All posts by Cara

Santa Elena Canyon

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One of the most popular places to hike in Big Bend National Park, Santa Elena Canyon does not disappoint. The hike is a fun one with a water crossing and quick change in elevation that reveals wonderful views of the sweeping landscape below. Far off mountains and steep cliff walls give the feeling of flying.

One of the fun things about hiking along the Rio Grande is the temptation to cross the river and suddenly be “in Mexico,” although signs warn you not to, and there really isn’t anything over there but more canyon and miles of brutal desert, it’s a fun idea nonetheless.

The best thing about the canyon is being inside of it, listening to the warbling canyon wren songs echo off the walls, the subtle trickle of the river, and the golden sunlight breaking over the edge of the cliff. But when I decided to paint the canyon, my first thought was to capture the entire thing.

So, I’ve worked from a photo taken far away at the overlook, which shows the distinct shape of the canyon’s entrance. I used somewhat muted (for me) colors, with the purple that I saw in the far-off mountains pretty much everywhere I went in Big Bend.

Photo taken at the overlook.
Santa Elena Canyon, acrylic on canvas, 24″x36″
Detail showing the subtle texture and brushstrokes in the painting.

COMING UP

I’ll be back at the Blue Genie Art Bazaar for their May Market and I’m excited to have more wall space this time! This means I’ll be able to bring more original paintings as well as art prints and sticker sets.

The market will be open 10am–8pm, weekends April 28 – May 29, 2023 (Fridays – Sundays only, plus Memorial Day) at 6100 Airport Blvd.

Learn more on their website.

NEW! – Framed Canvas Art Prints

I’m excited to have found the perfect solution for those who want beautiful, ready-to-hang artwork for their home, but who don’t want to purchase a large original painting. These canvas prints look fantastic, are professionally framed with wood finished in three choices of color, and are smaller and much less expensive than the original artwork. To celebrate, I’m now offering free shipping on all products on my website!

My first framed canvas print is the Cactus Love artwork, but I’m planning to add more. Please let me know in the comments if you have a favorite painting of mine that you’d like to see offered as a canvas print!

Thanks for reading!

Purple Prickly Pear

I’m excited to share the first painting from my series inspired by Big Bend National Park!

While camping in Chisos Basin, we asked a park ranger for places to stop on the way to Santa Elena Canyon; one of his suggestions was the Homer Wilson Ranch, which can be viewed from an overlook on the side of the road.

Once there, I was quickly distracted by the plants growing along the side of the cliff, especially this vibrant purple prickly pear cactus, which seemed to shimmer in the desert sun.

The original photograph I took near Homer Wilson Ranch.
Drawing the outlines of the image, in preparation for painting on canvas.
Purple Prickly Pear, acrylic on canvas, 24″x36″
Detail, showing the looser, more painterly style I’m embracing with visible brushstrokes.

I also recently finished a painting of Santa Elena Canyon and am currently working on one of the Ocotillo (those strange, stick-like succulents that have fiery-red blooms). I’m excited to share those with you soon!

THINGS I’M LOVING

This article about Austin, which does a fantastic job at exploring the issues I wrote about in my last post. I especially relate to the idea of “double vision,” as memories of old places exist alongside their replacements in this ever-changing city.

Listening to the Human Behavioral Biology lectures by Dr Robert Sapolsky, nicely organized on this website. Before switching to Fine Art, my first declared major was Psychology, and my interest in it has stayed with me.

The birds that visit the tiny bowl of water I keep for them on my porch. I’m starting to recognize specific cardinals and goldfinches that come multiple times each day. Their presence is a nice reminder that Spring isn’t far away!

Austin

The city I call home. I grew up visiting family in Austin and moved here in 2007, planning to move on after about four years to explore life on the Pacific coast. Somehow that never happened. Later, I tried to chart a new path when I packed up my stuff in a storage unit and traveled the Western US in an RV for five months. But I came back. And stayed.

I think about moving and get antsy. Maybe it’s just wanderlust, but I have this feeling that somewhere else I could be happier. But then I leave for a bit and when I come back I feel so relieved – I think it’s because of the people.

