Serenity at The Red Barn Studio and Gallery

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

Staying indoors when good weather is upon us seems wrong, so I decided to relax and drive north on a sunny weekday in May and was very glad I did so when I ended up in Campton, just north of Plymouth.

I didn’t know much about Campton, except it is near Waterville Valley and an area with restaurants here, there and everywhere. I traveled up I-93 north, from the New Hampton area and turned onto Rt. 175 in Campton (by the intersection/lights).

With no real plan in mind, I decided to take a right into Campton Village. The winding road was pretty and eventually led to the elementary school and directly across the street, an old and beautifully kept home with a red barn. I saw a wooden sandwich-style sign on the lawn of the home, telling me this was the Red Barn Studio and Gallery.

It was open on this particular Thursday, so I decided, on a whim, to visit.

I love art galleries and especially ones in unexpected places such as in a barn, off the beaten path. I parked in the driveway and saw a little stone path to the side entrance of the barn, where the studio/shop was located. On the sunny day, it was beautiful and peaceful in the yard, with a breeze blowing and flowers blooming along the path. The well-tended garden was green, and I thought that someone – the home’s owner – must spend a lot of time nurturing the property.

Entering the barn’s door, I was in a small entryway, and the traces of the old structure were evident with the wooden walls and beams above me on the barn’s roofline. I entered the shop and was delighted with what I saw: Paintings - beautiful paintings – displayed on the walls. It was bright and cheery in the cozy gallery, and I felt the warmth of being surrounded by artwork and the friendly welcome of artist/owner Paula Scott-Moriarty.

Paula is the artist/owner of the gallery, and it takes her but a few minutes to start talking about artwork and her paintings. Sitting on her lap while we talk is her tiny and adorable mixedbreed dog. The dog is a beloved companion of Paula’s, and I can’t think of anything better than having the little dog as a companion in the gallery.

The paintings on display are framed thoughtfully some are winter scenes, while others are brilliant summer landscapes. Speaking of her painting process, Paula explains, “I take reference photos and then work on paintings in my studio. I work in acrylic paint and watercolors. The scenes are mostly local, and some are from scenes in Colorado where my daughter lives.”

Also for sale and hanging on the walls are smaller paintings of Cape Cod scenes, and all testify to the skill

• Day Tripping continued on page 24