Every year in mid-August I try to catch the Perseids meteor shower. It’s easy to plan for, the peak lasts a few nights, and it’s comfortable to stay up all night in the summer. It’s a rewarding experience, especially if you can get away from the city lights, because you can see shooting stars that glow or sparkle across the sky.
This year has been difficult and I wasn’t sure about travel, but I finally decided that camping would be safe and I put it out there to some friends to see if anyone wanted to join me for a couple nights.
I chose South Llano River State Park because I’d never been, it has swimming (which would make the 100-degree afternoons bearable), and it’s a dark sky park (with almost no light pollution, the milky way is clearly visible at night).
We had excellent viewing of Perseids, including some stunning shooting stars that made us all go “Wow!” and the water was the perfect temperature to sit in all afternoon. But the best part was just getting out of my house and spending time with friends.
The South Llano River.The light around sunset was gorgeous and it melted into a spectacular night sky.I noticed lots of dried flowers along the trails and made a mental note to come back in the spring.Deer moved silently in brush around us. I also saw a jackrabbit, bats, lizards, and lots of armadillos.Giant pecan trees provided much-appreciated shade.My friend spotted this beautiful (and toxic) flower called Snow On The Mountain.We spent hours just digging around in the smooth rocks of this shallow area, building walls that would soon topple. There’s something about these “pointless” activities that feels like an antidote to stress.
The park is much larger than the areas we saw, with lots of trails that I’m itching to explore, so I’ll definitely be returning when it’s a little cooler.
Watching The One I Love on Netflix. Part suspenseful-thriller, part romantic comedy, part science-fiction; I had so much fun with this weird film.
Working on a new painting of Saguaro National Park. I’ve been wanting to paint those giant cacti since I was a kid! I still can’t believe I finally saw them in person (on my trip to Havasu Falls).
Over the last eight months, I forgot what it was like to have a routine. The winter holidays turned into a breakup, then a move, then a world-wide pandemic. (Wow, that escalated quickly!)
I’ve been living in survival mode for a while and needed a vacation. So, I took a week off to relax. There aren’t a lot of entertainment or travel options right now, but I challenged myself to try to get out and experience something new each day.
It was a difficult challenge, and I did spend some serious time on my sofa watching movies, but it turned out to be a helpful motivator. Check out all the cool stuff I found:
Turkey Creek Trail in Emma Long Metro Park……my new favorite hiking trail!Thunderstorm clouds rolling across the Texas Hill Country.I played around with watercolor painting, a medium that I’m fairly new at.I realized that I can tube in the river along a beach that’s only a 20-minute walk from my home. The water was perfect!
After relaxing for a week, I was excited to get back to work. One of the big projects I’d been putting off was writing a mission statement and 2-5 year plan. The time off cleared my head enough for me to answer all the tough questions and now I have a printed statement (manifesto?) up at my desk, a constant reminder of my goals.
The questions I tackled:
What are my values? What habits do I want to cultivate? Who am I? What do I want? What is preventing me from getting it? Who do I want to meet? What gift(s) am I offering them?
This turned out to be an especially helpful exercise when I realized that I wanted to make a new daily routine for myself. When I saw on paper that I wanted to do yoga regularly, I was reminded to add it to my schedule. There are bigger goals too, like getting my art into galleries in other states. It seems like such a long-term goal that I simply wasn’t including it in my schedule, but I’ve broken it down into smaller parts, making it easier to begin.
It’s only been a week on this new schedule, but I’m already sleeping better and feeling more grounded and healthy. And I’m so glad I started doing yoga again; I can’t believe how tight my legs are!
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WHAT’S KEEPING ME BUSY
Doing free online yoga classes every morning with Yoga With Adriene.
But the coronavirus infection rates in Texas have dramatically increased since Memorial Day and I want to protect myself and others. So, I’m staying in…or at least, close to home.
To satisfy my wanderlust, I’ve been going on solo hikes and walks around my new neighborhood. It’s a small neighborhood, only a few winding streets, but it’s on top of one of the tallest hills in Austin and has great views. It also happens to be a few miles from a big city park that offers swimming, camping, and miles of trails.
So, maybe I can plan a great stay-cation?
Looking out over Lake Travis, on a trail near my home.Someone is leaving these adorable painted rocks around my neighborhood.
I originally planned to take a week off in June to relax and prepare for work on my next series of paintings. But like so many other items penciled into my planner, that vacation time was erased by the pandemic.
I’ve worked hard to adapt to the new reality of life while distancing. My art show was canceled and shopping feels safer when it’s online, so I’ve been taking online classes to gain the skills I need to run a better business and build a better website. It’s still a work-in-progress, but I have some art prints available in my online shop and the Art For The People Gallery has added my stickers to their website.
