The Magic of Fall and Halloween: A Personal Reflection

As an artist, inspiration can come from many places, but there’s something truly special about fall and Halloween that never fails to ignite my creativity. This time of year holds a magic that I’ve cherished since childhood, and even today, it gets me through the gray months in West Virginia. The vibrant colors, the crisp air, and the sense of mystery and wonder that accompanies Halloween have always been a source of comfort and inspiration for me.

I grew up on my family’s farm in Masontown, West Virginia—a small, quiet town where the population in the early 1990s was around 600. We didn’t have neighbors close by, but that didn’t stop Halloween from being the most exciting time of year. My dad always made sure I had a custom costume, though in the early years, they weren’t always my choice! Since we lived so far apart from others, he would take me around to family and friends’ houses to trick-or-treat. The fun didn’t stop there—we’d later go back to some of those same houses for some good-natured pranks. It became a yearly tradition to exchange “polite vandalism,” and while it made for some awkward moments at the bus stop the next morning, it was all in the spirit of Halloween fun.

Some of my favorite memories are from East Street. Such a tiny street but it felt huge to me. The houses there were decked out in the best decorations—ghosts, witches, skeletons—and the streets were lined with piles of golden and orange leaves. We’d crunch through them as we made our way to collect candy, and afterward, we’d head to my grandparents’ neighborhood. My great-grandparents lived there too, and they would always load me up with way more candy than I could ever eat. We started our Halloween rounds at dusk, and sometimes the weather would surprise us with snow flurries. Even when it was freezing cold, I never cared. The excitement of the night, the glow of jack-o'-lanterns, and the warmth of family made it all worthwhile. I was such a quiet little kid but she would really come out to show off in a costume. This was the time of year that everyone was really there to see me, shower with compliments or pretend to be completely frightened by spooky little silent me.

Carving pumpkins was always a big deal, too. I can still picture sitting on the porch, scooping out the gooey insides, with thunderstorms rumbling in the distance. There was something about the stormy weather that added to the anticipation. That first moment when we’d light the pumpkins, watching them come to life with flickering candlelight, was pure magic. As much as I loved the candy and the thrill of dressing up, it was really the love and excitement that made Halloween so memorable for me.

These memories of fall, Halloween, and the traditions we created have stayed with me, and they continue to inspire me in my work. The crisp air, the colors of the leaves, and the eerie beauty of stormy nights fill me with a sense of wonder that keeps my creative spirit alive through the colder months. It’s a reminder of simpler times, of family, and of the joy that can be found in the little things—the glow of a jack-o'-lantern, the rustle of leaves, and the laughter of Halloween night.

This season has always been, and will always be, my favorite time of year. It’s a time to reconnect with those childhood memories and channel that sense of excitement and creativity into my work.