This painting depicts a scene from downtown Holland, Michigan—my hometown. It’s a charming area filled with unique shops and character. One of the most distinctive features of downtown Holland is its heated sidewalks, which keep snow from accumulating and make winter strolls surprisingly comfortable.

I often ‘hide’ meaningful words in my paintings—names or phrases that reflect what was happening in my life at the time. In this piece, see if you can find the names softly woven into the brushstrokes: PAUL, my son; GEO, my husband; and DENNIS, our sweet little beagle mix.