Looking for opportunities to exhibit, my friend and I participated in The National Arts Drive , a drive-by art show created to support artists who have lost the ability to share their craft.
It’s been good to stay motivated and busy. Having goals to focus on has helped keep me positive. But it’s been a difficult time for everyone, and even my free time can feel like work.
As much as we may try to keep it light, conversations with friends and family are pulled toward current events. We grapple with the new normal, grasp for actionable steps, and strive to understand different points of view and incorporate, tolerate, or fight against them.
It’s been a lot of work, all of this new information, new perspectives, new challenges, moving into a new home. I think it’s time I took a break to process it all, so that I can integrate it into a new life.
Like a butterfly in its cocoon, I need to rest so that I can transform.
Taking time to get outside and out of my head is vital for maintaining my mental health.I regularly hike on the Barton Creek Greenbelt and recently discovered the Lost Creek portion, with its impressive cliffs and flowing water.On one of our hikes, my friends and I found this obviously hungry and lonely cat meowing around the trash cans. He is now healthy and happy in his new home.Scenic drives are a great way to get out of the house while socially distancing. Earlier this year, some friends and I did a convoy tour of Willow City Loop, which is a perfect day trip from Austin.Just going for a walk can have huge rewards! I discovered this cactus in bloom along the side of the road, in a neighbor’s yard.
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WHAT’S KEEPING ME BUSY
Weekly free professional development classes for creatives, online at CreativeLive.
One of the first thoughts I had when the new coronavirus struck was how everyone on earth would be simultaneously dealing with canceled plans. The things we’ve been building, working toward, and dreaming of would be gone. Normally, when this happens in life, we can turn to our friends for support. But now we find ourselves in a situation where everyone is struggling, mourning the loss of their freedom, hopes, and dreams.
But from the ashes of our previously-laid plans, sprout new hopes. This is a time to be creative. History shows how good we are at adapting to a changing environment, and the news is becoming permeated with stories of people fighting their way through the crisis, making positive changes in the world for themselves and the people around them.
This is a time when I can see how important we are to each other. Helping others brings meaning and joy to our lives.
I’ve often found peace of mind in nature and have been going on lots of walks, hikes, and runs to curb my anxiety.
So, today I’m feeling optimistic, which is a good thing because I just found out that my first solo art show has been canceled, perhaps postponed until May, 2021.
I’ve decided to view this challenge as an opportunity. I can feel extra-prepared for the show when it comes. I can keep painting. I can keep working and growing my skills. I can adapt.
We are tenacious survivors and we will get through this together. We will help each other, because that is part of what makes us human.
I’d ordered 500 flyers to promote my art show before the virus hit. After mourning the loss of the show for a few days I realized that the flyers still have value and I’m happily sending them to whoever wants them.
Since I can’t have an exhibition or party to celebrate the paintings I created for my Iconic Texas series, which were scheduled to be on display next month, I will be posting photos on my Instagram and Facebook pages throughout May. Please follow me there to see all the art.
Thanks to everyone for your support and good luck to you on your journey toward your goals, however twisting and turning it might be!
All that training paid off – I’m just back from hiking around 30 miles, and I’m not even that sore! Even though the hike out was a grueling, all-uphill, baking-in-the-midday-sun saga, my body recovered really quickly. I feel strong, uplifted, and am wondering: where should I go next?
This was my first backpacking trip and now that I have a taste for it (and the right gear), I’m starting to look around for some 3-5 day trips in the Austin area. If you have any suggestions, please share!
This adventure was pretty fast-paced. We drove from Austin to Albuquerque on day 1, stopping for the night at the funky and comfy Sandia Peak Inn. Along Route 66, this casual hotel sported a vintage sign and some unique decor.
Weirdness along Route 66. This photo was taken further west, closer to our next stop at Grand Canyon Caverns.
Day 2 had us driving right past Meteor Crater, so we had to stop and see just what a giant hole in the ground looks like. It turned out to be pretty awe-inspiring and definitely worth the price of admission.
“Best preserved meteorite crater on Earth”
We spent that night at the wacky Gand Canyon Caverns Inn which is more than a hotel, it’s also a: dinosaur petting zoo, cave, golf course, 50s diner, airstrip, and definitely a photo op. After dinner, we anxiously and meticulously packed everything we’d need for the next three nights in the Grand Canyon.
The lobby at the Grand Canyon Caverns Inn.
Day 3 started before sunrise. We grabbed breakfast and drove to the trailhead for our 10 mile hike down into the Havasupai Indian Reservation. Completely surrounded by the Grand Canyon National Park, Havasupai is considered one of America’s most remote Indian Reservations and their village, Supai, is only accessible by foot, horse, or helicopter. There are no paved roads in Supai; it’s the only place in the U.S. where mail is still carried out by mules.