Texas has a sort of “you do you and I’ll do me” attitude. Freedom is a virtue. And Austin has a hippie vibe that attracts creative, open-minded people. This combination of freedom-to-be and unusual bohemian spirit results in outlandish expression that takes many forms, all of which delight me.

One day I saw a man, dressed head-to-toe in a zebra onesie, riding a scooter through the neighborhood. And I didn’t blink. It was a normal day, a Tuesday afternoon; there was no apparent reason for the costume. I realized that my lack of reaction meant I’d attained true Austinite status. If this had happened in my hometown, I would have been excited to tell my friends “you’ll never guess what I saw today!,” but in Austin, this is pretty normal for a Tuesday.

But this city keeps changing. It’s unbelievable how much it has grown in the years I’ve lived here. While driving through downtown, it isn’t unusual to spot construction cranes numbering in the double digits. The traffic has become dangerous and backed up. There are lines everywhere, parking is a challenge, and reservations are required. It’s a big city now.

Like everyone else, I’ve struggled with the changes. I began to plan my day around traffic and I stopped going out as much. I stopped going downtown or to South Congress just for fun. I stopped going to Barton Springs Pool. Everything just felt harder and I was becoming bitter.

In 2022, people started going out again and the city began humming at its pre-pandemic level. And my art business picked up. I started regularly attending gallery openings and found myself having the same conversation with other artists and Austinites: “How do we deal with these changes?”

Going into this year, I was sure that the only answer is to move. But through those conversations I’ve learned that another option is possible: I can change with my city. The key is to not stop going out, you have to continue to do what you love to do. Go to Barton Springs Pool, and learn to add time for traffic and pay for parking. Go downtown for fun, but go on a weekday to avoid crowds. In the grand scheme of things, the changes are actually very small and it doesn’t take much to become accustomed to them.

Most importantly: talk to people about it. The traffic really does suck and in some ways it is harder to live here now, but there are also wonderful new things to explore popping up every day. Having conversations with others about the city can be enlightening and the commiseration can be healing (as long as you focus on solutions and stay out of negative-spirals).

One thing I’ve learned about difficult feelings is that to get unstuck you must pick one: accept, leave, or change. If you can’t change a situation, and you don’t want to leave it, then you must find ways to accept it.

My path to acceptance is found through strengthening my community and friendships, exploring what’s new and exciting, and continuing to do what I love (despite the traffic).

I hope you’re finding ways to make time for what you love in the upcoming year!

THINGS I’M LOVING

LISTENING to this episode of The Happiness Lab about the freeing power of commitment and the real meaning of “YOLO”

WATCHING the Human Playground series on Netflix, which explores the limits of the human experience through the many amazing and bizarre ways we play.

DOING some painting after a long break. This year has been super busy for me in a lot of big ways but that’s meant less time and energy for painting. Putting that brush on the canvas and moving some colors around feels so nice!

The Longest Summer

So much happened this summer.

I know I’m not alone in feeling like the past few months have been turbo-charged. Everyone seemed to be traveling and doing and going and everything all at once. It’s like we’ve all been making up for lost time.

It’s been too much for me to write about, so here’s a list (in picture form) of just some of what I’ve been up to:

A local filmmaker made a short video about my art for PlantPop, a botanical film studio. You can read the article and watch the video here.
Dear Diary Coffee hosted a closing reception for my solo art show.
I painted a blooming Spiny Star Cactus at the Almost Real Things Live art market and concert. Photo by Generally Right-Brained Art.
My work was featured in the Worth It issue of Almost Real Things Magazine. Read the article here (I’m #2).
I brought my art installation Magic Eye to the Burning Flipside arts festival! Read more about the project here.
In early June, I took a road trip to North Carolina, stopping to camp and hike along the way. This lovely trail is in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas.
While camping in Montgomery Bell State Park, Tennessee, I hiked through the woods to visit this old church and see the stained glass windows from inside.
After more than 20 hours of driving, I was treated to some delicious meals at restaurants around Southern Pines and a massage at Pinehurst – what a gift!
Some friends and I drove around my hometown and I fell in love with all the cute houses and tall trees. I’d been away too long and everything looked new and charming to me. I began to consider moving back to my home state, which felt so comfortable and welcoming compared to Texas during this long, dry summer.
The magnolias were in bloom and I couldn’t stop taking pictures. I left feeling inspired by them.
On my trip back, I camped and hiked to see Fall Creek Falls at Lake Catherine State Park, Arkansas.
I explored the trails while camping at Possum Kingdom State Park, Texas.
I painted a scorpion that glows under black light, inspired by my experiences in Far West Texas.
Some friends and I went tubing in the South Llano River while camping during the Perseid meteor shower. While looking for shooting stars, we saw a Starlink launch and it was incredible! Something like 25 satellites, all in a row.
My boyfriend and I escaped on a spontaneous, fun, relaxing, and romantic getaway to Bonaire, in the Southern Caribbean. This could be an entire blog post… It was a fantastic trip!
I finished the Crab Fish Monster black light painting and found a home for it!
I took part in a pop-up art market at the Neill-Cochran House Museum as part of Austin Museum Day.
I hosted a Meow-morial for my beloved cat, Catty Arbuckle, with a Dia de los Muertos inspired altar. I will miss him always.
I’m pleased to be starting on some large paintings inspired by my trip to Big Bend National Park. It feels healing to get back to regular days in the studio.

