BARNEY’S JOY, MASSACHUSETTS

In South Dartmouth, a small coastal town in southeastern New England, a stretch of land called Barney’s Joy sits along a cove on Buzzards Bay. The landscape includes salt marsh, coastal beach, sandplain grassland, and coastal heath. Where the ocean meets the sky, it is blue with warm tones of granite gray, like stones weathered by the sea.

On the beach, one finds quahog shells, jingle shells (affectionately called mermaid’s toenails by pirates), mussel shells, and horseshoe crabs, all with their beautiful notes of colors. I love to make color palettes of the endless variations of shells, each one different and unique. I am especially inspired by the blue quahog shells of the Atlantic and all of their shades of indigo.

SACRED VALLEY, PERU

Located in the Andes Mountains, the Urubamba Valley is also known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Ancient ruins are situated throughout the gentle mountain slopes and scattered farming towns. The Incas favored this place for its specific geography and climate, which are perfectly suited to agriculture.

In early spring, as the ground begins to thaw, new colors of the season emerge throughout the region. The Urubamba landscape ranges from brownish ochre on the granite cliffs to lush green grass in the hills. The distant blue of snow-capped mountains lends a sense of mystery to this ancient place. Here I can feel the deep connection that the indigenous people have to their land. It is reflected in the construction of their homes, the fabrics they weave, the clothes they wear, and the food they eat.

Llamas and alpacas roam through the terraced terrain, their coats ranging in shades of browns, creams, and whites that blend perfectly with the natural environment.