At this time of year, there are so many things to be thankful for. I’m especially thankful for your friendship and support through the year.

As you enjoy holiday parties, hosting family members at your home or sharing gifts, I would like to encourage you to support locally-owned business for any of your gift, food or service needs.

There are many benefits to our communities and to consumers who choose to support local, independently owned businesses.

You will enjoy the following benefits of buying local:

• You will help reduce the environmental impact
• You will assist in creating more local jobs
• You will get better service, food and products

There are many more benefits of buying local and hope you consider buying local when considering future purchases.

If you are looking for a one of a kind gift, please feel free to browse my artwork for special art pieces. If there is a specific painting that you are looking for I will be happy to discuss with you commissioned work options. Feel free to contact me to learn more>>

Wishing you a full year of happiness and success!

Valerie Lennon

Growing up, I danced ballet and modern dance. I love how dance has always been a form of expression for joy, love, fear, celebration, anger, community, and other emotions.

“Dance is the hidden language of the soul of the body.” – Martha Graham (American modern dancer and choreographer)

Artistic dance means to tell a story the same way paintings tell a story in a non-verbal manor. My passion for dance provides me with the imagery and inspiration.

Over 20 years of painting has culminated in series of images that dance through my head and ultimately land on the canvas for the world to enjoy.

Below are a few of my art pieces from my dance collection:

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View more paintings>>

Nestled just 30 minutes by ferry southeast of Mount Desert Island, with superb views of the mountains of Acadia National Park, the five Cranberry Isles host a year-round community of lobstermen, boatbuilders, and craftsmen, as well as numerous rusticators who’ve been returning each summer for years, if not generations.

These islands are called Cranberry Isles because low-bush cranberries grow profusely in fall, if you know where to look. The berries are smaller than store-bought fresh cranberries; they’re about the size of green peas. They grow right on the dry ground, not in bogs. The whole plant is about an inch tall: leaves, berries, and all.

The town of Cranberry Isles spreads over five islands, but only two of them are inhabited year-round – Great Cranberry and Little Cranberry. Each island has its own general store, post office, church, library, historical society, and school. Islesford Historical Museum on Little Cranberry Island focuses on the early colonial period; it exhibits implements, furnishings, documents, and photography.

Great Cranberry and Little Cranberry

Great Cranberry has 44 residents and Little Cranberry has 77 concentrated in the village of Islesford. In the summers, however, the population swells to about 500 or 600 at the season’s height. A combination mailboat and ferry runs between Great Cranberry and Little Cranberry six times a day in the summer.

Sutton Island

Sutton Island hosts a lively summer colony.  The island has no roads, just paths.

According to Prof. William Otis Sawtelle, Sutton Island was originally called Somes Island. Marie Therese de Cadillac de Gregoire, the original grant owner, deeded the island to Philip Langley in 1788 for his work as her confidential agent and business manager. But Langley didn’t live there; instead he lived on what is now called Greening’s Island.

Sawtelle also states that the first settlers on Sutton Island were Joseph Lancaster and his wife, Nancy Rich Moore Lancaster, in 1806.

Baker Island

Most of Baker Island is part of Acadia National Park, though there are still a few private homes there.

Bear Island

Bear Island is occupied by two families. The Dunbars, with a cottage on the east side, own most of the island except for the lighthouse and its surrounding outparcel on the prominent west side, still owned by the U.S. government and leased to the second family.

The lighthouse is currently inoperative, and serves as a private residence.

I hope you enjoy exploring my series of Maine watercolor paintings. Please contact us to purchase.

REFERENCES:
Cranberry Isles

America’s Byways, U.S. Department of Transportation