Monthly Muse
August 2026
“August Sunset” by Mike McQuade
As many of you know, Stephanie and I are members of the New Hampshire Lakes Region Art Association, one of the state’s oldest art organizations. Each summer, the Lakes Region Art Gallery hosts its Annual Members Exhibit, inviting members to enter up to three works across ten artistic categories. Each year, we join the friendly competition by submitting pieces we consider among our strongest work from the previous twelve months.
Last year, we were fortunate to bring home three ribbons—two in photography and one in watercolor. This year’s exhibit was roughly 50% larger than usual, with nearly 100 works entered and a number of talented new artists adding to an already competitive field. Stephanie entered one watercolor and two pastels, while Mike submitted two black-and-white photographs and one color image.
Three independent judges evaluated the work on Wednesday, July 29, with ribbons and prizes presented during the well-attended Opening Night Reception on July 31.
This year, we came home with one ribbon—but a special one: First Place in Black & White Photography for Mike’s “Between the Drifts.” The monochrome photograph is printed on Fine Art Velvet paper and presented beneath a white, acid-free mat in a black gallery frame.
But the competition isn’t over yet.
The second part of the 86th Annual Members Exhibit is now in the hands of gallery visitors through the People’s Choice Awards. While the independent judges evaluated the artwork on artistic merit, visitors are invited to vote simply for the works they personally enjoy and appreciate most.
If you are in the area, stop by the Lakes Region Art Gallery, explore this exceptional collection of nearly 100 works, and cast your ballot for your favorites.
People’s Choice voting continues through August 30, with the winners to be announced at the September ArtTalk.
Lakes Region Art Gallery in the Tanger Outlets, 120 Laconia Rd, Ste #300, Tilton, NH 03246
Open Thursday through Sunday at 10:00am
“Between the Drifts” Takes First Place at the
86th Annual Members Exhibit
Well on Our Way through Summer
As I turned the page on the wall calendar Saturday morning, I found myself taking stock of summer. What has been accomplished, what remains, and—as usual—why is the list still longer than the trail of greenbacks in the bank account?
So begins the annual re-prioritizing. What absolutely must be finished before cold weather arrives, and what can be pushed aside? Naturally, my winter firewood quickly rises to the top. Few things are more satisfying than seeing four cords neatly stacked and ready for the first cold snap. Unfortunately, few chores are less enjoyable than actually stacking it—and cleaning up the mess afterward.
At the same time, Stephanie and I need to prepare for foliage season and holiday shopping. Unlike a typical retailer, we cannot simply order more merchandise. New work must be created, existing pieces inspected and prepared, inventories updated, and supplies such as glass, matting, paper and frames reordered.
These are not always the tasks artists are best equipped to handle. After all, if we are supposed to think outside the box, how can anyone expect us to enjoy working inside one?
This month’s Monthly Muse also takes a behind-the-scenes look at the real cost of Fine Art—why original artwork and Fine Art photography are priced as they are, and why the profit margin is often far smaller than people imagine. I have also included a companion guide for buyers on what to look for in quality artwork, framing, matting and glazing. Both can be found in our blog listings.
So buckle up. Summer is still going strong, but we are definitely on the downhill side. Foliage, holidays and colder weather will be here before we know it.
It may be time to revisit your own priority list before autumn starts making decisions for you.
As noted above, the competition in the 2026 Annual Members Exhibit was especially strong. This year’s show drew an impressive 103 submissions from 39 artists, with many categories packed with exceptional work. Several accomplished artists also joined the competition this year, raising the bar even higher.
Stephanie, ever the consummate professional, began preparing her entries months in advance, thoughtfully developing and refining the pieces she would ultimately submit. Mike’s path to the exhibit was considerably different. A variety of “life factors” kept him closer to home for much of the year, and because all entries must have been created within the previous twelve months, his pool of eligible photographs was surprisingly limited.
The July 4th fireworks provided the spark he needed. After creating Fire in the Sky, Mike set out to find two additional images worthy of joining it in the competition. That search brought him back to a February 2nd visit to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. The trip had produced virtually no wildlife photographs—but the windswept dunes, sculpted by snow, sea grass, light, and shadow, had quietly provided something far more unexpected.
Art Submissions in the 86th Annual Members Exhibit at the Lakes Region Art Gallery
Click on an image
to learn more
Wild Hearts, Pastel Painting
by Stephanie McQuade
Fire in the Sky, FA Photograph
by Mike McQuade
Splash in a Glass, Watercolor Painting by Stephanie McQuade
Between the Drifts, FA Photograph
by Mike McQuade.
First Place ~ B&W Photography
Old Soul, Pastel Painting
by Stephanie McQuade
The Sleeping Dunes, FA Photograph
by Mike McQuade
Works in Progress
Unnamed Still Life in Pastel
Tiny Bubbles by Mike McQuade
Unnamed Landscape in Watercolor
Unnamed Image by Mike McQuade
In the Frame Shoppe
We’ve had some unexpected delays in framing. Thankfully I only have a couple of Stephanie’s pieces waiting. We use non-glare glass when framing. I enhances the image, and as the name implies, it greatly reduces reflective glare.
We recently learned our supplier was out of non-glare glass and their wholesales had just decided not to stock non-glare glass any longer. As you can imagine, this created a little concern.
Thankfully, Granite State Glass has located a new source and we should soon be back in the Fine Art framing business.
Unnamed Still Life in Pastel
“Pink Whisper” Pastel painting based on a Sherwood Frazier Photograph