Summer in the Carolinas
Thunderclouds and Lightening
Original Acrylic on Stretched Canvas
18” x 24” $240
Giclée prints starting at $20 for an 8” x 10” print
Most of you have figured out by now that I absolutely love color! So, you might be wondering... why the sudden shift to moody storm clouds?
It actually started last year when I painted a small piece featuring a thunderstorm rolling over a river. To my surprise, it sold right away! A couple of weeks ago, I decided to lean into that mood again, painting a large, dramatic thundercloud opening up over the landscape. The feedback was wonderful, and it quickly found a home with a young woman who deeply loves rainy, stormy weather. There is just something so mesmerizing about that atmosphere.
Living here in North Carolina, we are right in the thick of storm season. July is actually our peak month for activity, bringing about a third of our annual storms. In fact, nearly 78% of all our lightning happens during these beautiful, intense summer months of June, July, and August.
Watching these storms roll in, I’ve found myself fascinated by the sheer science behind them. They form inside those massive, towering cumulonimbus clouds as warm air rushes upward. Inside, it's total chaos—water droplets and ice crystals are constantly colliding in violent currents, creating a massive build-up of electrical charges. Once that energy becomes too intense for the air to contain, it releases all at once. The result? The brilliant flashes of lightning and the deep rumbles of thunder we experience from our porches.
As dramatic and beautiful as these shows are, they're also an incredible reminder of nature's power. Because lightning can strike up to 10 miles away from a storm—even under seemingly clear skies—I always think of that old National Weather Service rule of thumb: if you can hear thunder, you’re close enough to be struck.
So as we head into July, I hope you enjoy the spectacular summer light shows from a safe, cozy spot indoors (preferably with a warm cup of tea or a good view from a window!).