I was hiking Graveyard Fields* one day and something drew me to the side of the path. I crouched down under some vegetation and saw this lovely stream with these amazing boulders. I loved the way the light hit the water as the stream dropped off the edge in the distance.

*If you’re wondering why this trail is called “Graveyard Fields”, don’t worry - it doesn’t refer to humans! It refers to the hundreds of spruce and fir trees that were blown down by windstorms and felled by extensive logging in the area. The remains of which have since been destroyed by catastrophic fires in the early 1900s.

Original painting by Sarah Young

Medium: oil
Size: 20”w x 16”h
Depth: 5/8”
Frame: unframed

Middleton Place was a lovely way to spend my birthday! There is a kind of majesty to the view from the main walking paths towards the river. These Brodie Juniper trees were spaced individually along the walkway like lone sentinels, so I named this “Middleton Sentinel”. They were incredibly tall, and I wanted to indicate that scale with the bench nearby.

I’ve found that people’s emotional reactions to the bench are a reflection of their personality or needs at the moment. Some people find the empty bench peaceful, reflective, and deliciously quiet. If you think it feels a bit lonely, please check out Middleton Sentinel II, where I added some liveliness just for you!

Middleton Place is in Charleston, SC and is a National Historic Landmark. It’s beautiful - go visit!

Original painting by Sarah Young

Medium: oil

Size: 8”w x 10”h

Canvas depth: 5/8”
Frame: unframed