The summer had a somber end with losing Catty, and overall I’m feeling wiped out. But with the cooler weather and rain finally coming into Austin, I’m feeling hopeful for a restful and restorative autumn.

Hug your loved ones. Be present in and grateful for the time you have together.

THINGS I’M EXCITED ABOUT

I found a nonprofit to partner with! Great Springs Project is working to create a network of trails and greenways that connects Austin to San Antonio and protects some of the Texas Hill Country’s most beautiful spring-fed rivers. I’ll be donating 10% of profits from art sales to help protect these waterways so that our wildlife and future generations can enjoy them. Learn more at greatspringsproject.org

I learned about Great Springs Projects after watching Deep In The Heart, an important and beautifully-shot film, now available to stream online. If you love wildlife, nature, or Texas, watch this film.

I’m loving this chart from this blog post by Mr. Money Mustache, which sums up everything I’ve learned about time management and healthy living.

Coming up! I’ll be participating in Austin’s favorite holiday market: the Blue Genie Art Bazaar. I’ve dreamed of getting into this show for years and am thrilled to be part of the holiday magic! Come by to see arts and crafts from your favorite local artists and grab all the gifts you want, November 18 – December 24, 6100 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX. Learn more at bluegenieartbazaar.com

Far West Texas

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The high desert in Far West Texas has a certain something that calls to me, and though it’s been less than a year since I’d camped in The Davis Mountains and Marfa, I wanted to go back.

The weather was good, the crowds were low, I had the time and so did my boyfriend, so we packed up the car and headed west.

We took our time exploring Marfa. We stayed a few days in the middle of the week, enjoying the empty feeling of the place (though tracking down meals became a game of cat and mouse), and took day trips to swim in Balmorhea Pool, attend a Star Party at the McDonald Observatory, and check out some art installations along Highway 90.

Soaking up the things that make Marfa different.
A yucca plant at El Cosmico.
We stayed at El Cosmico, a hip hotel/campground that offers unusual lodging like teepees, yurts, and travel trailers.
Our teepee at El Cosmico.
We got a teepee which felt incredibly romantic…until I was startled by a camel spider who decided to hang out on the canvas wall all night (I had never seen one before and thought it looked seriously creepy. Like if a scorpion and a tarantula had a baby!). Luckily, it had moved on by the morning.
Toes sticking out of hot tub.
One night was spent soaking in one of El Cosmico’s wood-fired Dutch hot tubs. It was perfection!
A nightime view of the observatory.
The McDonald Observatory during their Star Party, where we got the chance to look at stars through several large telescopes.
The Giant Marfa Mural
Spotted along Highway 90: “The Giant Marfa Mural” by John Cerney.

After Marfa, we headed to Big Bend National Park for two days of camping and hiking, stopping in Terlingua on the way.

