Tag Archives: texas parks

Caprock Canyons

This spring, before the summer heat began, me and a small group of friends went to Caprock Canyons State Park for a few days of camping and hiking in the Palo Duro Canyon, in the Texas panhandle.

We spent the first night at a car camping site near the prairie dog town, where we could watch prairie dogs play day and night amid the slowly roaming bison herd.

Southern Pains Bison roam the park freely
Black-tailed Prairie Dog on the lookout for any sign of danger

The next day we packed up our gear and hiked a mile to a primitive site, from which we did several day hikes: into the Fern Cave for a refreshing picnic, up along the Haynes Ridge for views, and the entire Lower Prong Trail which cuts through the middle of the park.

Our campsite at the North Prong Primitive Campground
Enjoying an afternoon snack and the cool air near Fern Cave
Taking in the views along Haynes Ridge

Each hike was uniquely challenging and beautiful, and all of them offered awesome views of the pinkish-orange-red rocks and hoodoos that surrounded us. And at night we were treated to a blanket of stars, with the Milky Way in sight.

Prickly Pear Cacti were beginning to bloom
A Collared Lizard delighted me with his beautiful colors

This is the third time I’ve been to Caprock Canyons State Park and I keep finding reasons to come back. Looking forward to next time!

Don’t fence me in!

Paintings Inspired By Caprock Canyons

Caprock Canyons, acrylic on canvas, 30″x70″
Bison, acrylic on canvas, 30″x30″
Caprock Canyon Prickly Pear, acrylic on wood panel, 30″x40″
Cactus Love, acrylic on canvas, 30″x30″
Topographic Map of Caprock Canyons State park, acrylic on wood panel, 6″x6″

In The Studio

Texas Critters Bandanas are back, and in a few new colors: denim blue, classy black, and burnt orange. I love these cotton bandanas and decided the critters should be stickers as well:

You can find these at Dear Diary Coffee and ArtUs Co, while supplies last

Joshua Tree art prints are now available, as well as one of a climber on the famous Serrator route in Utah:

Colorful painting of a joshua tree plant in a desert with rounded orange rocks in the background.
A colorful painting of a woman climbing a crack in a red rock with a blue sky.

Thanks for following my journey!

Old Tunnel State Park

Here’s very spooky day trip, just in time for Halloween:

Just outside of Fredericksburg, Texas you can find three million bats living in an old railroad tunnel! You can even watch them emerge as they take flight each sunset in a huge “batnado” so big it makes its own wind.

A park ranger holds up a photo of a bat.

I was impressed by the talk the ranger gave before the bats took off, learning that a bat’s feet are relaxed when gripping (making it easy for them to hang upside-down), they must fall before flight in order to catch air (and if grounded, will climb a tree to jump off), and they give birth hanging from their hands so they can catch their baby with their feet!

A dark tunnel through a rocky cliff.

The tunnel has an interesting history, being hand-carved by locals to encourage travel to and from Fredericksburg.

Historical sign that reads: "In 1913 area residents raised money to build a railroad linking Fredericksburg to San Antonio. The 920-foot tunnel beneath this hill increased the cost by $134,000 and required five months of hard labor. It opened a faster trade route for area merchants and farmers. Each time passenger trains entered the tunnel, small rocks, loosened by engine exhaust, were removed from the track and the windows closed to keep out coal smoke. The railroad operated until 1942 when the trackage was sold for scrap."

Old Tunnel State Park is a beautiful place to watch the sunset and catch the “violet crown” the area is known for.

When planning your trip, make sure to grab your tickets in advance and stay updated about bat flight times (they head south for the winter but return each May).

ART SHOWS AND ROAD TRIPS

I’m busier than usual, and just returned from The Infrathin Artist Residency, a camping trip at Seminole Canyon, and a road trip to North Carolina for an Alumni Art Exhibition!

