A Love Letter to Raleigh

I moved to Raleigh in the 4th grade (born in Washington DC but moved from a little town in Connecticut). It was a big adjustment at first but having lived here for 20+ years now, I can honestly say it is one of my favorite cities. I was told I should work for the Chamber of Commerce because I’ve convinced so many friends to move here over the years. Don’t get me wrong, I love so many other places too (we also did stints in Washington DC and Charlotte, NC) but Raleigh has the best of so many things, I knew I wanted to return here to raise our family.

It’s been fun to paint some of my favorite spots in the city and beyond. I just released “City of Oaks” on my website—an abstract cityscape of our downtown. It’s a favorite of mine because it highlights the green and parks surrounding our downtown, something that I appreciate so much. I loved doing it so much that I’m working on other cityscapes in the coming months. I also have a few other small pieces inspired by the sunflowers at Dix Park, the Rose Garden, the NC Art Museum, and Lake Johnson where I have so many memories from.

People ask what makes Raleigh such a great place to live. Here are a few other reasons I love it:

• Quality of Living: Raleigh consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in the US due to its high quality of living. With a strong job market, affordable housing, overall good schools, and a relatively low cost of living compared to other major cities, it’s a great place to raise a family. Even post-pandemic, we still are growing like crazy and I don’t see that slowing down any time soon.

• Food and Drink Scene: Raleigh has an amazing food and drink scene, with a wide variety of restaurants, cafes, craft breweries, and food trucks. From traditional Southern cuisine to international flavors, there is so much yumminess out there. I thought I would miss all the international food we used to have in DC but thankfully we’ve found just about everything here!

• Community and Diversity: Raleigh is a diverse and inclusive city that embraces people from different backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs. See photo above. :)

• Thriving Job Market: Raleigh is part of the Research Triangle Park (RTP), which is one of the largest research and technology hubs in the country. The presence of so many tech companies, research institutions, and universities creates a strong job market, particularly in industries such as technology, healthcare, and education.

• Education and Universities: Raleigh is home to great universities, including North Carolina State University (our alma mater), UNC Chapel Hill, and Duke which contributes to a vibrant academic community.

• Cultural Scene: we have a pretty vibrant cultural scene with museums, art galleries, theaters, and music venues. Events like festivals, concerts, and exhibitions offer lots of great entertainment thoughout the year. The NC Art museum is one of my favorite places and we love seeing outdoor concerts at Red Hat Amphitheater.

• Green Spaces: Raleigh is surrounded by a lot of natural beauty and offers plenty of green spaces, parks, and recreational areas for outdoorsy folks. We live down the road from Falls Lake and hike the trails pretty regularly.

• Southern Hospitality: Raleigh is known for its warm and friendly hospitality. While we have a lot of transplants moving to the area, I have found people are generally just really nice and welcoming here.

• Climate: Raleigh experiences all four seasons, providing a pretty diverse climate for those who enjoy a variety. I love that we have a mild winter and very occasionally get snow but our spring and fall is typicically beautiful. The humidity stinks in the summer (it’s hotter than Haiti right now) but I’ll still take it for a variety of seasons!

• Proximity to Beaches and Mountains: The beautiful North Carolina beaches and the scenic Appalachian Mountains are only a couple hours away, making them the perfect escape for a weekend or even a day trip. I also love our airport—easy to get in and out of and so many direct flights to amazing places (Paris, London, Montreal ect.).

Are you ready to move here yet? :) Or at the very least, please come in for a visit! XX

Megan

Want to start painting landscapes?

I’ve talked to so many of you who are interested in learning how to paint landscapes but you aren’t sure where to start. I’ve listed some of my favorite books below as a good starting point but there are so many good resources that exist now. Youtube and Skillshare are also amazing tools for learning and I’ll share my favorite instructors soon! I found most of these books at my library or on Amazon. While these books help, remember that the MOST important way to improve your skill as an artist is to practice and experiment daily. Observe nature, play, and remember that you can always paint over anything you don’t like. ;)

"Landscape Painting Inside & Out" by Kevin Macpherson: This book provides valuable insights into the techniques and thought processes involved in plein air (outdoor) landscape painting. Macpherson shares his knowledge on composition, color, value, and more. Linked Here.

“Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting" by John F. Carlson: A classic in the field, this book offers comprehensive instruction on landscape painting principles and techniques. It covers topics like atmospheric perspective, light and shadow, design, and creating mood in your paintings. Linked Here.

“Landscape Painting: Essential Concepts and Techniques for Plein Air and Studio Practice" by Mitchell Albala: Albala explores the fundamental principles of landscape painting and provides practical advice on capturing the essence of nature. He covers topics like simplification, color mixing, and developing a personal style.

“The Elements of Landscape Oil Painting: Techniques for Rendering Sky, Terrain, Trees, and Water" by Suzanne Brooker: Brooker focuses on the technical aspects of landscape painting, offering step-by-step demonstrations and explanations of various techniques. She covers topics like underpainting, brushwork, color theory, and capturing different natural elements.

“The Oil Painting Course You've Always Wanted: Guided Lessons for Beginners and Experienced Artists" by Kathleen Lochen Staiger: While not exclusively focused on landscapes, this book provides a comprehensive guide to oil painting techniques. It covers topics like composition, color mixing, brushwork, and more, with examples and exercises that can be applied to landscape painting.

Happy Painting!

xx,
Megan