The ghost town in Terlingua.
Cemetery in Terlingua Ghost Town
Terlingua Ghost Town’s cemetery, which is still actively used. We found many types of offerings to the dead, but beer and liquor were the most popular.
Stunning views while hiking the Hot Springs Canyon Trail in Big Bend.
A yucca along the trail in Big Bend.
I took so many pictures while hiking! How could I not, surrounded by beauty like this? I’m excited to begin working on a series of paintings inspired by this trip.
The Rio Grande along the Hot Springs Canyon trail in Big Bend
The Rio Grande brings life to the arid landscape. We even spied some wild horses near its banks.
The sun set at Langford Hot Springs.
We arrived at the hot springs just in time to catch the sunset.
A blooming cactus on the hike into Santa Elena Canyon.
Blooming cactus along the hike into Santa Elena Canyon.
Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park
The Rio Grande running through Santa Elena Canyon. The Rio Grande marks the border between the US and Mexico and we heard many hikers, wading out into the river, joking that they’d crossed over (Mexico on the left, the US on the right). Of course, even if you did cross over, there’d be nothing around for miles except dry, sun-scorched desert.
At the Chisos Basin campground, stars were visible down to the horizon, even with the moon out.

On our way out of Big Bend we stopped in Marathon, which proved to be much cuter and friendlier than expected. I was so charmed by it, I decided that I must return on my next trip out west. From there, we made our way east and then to a little-known and very remote state park along Devils River.

We stayed two nights and enjoyed a spectacular night sky. The river is difficult to reach (the campsite was miles down a rutted dirt road, offered no water or even a toilet, and an additional drive and then mile-something hike was required to reach the river) which meant that we only had one day to enjoy the water.

So, we packed up our snorkels, a big lunch, some wine, lots of water, and headed through the desert in search of the river.

Devils River State Natural Area
The glorious Devils River, an oasis at the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert.
A selfie by the spring at Devils River
The whole day was spent hiking, swimming, picnicking, and snorkeling. I was thrilled! The perfect end to a week in the desert.

This was such an inspiring trip, by its end I felt filled up with ideas and a drive to create. I also felt a shift in my personal life become solidified. There’s a simplicity in the desert that I’ve been longing for. I think it’s one of the reasons I always want to go back. Every time, I feel a little clearer on what I want, what I want to create, and who I want to be.

Surrounded by nothing but desert, time stretches out and I get more in tune with my thoughts and feelings. It’s a wonderful thing to realize and to know that if I’m ever feeling frazzled and lost I can always travel west and return to myself.

Magic Eye

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be bringing my installation art piece Magic Eye to the Burning Flipside art and music festival this month!

Magic Eye was, in part, inspired by my own experiences with art at Burning Flipside, so it feels fitting that it’s getting to be part of the party.

I appreciate how people interact with art at these events: sometimes using it as a place to meet, pause on their way somewhere, or even a destination – a place to hangout and where they might meet new friends, who were also drawn in by the colors or lights. It serves as a way to build instant connection between strangers, giving them something to talk about. And it can be a point of reference that helps people navigate the unfamiliar festival grounds.

I’ve been fascinated by optical illusions since I was a child, and became enamored with color theory in art school, and I’ve been experimenting with ways to combine these two concepts for years.

In 2015, I began collecting images of optical illusions after realizing that I wanted to use them in an installation art piece.
In 2018, I incorporated color theory and dynamic light into the concept and began adding colors to the illusions, printing them out, and testing the effects of lighting with a color-changing LED strip.
In early 2020, I developed one of my designs into two tapestries which acted as walls for an interactive art installation at the FreezerBurn Texas arts event.
In 2021, I applied for a Fuel For The Arts grant to create more tapestries and build a frame to display them. I was asked to change my design to a more 3D shape and I immediately knew it would be a pyramid.
Testing and perfecting the construction in my living room. I used PVC pipes to build the frame and attached the tapestries with large rubber-tipped clamps.
magic eye at artic expedition
The final form, installed at the Artic Expedition drive-thru art exhibition in 2021.
Magic Eye comes alive at night.

There was just one thing I wanted to add: a place to sit. I dreamed of floor cushions or some astroturf to place around the perimeter, so that viewers have the option to rest while enjoying the art.

As luck would have it, a friend’s neighbor recently tossed out scraps of some very high-end astroturf, and I repurposed it into triangular patches, perfectly fitted to the art. I can’t wait to see it all together!