Hiking down into the Grand Canyon.
We were asked not to photograph anyone or thing in the village. We saw only a handful of public buildings (a grocery store, post office, tourism office, a small convenience-type store that seemed to be geared more toward tourists) and walked by a number of homes, all simply-built with small yards. Most of the land that I saw was taken up by horse pastures and dotted with blooming moonflowers. Reggae music wafted out of a barn.
Lower Navajo Falls, my first glimpse of the blue-green water that runs through Havasu Falls and eventually into the Colorado River. I was elated to see this heavenly sight.
We got to the campground later than expected and found ourselves without a formal campsite, instead having to set up our tents in small openings between the trees. But it all worked out; the next morning several of our neighbors left, leaving us a nice site to move into. We were next to the river and near the top of Mooney Falls, which drop over 200 feet into the narrow canyon.
Looking down from the top of Mooney Falls.
Although a bit scary, the edge of the falls was one of my favorite spots to relax.
We spent most of our time swimming or resting near one of the three falls closest to our campsite. We ate delicious Fry Bread and Indian Tacos from a small stand some of the locals operated near the campground. On our last night we stayed up to watch the stars come out and were treated to one of the best shooting stars I’ve ever seen…a glittery star streaking across the sky, over a waterfall, between steep canyon walls…magic!
Havasu Falls.
I love how the travertine forms these pools, perfect for swimming.
The campground is split by the creek in some areas; creatively-built bridges are everywhere.
Three nights just wasn’t enough in this Heaven On Earth and I was feeling sad as we packed up and began our hike out. We left later than expected and took our time, but as the sun’s rays intensified and we left the protection of the deep canyon, I struggled. I pushed myself to get up the switchbacks and ran out of water as soon as I reached the trailhead. Thankfully, I had a car full of snacks and drinks waiting for me.
That evening, back at the Grand Canyon Caverns Inn, we were treated to a beautiful sunset during dinner, hot showers, and real beds. I was exhausted. But the next day I was feeling surprisingly spry as we began our drive to Tucson. I’d found a scenic drive through Saguaro National Park I was excited about. But as we neared Phoenix, I was blown away by the number of saguaro growing on the side of the highway. These giant cacti that I’d dreamed of my whole life were suddenly real, and everywhere!
I find the saguaro desert absolutely enchanting and by the time we got to the scenic drive the sun was setting – slowly turning into the most electric orange/peach/blue sky I’ve ever seen. It was stunning. I wish I had more pictures, but I was driving!
On the Bajada Loop drive, Saguaro National Park West
On the last leg of our journey, we stopped to visit the permanent art piece called “Prada, Marfa” before grabbing a beer at Lost Horse Saloon in Marfa, Texas, and heading to a campsite in Davis Mountains State Park. That little taste of Marfa and the surrounding area has me craving a longer visit. There’s so much to do!
“Prada, Marfa” by Elmgreen and Dragset.
I want to go back in the spring, camp at Davis Mountains and take day trips to explore Marfa, the spring-fed pool at Balmorhea, and attend a Star Party at the McDonald Observatory. I want to take time to soak in the unique character of West Texas.
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If you’re a fan of Havasu Falls, check out this sticker I made for the trip:
I took 50 stickers with me to give away as gifts to the natives and fellow hikers and I was blown away by the response. Everyone was so grateful and enthusiastic about the design!
In a few weeks I’ll be heading to the Grand Canyon to camp with friends at the glorious Havasu Falls. I’m grateful for the opportunity to spend time in this beautiful place and meet the people who have been living in the canyon for over a thousand years. The village is tucked way down in the canyon, without a proper road, so getting to the campground will take a 10 mile hike with an elevation change of over 2,000 feet. Nothing but water is provided, so we’ll be hiking in and out with all of our gear.
In preparation, I’ve been spending my evenings training and am starting to go on hikes while wearing my pack, so I can get used to carrying the extra weight. Twenty pounds gets really heavy when you’re walking uphill!
Havasu Falls: so beautiful, it’s worth the hike! Photo from https://www.havasupaireservations.com/
During the day, I’ve been working as much as possible. I completed a painting of a roadrunner and a landscape for my upcoming Iconic Texas exhibition and finished a commissioned painting of a surfing T-Rex (so fun!). I’ve been applying to shows, grants, and residencies; designing stickers and organizing my files. I have artwork up at two local galleries: Art For The People and the Terra Toys Art Gallery. It’s good to be busy!
