The noblest pleasure…

…is the joy of understanding."
– Leonardo Da Vinci

Sometimes artists are robbed of their own joy. They are unable to experience their art the same way their audience and customers will. While it's true there is a distinct joy to the creation of that art, and the work of many other fellow artists to enjoy, one's own art becomes both too personal – and too foreign – to appreciate properly.

Creating art is a bit like singing a song that everyone but you can hear.

In my own artistic niche of finding special locations that comprise Hidden New Hampshire, I am lucky – I discover these places for myself first. On a recent trip to the Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region, I stumbled across yet another concealed gem that my state seems to have in abundant supply.

Driving with eyes wide open north on route 3A through Bristol, Bridgewater and Hebron on my way to a few potential calendar outlets, I noticed a sign for "Sculptured Rocks State Park." Huh? Another place I'd never heard of? I stopped at my next destination and looked it up on my phone. I found a few fascinating images, but not much else. Exploring seemed like a wise idea!

I was not disappointed. After a short side trip into Groton, I found big, magnificent boulders carved into odd and fascinating shapes by the Cockermouth River as it rushed into Newfound Lake. It was a beautiful and almost jaw-dropping discovery. I clambered over boulders, snuck under branches and carefully hopped across river stones to attempt to bring photographic justice to this place.

"Water is the driving force of all nature."
– Leonardo Da Vinci

I'm not sure I had as much fun as the pack of college grads who were jumping into the chilly water to cool off, but discovering another hidden treasure in my home state gave me exactly the kind of thrill I hope to bring to others with my calendars, prints and cards.