Donald Purdy (1924-2016) was a self-taught, prolific American painter whose intimately composed pictures carried a distinct sense of peace, characterized by moods of solitude and reflection. His work reflects a lifelong desire to portray life as he wished it might be. 

"I paint what I think, not what I see, and I have to do what I want to do. It would be almost impossible for me to paint under the instruction of another."

Purdy's surroundings served as inspiration only; the results were pure invention. Purdy's design and composition were fundamentally instinctive rather than calculated. "Ideas just come naturally when I have time for reflection" he said. "One thought will usually trigger a host of others enough for a whole series of pictures." 

This ekphrastic collection pairs the Orenaug Mountain Poetry Group, and friends, with Purdy's artwork and honors one of the members of the group, Purdy's daughter Amy D'Orio, and her family.