Queensbury Elementary School art teacher Jen Spath has captured the spirit of Lake George in vivid watercolors in a book titled, “The ABCs of Lake George.”
Spath, who is raising her family on the east side of Lake George, used water directly from the lake on every page of the book, blending art, literacy and a deep love of lake life.
“Those paintings only exist because of Lake George water,” Spath said. “It runs from my tap or sometimes I paint outside and scoop it out of the lake and paint on the picnic table.”
It took a couple years working with her husband and four of their close friends to write and publish the book. Spath, herself, painted every picture.
“I’ve always wanted to illustrate a children’s book,” Spath said. “We came up with the items, wrote the rhymes, went back and forth on things with each other and came up with what kind of imagery would best be relatable to kids, but also something that people who are of any age would see it and recognize it.”
The book — which is dedicated to their children — features Fort William Henry, Sandy Bay, the Minne-Ha-Ha, Tongue Mountain, and many other recognizable places in the Lake George region. Spath’s favorite page is about campfires and ducklings and includes a painting of her husband and sons camping on Speaker Heck Island.
“We dedicated it to our children, because we hope that they’ll be carrying on our legacy of loving not just Lake George, but the whole outdoors and just being in the prettiest part of nature,” Spath explained.
She hasn’t read her book to her elementary students yet, but she has used it as an example of determination and perseverance and not rushing through work.
“The ABCs of Lake George” is available for purchase on Amazon and at the Caldwell-Lake George Library. Spath has no immediate plans to write and illustrate another book. Right now, she’s just enjoying being a published author and illustrator.
“Everybody has been so nice, so lovely and encouraging,” she said. “It was a lot of work, but I think it was worth it.”