COMING UP

Join me on Wednesday, May 18th, from 7-9pm at Dear Diary Coffee, where I’ll be celebrating the end of my solo art show featuring paintings from my Iconic Texas series. We’ll have art prints, coffee, and other non-alcoholic drinks to purchase, and feel free to BYOB.

And on Saturday, May 21st, from 6-10pm, you can catch me live painting at a free art party at Distribution Hall. Come find me outside under the live oak trees!

IN OTHER NEWS

I recently returned from a week-long road trip to Marfa, Terlingua, Big Bend, and Devils River. I did so much and took so many pictures that it’s taking me some time to comb through them all – but I’m excited to share them soon!

Thanks for reading!

Rain Barrel

I was recently commissioned to paint a plastic rainwater collection barrel for a home in South Austin. This was my first time painting on plastic and for an exterior installation and I was nervous about getting the materials right. But after much research, and repeated trips to paint stores, I found the solution and got to work. Check out the images below to see the results!

The barrel before cleaning and sanding.
The client wanted a botanical scene that incorporated elements from the Sonoran Desert. I used one of the photos I took at Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona as a reference.
Drawing the outlines with an India ink pen.
After taping off the edges and preparing the barrel with Insl-X Stix primer, I drew outlines on the barrel with pencil and then used artist acrylics to paint them in.
After a thin layer of magenta was applied, I painted in the bright colors of the cacti and sunset.
Finally, I went back over the black outlines and, after waiting a few days for the paint to fully dry, sealed the barrel with two layers of General Finishes Exterior 450 water-based topcoat.
The barrel at its home in South Austin.

NEW!

Check out the new coffee featuring my artwork at Dear Diary Coffeehouse! Now available for order online or in store. And while you’re there, take a look at paintings from my Iconic Texas series, hanging in the shop through May.

COMING UP

My painting Flomot Longhorns will be on display as part of the Array exhibit at Art For The People Gallery, April 16 – June 24, 2022
Join me for the Artists Reception: Saturday, April 23, 12-1:30pm
1711 S. 1st St., Austin, Texas 78704

I’m featured in the upcoming issue of Almost Real Things and we’ll be celebrating with a free music and art event: Almost Real Things: Worth It LIVE!, May 21, 6–10pm
Distribution Hall, 1500 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78702

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO

Working Through Anxiety In The Creative Process by Lisa Congdon

I’ve Been Working My Ass Off for You to Make that Profit? by Freakonomics Radio

The Dune audiobook, available for free via various public libraries.

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Colorado Bend

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When you get a Texas State Parks pass, you receive a booklet with a map of all the state parks. While recently perusing the map I realized that there are a few parks close to Austin that I haven’t visited yet. The description of Colorado Bend jumped out at me – a 70-foot waterfall?!

So, I made a reservation for a couple nights and grabbed a friend.

We arrived on a Sunday and the park was busy, but by Tuesday it’d emptied out. It’s a small campground but we were luck to find ourselves in a pretty secluded spot near the river.

Wildlife was everywhere! Deer and armadillos greeted us and at night we were entertained and annoyed by javelinas and raccoons.

I was delighted by the diversity of the park. We went kayaking in the river, hiked to a waterfall and around a cave, and swam in a spring. We saw people fishing and heard that someone caught an enormous catfish. We watched the full moon rise and wondered how the stars might look on a darker night.

This is definitely a park that I’ll be returning to.

COMING UP

The Austin Studio Tour is returning this year and will be bigger than ever! We’re combining East and West Austin into one citywide art event that spans three weekends in November. The Studio Tour is a free event, with in-person and virtual activities. Look out for me (#123) in the catalog and online.

My solo art exhibition Iconic Texas is opening on Saturday, November 6th at the Dougherty Arts Center! The show will feature 18 acrylic paintings inspired by my experiences camping and hiking in Texas’ public parks and will run until January 8th. For up-to-date information about visiting the gallery, please check their website or call 512-974-4000.

MORE GOOD STUFF

If you’ve been following me, you know that I’ve recently gotten into meditation. I’ve tried explaining its benefits and how I relate to it, but have often struggled. This episode of How To Build A Happy Life does a great job explaining the how and why of meditation.

I’m loving the Heavy Metal episode of Radiolab for its exploration of curiosity, history, science, and an unexpected look at the Meteor Crater I visited in 2019.

