s a greeting card, a matted print, or an original artwork. Throughout December, several original works and fine art photographic prints found new homes. Some were given as gifts; many were thoughtfully chosen for personal spaces and now hang proudly on their owners’ walls.
Below is a sampling of the larger works placed during the month. To everyone who supports our art and values craftsmanship enough to invest in it, thank you. We take great care to create high-quality pieces meant to be enjoyed for generations, and your continued support means more to us than words can fully express.
