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Geographic Touchstones
I discovered the term “geographic touchstone,” a landscape we return to again and again, in a magazine 20 or more years ago and loved it immediately. The physical features of the place, beach or mountain, river or lake, become etched into who we are, like topographic lines on the maps of our hearts. Far more…
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The Critique
“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.”Steve Jobs I’ve never found putting myself “out there” easy. Last month I wrote of my gratitude for friends and family who came to see my paintings on display at the Bellefonte Art Museum. I am endlessly blessed and buoyed by the incredible…
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The Flower Shop
Huge thanks to family and friends, near and far, who traveled to Centre County to see the 9 paintings I had hanging in the Bellefonte Art Museum during the month of March 2026. I was able to accompany many of you to see the show and, for someone who paints alone in her 2nd floor bedroom-turned…
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Two Roads
Stamp collectors from around the world travel to the American Philatelic Society in the small town of Bellefonte, PA, just east of my home in State College. One day, while browsing the society’s exhibits and small shop, I found a commemorative stamp set honoring the life and writing of Robert Frost. I’ve reflected on his famous poem,…
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Be Where My Feet Are
Note: The artwork featured above is 1 of 9 paintings of mine that will be on display at the Bellefonte Art Museum in March 2026. The show is titled, “The Flower Shop.” Please visit if you can! The museum is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12-4:30 and is housed in a glorious historic home…
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My Favorite Things
‘Tis the season for gazing at our tree’s twinkling white lights, sitting by our fire’s comforting warm flames, and baking (then eating!) our family’s favorite Christmas cookies. These are a few of my favorite things this time of year! To that I’ll add a new tradition, writing re-mixes, last year of the beloved holiday poem,…
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Breadcrumbs
My husband, Art, recently launched his own blog. His “why” for writing? To help him answer the question he is most often asked when anyone discovers we have visited all 63 national parks, “which park was your favorite?” It’s a simple, 5-word question that’s lead to a complex, many word answer. To that end, he’s been…
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My Paean
Here’s a nerdy but likely not surprising fact about me, I LOVE the English language! Mrs. Haas, my 12th grade English teacher, was a gem. Fresh out of college, she taught my mother and, as she neared retirement, she taught me. She inspired my mom to study English in college and, later, to also teach the…
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Unlearning
“Anything worth doing is worth doing right.” Hunter S. Thompson It’s back-to-school time, truly one of my favorite seasons of the year. At 60, I still yearn to purchase a new notebook, sharpen a #2 pencil, and sit in the front row of a classroom like a nerdy sponge, ready to absorb. We live in a…
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I’ll Always Have Paris
In many ways I’m surprised it took me 60 years to get to Paris but, in equally as many ways, I’m thankful it did. As my interest in art has grown, so has my desire to visit France. I’ve read art history and travel books as well artists’ blogs, underlining text, dog-earing pages and taking…
Melissa Stephens Art 