Want something spooky to read? Check out The Necromancer’s House for an unforgettably weird and wild ride.

Happy Halloween!

Stretching Myself

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After years of fighting self-doubt and working toward a healthy work/life balance, I hit my stride in my art studio. This summer I found myself painting almost daily and feeling more confident in my ideas and imagery. And there’s something that happens when you achieve a goal: you immediately set a bigger one. For me, this came in the form of the largest painting I’ve ever made and an experimental, interactive art piece.

The big painting was inspired by my recent trip to Caprock Canyons State Park. It’s a landscape of the canyons on three canvases, totaling 30″x70″ in size. It took weeks to complete and will be the highlight of my upcoming Iconic Texas art show. A few years ago I wouldn’t have dreamed of painting something so big, but now I want to go even bigger! I’m incredibly proud of myself and the progress I’ve made since I decided to try making art full-time.

A photo I took while hiking at Caprock Canyons.
Drawing the outlines of the image.
Painting in my studio.
The finished painting: Caprock Canyons, acrylic on canvas, 30″x70″

So, I went bigger. And I also went weirder!

I’ve been experimenting with black light paint and ways to create interactive or installation art for events. And one night, my friend Laura and I were chatting and came up with “black light paint-by-number” as a potential party activity.

I immediately fell in love with this concept and asked my friend Chase if I could use one of his drawings as imagery – he sent me a crab/fish monster! Perfect for the neon colors in black light paint and the upcoming spooky Halloween season. So, I planned out the painting and rounded up the supplies and did a test run outside my friend’s house.

It was a hit! I’m excited to refine the process and have it available as a fun activity for future events.

Drawing by Chase Gordon @hotdogdiet
Resizing and painting the outlines on canvas.
The painting glowing under black light.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Neill-Cochran House Museum for Austin Museum Day! It was a beautiful afternoon of art and music and it was wonderful to meet so many new people.

I’ve been busy filling my shop with art prints, mugs, and a shirt that celebrates Austin’s Barton Creek Greenbelt (my favorite place to hike). Head over to my shop page to see what’s new. And if there’s something that you want to see (like sticker packs), please leave a comment below. Thanks!

Davis Mountains

Every year, I go camping during the Perseids meteor shower. It’s an easy way to see shooting stars because you don’t need special equipment or to look in a specific direction, and the peak of the shower lasts for days. It also happens during the summer, which makes it a great time for sitting outside while staying up all night.

The last few years I’ve been exploring Texas’s dark sky parks (where the Milky Way is easily visible) and this year I chose Davis Mountains State Park.

The park is lovely, full of wildlife, and there’s a lot to do in the area. My friends and I took day trips to Marfa (for lunch and shopping), Balmorhea State Park (which has a huge spring-fed pool), the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute (botanical gardens with hiking trails), and the McDonald Observatory (for a tour of the telescopes).

I’ve adored the nearby city of Marfa since I passed through it on my way back from the Grand Canyon in 2019, and decided to end the trip with a night at a unique hotel/campground there called El Cosmico.

After this trip, I’m totally in love and already dreaming of my next adventure out west…where things are just a little bit weirder, the stars are brighter, and the air smells like sage.

View from the Indian Lodge Trail at Davis Mountains State Park
Huge cairns mark the trail.
A rainbow greeted us as we returned to our campsite.
A scorpion glows under a black light flashlight. We also encountered mule deer, javelina, and some very friendly (too friendly!) skunks.
The huge spring-fed pool at Balmorhea State Park. The water was clear and comfortable. Fish and turtles swam among us.
On the trail at the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute.
Sassy selfi among the succulents in the Chihuahuan Desert greenhouse.
One of my favorite spots in Marfa. Nearby, you’ll find an art-filled vending machine.
Unusual seating options at the Planet Marfa beer garden include a school bus, mini rooftop patio, and this teepee.
El Cosmico delights with trailers, teepees, yurts, tents, and more…all beautifully decorated.
Next time, I’m totally staying in a teepee or yurt!

COMING UP!

Find me at the Neill-Cochran House Museum for a pop-up art market on Saturday, September 19th between 11am and 3pm, as part of Austin Museum Day.