“Roadrunner” – Acrylic On Canvas – 20″x30″
“Super Rad” – Acrylic On Canvas – 30″x24″
All this preparation could have me in a hectic state of mind, but I’ve made space for downtime. I’ve returned to taking a full day off each week and mark it with rituals I’ve borrowed from Shabbat, Judaism’s day of rest. I’m not religious, but I’ve come to see ritual as a potentially fun and powerful tool. You can make up your own to serve as a way to organize your time or thoughts, set aside time for contemplation, or to give a mundane activity some excitement and meaning.
If you’re interested, I really enjoyed this video from The School Of Life on the history and meaning of rituals.
IF YOU’RE IN AUSTIN:
Paintings, prints, and stickers will be on display at Art For The People through October 5th. (1711 S. 1st, Austin, TX78704)
Art For The People
Paintings and screen prints available at the Terra Toys Art Gallery through Halloween. (2438 W Anderson Ln C1, Austin, TX 78757)
Terra Toys Art Gallery
The roadrunner painting will be on display during Austin Museum Day as part of the 2020 Season Gallery Sneak Peek at the Julia C. Butridge Gallery.
(12-4pm, September 22, 1110 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704)
After weeks of moving, cleaning, painting, and repairing, I’m finally settling into my new home and workspace. So many little issues made themselves known (and the biggest issue: a broken air conditioner over Fourth of July weekend!), but I survived the difficult transition and am finally starting to make art again.
I’m about to begin painting a really fun commission and a roadrunner I spotted on my trip to McKinney Falls State Park.
Tracing and re-tracing lines to make them cleaner and more stylized before copying onto a canvas.
I’m excited to be creating again but I’m also realizing that I need to make more time for relaxing activities. Those seem to be the first things to get knocked off my to-do list when life gets hectic. But I’m a much kinder, creative, and thoughtful person when I’m taking care of myself; and much more able to solve problems. This seems like one of those life lessons I must learn again and again: take care of yourself.
Thankfully, I was able to get away on Sunday, visiting Pedernales Falls State Park with a friend. We relaxed in the swimming area along the river and were treated to a stunning sunset with a nearly-full moon shining through huge, pink storm clouds. There was some chaos involved (I got lost on the way there, thanks to Apple Maps, and was attacked by horse flies while hiking) but overall, the trip was renewing.
Wolf Mountain Trail
Pedernales River
Bee Creek Overlook
I’m going to start scheduling relaxing activities for myself, just like a meeting. Time to read, write, take a bath, and go for a walk – all as important as any meeting.
After a year and a half at my apartment, it’s time to move. A variety of little reasons cropped up, and Sean and I realized it was time to find a new home that better fits our budget and lifestyle. So, we’re moving about ten minutes down the road to a duplex with more workspace and a yard.
I wish I’d taken a photo of my home studio before disassembling it for the WEST Austin Studio Tour. When I look back at photos of my studio from a year ago, the difference is inspiring. I made so much art here!
It can be easy to lose sight of how much I’ve accomplished when I’m comparing myself to where I want to be or where other people are. Looking back at where I was helps remind me that I am learning a lot and making progress.
In acknowledging my progress, and in starting a new chapter, I’m going to start making larger paintings. Keeping things small has been a way for me to practice and define my style without committing to a large, expensive canvas. But now it’s time for me to let go of this crutch and expand myself. I’ll still make small paintings, but I’ll do so intentionally.
I started with a painting of McKinney Falls, a state park that sits inside Austin city limits. I’ve visited the park many times, but this was the first time I got go swimming; it was a wonderfully relaxing afternoon.
In the midst of moving boxes and the late-June heat, I’m missing that water right now.
Lower McKinney Falls – Acrylic Paint On Canvas – 20″x30″
Detail
I like to wrap the colors around the side of the canvas, a play on my love of color field paintings.
West Austin’s annual, free tour of artist studios and gallery spaces is approaching and this year I’m excited to be included in a group show at the Blue Genie Big Top. I’ll be one of about 60 artists at Blue Genie, making it a great place to see lots of art in one stop (plus, there’s a brewery next door that serves giant pretzels…what more could you want?).
I couldn’t be happier to be in this group show – when I read through the list of artists, I was thrilled to recognize so many names. Some of my favorite local artists are going to be there!
Eli Halpin’s whimsical paintings always make me smile.
Danika Ostrowski is a woman after my own heart. Her acrylic landscapes capture the magnificence of the American Southwest.
This is but a tiny taste of the art that will be on display and I’ll be there with my paintings, prints of my digital art, stickers, and the ceramic tumblers I made at Laguna Gloria.
Come check it out and say hello!
The West Austin Studio Tour is 11am-6pm, May 11-12 & 18-19.
I’m #222 at The Blue Genie Big Top, 6100 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX 78752.
