Monthly Muse for May 2026
Monthly Muse for May 2026
The Month Color Comes Back
After months of winter grays, soft browns, and snow-covered quiet, May feels like the month when color finally returns with confidence.
Fresh greens begin filling the trees and fields. Lilacs, tulips, and early garden blooms add purples, pinks, and yellows. Lakes and rivers catch the blue of the sky again, while morning and evening light bring warmth to even the simplest scenes.
For artists and photographers, this shift is more than seasonal decoration. Color helps create emotion. A soft green can feel peaceful and hopeful. A bright yellow can suggest joy and energy. A wash of blue can bring calm, while a burst of pink or purple may add tenderness, surprise, or celebration.
That is part of what makes spring so inspiring. Whether captured through Stephanie’s paintings or Mike’s photography, May reminds us that color is not just something we see — it is something we feel.
A Gift That Outlasts the Flowers
Flowers are a beautiful Mother’s Day tradition — bright, thoughtful, and warmly received. But sometimes the most meaningful gifts are the ones that continue to speak long after the day has passed.
Original art, fine art photography, archival prints, and artful greeting cards all have a way of becoming part of someone’s everyday surroundings. A quiet landscape may remind her of a favorite place. A floral painting may bring spring into a room year-round. A peaceful photograph may offer a moment of calm each time she passes by.
At McQuade Fine Arts, we believe art makes a deeply personal gift because it says, “I saw this and thought of you.” Whether it is a framed print, a small original, or a carefully chosen 5x7 greeting card with a handwritten message inside, art has the ability to hold memory, beauty, and affection in a lasting way.
This Mother’s Day, consider giving something chosen with care — something that feels personal, meaningful, and made to be enjoyed beyond the season.
Sometimes the best gifts do not fade.
What About a Gift of Art Lessons?
Learning is such great fun, especially when you are learning for fun. If you are interested in purchasing an art class as a gift for Mom, reach out to Stephanie using the link below. Watercolor and Pastel classes begin again in the Lake Region Art Gallery in Tilton NH in July.
Works in Progress
While these four pieces offer a wonderful glimpse into Stephanie’s current work, they are only part of what is on her studio table. Between multiple works in progress, helping coordinate the 2026 Kids Exhibit at the Lakes Region Art Gallery, preparing for her first watercolor class at the League of NH Craftsmen in Meredith, and wrapping up her latest five-week course at the gallery, Stephanie’s creative calendar is happily full.
And during all this time, what has Mike been up to? Mike’s beginning to think he is back at work. A couple family matters has consumed a fair amount of time along with digitizing artwork and starting a rebuild of a website he manages. He did get one photographic opportunity in April when he took a long photo-walk around Laconia, New Hampshire on a warm, sunny day. Some of the resulting images can be seen in the “Take a Walk” blog earlier in this newsletter.
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