I am sinking into the burnt, rusty reds, oranges and browns from the changing leaves. I am thinking of the way the ferns fade in the fall, in the cooling days and chill nights. Their tapering at their edges to an icy, white nothingness leaf. Or brown spots creep along the blades like mold in their spread, speckling like a piece of bread. And somehow it still feels delicate, vivacious, from their dying, from their transition of seasons. Not dead, coming back again. In the spring, bursting through soil.

I dream of burnt umbers, red maple leaves so bright it reflects their burning color on my studio wall, illuminates the blood in my cheeks.  My studio maple has been glowing. She feels like she is burning, she feels alive.  And she stays with me longer than I could have ever hoped.  

Sunday October 25th was the final day of Handprints on the Sky at 205 Ocean Avenue Studios. Bittersweet. Thank you to everyone who visited the show or commented on the work—both the power, strength, love and joy, as well as the weight of grief in it.

It feels so magical to have witnessed the way these works come to life together as a whole. And it feels magical to see myself reflected in them, to witness and be witnessed.

All works from this show have been added to my website, under my 2026 paintings and 2026 ceramics.
If you missed the show. Not to worry. Exhibition photos are also now up on my website.

Final days to view Our Dreams are a Form of Divination are upon us…

I have four works included in this show, curated by the amazing Ashley Page. Three out of the four works are new, and I feel so excited about how I have begun to embrace the fusion of painting and clay, rather than feeling like they needed to be separate.

Visit Sidle House at 20 Bartol Island Rd, Freeport for their final day of Fall Exhibitions on Saturday, 10/31 from 3-6pm. Lots of treats, art, and performances.

Thank you to Maddy & Ashley for making this magic happen.

Photos courtesy of Bret Woodard

Over the past year, I have had the pleasure of getting to know Sharon at Notch8 Gallery in Portland. She is so funny, kind, welcoming, and real. I am so excited to share two new paintings in the Annual 8x8 Show opening on First Friday, November 6th from 4-8pm. Sneak peak of the work below.

GALLERY HOURS
Thursday - Saturday, 2pm - 6pm

Thanks to my sweet friend and neighbor, Angelica, I have butterfly ornaments and a few small paintings available at the Snug Harbor Farm Store in Kennebunk. These will be available through the end of the year with a batch of mugs and vases making their way to the farm by the end of November.

Snug Harbor Farm & Farm Store
87 Western Ave, Kennebunk, ME 04043

My studio practice has looked like making tiny weavings on Altoid tins, or pieces of cardboard, testing paints and paper for my work on Indigo Arts Alliance’s Holiday Cards, making slideshows, painting 5” x 7” sketches in my sketchbooks, trying to fill my sketchbooks late at night, or on the steps of McArthur Library under falling leaves and fall sun. It has looked like photographing my show and updating my website, working with Annika Earley to work through my bio and artist statement, attending Surf Point’s Plein air day with Kristy Cavaretta, and late nights at the ceramic studio. It has felt full and exciting, and hard to balance at times. But I see these photos, reminders full of color of where I am at. Some familiar, and some new. And it feels right. Day by day, I keep moving forward.

I have been spending more time in the ceramics studio than I have in awhile. I remember that this feels good. Grounding. A space I can be really present in my body and mind, through the tactility of working with clay. So messy.

I had the honor of making a commissioned vase for Kelsey Halliday Johnson for her brother’s wedding. It was a tight deadline, but I did IT! And that feels really good. I love how the vase came out. And it was especially sweet to work with Kelsey, and to have her support for this piece.

I also started some other vase pieces that I love SO much. Illustratively, they feel so strong and exciting. I impressed myself with the magic that happened when I sat down to make these, without plan, or sketch. And I just really love them. I love making a plan and executing it, but I feel most connected and engaged in the mysticism of making when work like this comes together right in front of me, from me, and from my hands.

I’m busy making new mugs, vessels, and plates for a commission. And I am gearing up to make fresh butterfly ornaments and magnets, with new glazes. Stay tuned!

Thank you for reading this far. Thank you to those who visited my show at 205, or visited Sidle House. I hope to see some of you at Notch8’s opening for the 8x8 show. I am also making work for the Gallery B Small Works show up in Castine. So much happening, but I am excited to see how it all turns out.

Until next time friends. Stay cozy. ✿ - Raquel