I’ll have photos from those trips for you as soon as possible, but I’m also catching up from a wonderful closing party for my art show at Zilker Brewing Co, finishing a commissioned painting of Austin’s Zilker Park, and sharing and selling my art at the Austin City Limits Music Festival as part of the Clover + Maven shop! and…

You can find my art at these upcoming exhibitions and events:

Holiday Market
Blue Genie Art Bazaar
November 14 – December 24, 2025
6100 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX

Austin Studio Tour, Outdoor Art Market
November 15-16, 2025, 12-6pm
Art For The People
2801 S I-35 Frontage Rd Suite #130, Austin, TX

Smaller Than A Bread Box: A Tiny Works Community Exhibit
November 21 – December 21, 2025
Opening Reception: November 21, 2025, 6-9pm
Dogseye Gallery, Eye Of The Dog Art Center
405 Valley View West Rd, San Marcos, TX

It’s a busy time of year for artists, but I’m still making time for my favorite holiday – Happy Halloween!

THINGS I’M LIKING

Reading Calling In: How to Start Making Change with Those You’d Rather Cancel by Loretta J Ross – we probably all need to read this book right now.

Watching Cabaret, the 1972 award-winning film staring Liza Minnelli – it is fabulous!

Eating the Hot Chocolate Gianduja Cake at Red Ash – everything I tried was delicious, but this dessert stole the show!

And anything spooky!

Rio Grande

Hiking along the Hot Springs Trail in Big Bend National Park, you spend some time walking beside the Rio Grande. As the trail rises and falls with the cliffs, you get to appreciate the river from different perspectives and find little surprises.

For me, the biggest surprise was finding horses grazing in the grassy river banks. This area feels so desolate, it’s hard to imagine any animal that size surviving out here. But it seems that the Rio Grande provides all that is needed, and the horses seemed quite content.

As we hiked toward the hot spring, we could almost make out the outlines of the palm trees which mark the spot where an old bathhouse was built (a hint that we were getting closer!).

One of the many gorgeous views of the river from the trail.
Drawing the outlines of what would become my sixth large painting inspired by Big Bend National Park (and my second inspired by this trail!)
Rio Grande, acrylic on canvas, 24″x36″
Close-up showing the brushstrokes and detail of the palm trees.

Big Bend is such a large park, and I can’t wait to explore more of it…but I think I might return to this spot on my next trip. The Hot Springs Trail feels special to me.

COMING UP

You can see the Rio Grande painting as well as the Inside Santa Elena Canyon painting at the Blue Genie Art Bazaar, open November 15 – December 24, 2024 (10am-10pm daily!). Blue Genie is packed with arts and crafts from hundreds of local makers and it’s my favorite place to get gifts for the holidays. Visit the market at 6100 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78752 or shop online anytime!

Keep an eye out for the new 16oz can from (512) Brewing Company featuring my artwork! The can celebrates Austin with a colorful illustration of the skyline and iconic graffiti-covered train bridge.

(512) Brewing Company’s 16th Anniversary DDH Hazy IPA, available at HEB, Central Market, Wheatsville, and more!

I had so much fun working on this illustration, I’ve decided it’s time to make a few paintings of Austin. Barton Springs Pool and the view of downtown from the pedestrian bridge are already in the works!

Spring in Enchanted Rock

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If you visit this Texas State Park sometime late April through early May, you can catch the cacti in bloom. The wildflowers are always beautiful, but this year was spectacular!

I’m so happy to finally be sharing my favorite photos from the camping trip (among the flowers, we also spotted some critters enjoying the beautiful weather and butterflies).

After seeing all these beautiful blooms, I feel inspired to make a new cactus painting…the only problem is picking a favorite photo to work from (so many good options!)

Inside Santa Elena Canyon

Inspired by the famous hike in Big Bend National Park, this painting is a colorful take on the epic sense of awe one gets while walking between the Rio Grande’s canyon walls.

Inside Santa Elena Canyon, acrylic on canvas, 24″x36″
Cara hiking with the sun overhead.
Hiking into the canyon.
Steep canyon walls with the Rio Grande River flowing gently between them.
We sat and watched hikers cross the trickling river while listening to the warbling song of canyon wrens. It was so peaceful! This photo became my reference for the painting.
Line drawing of the canyon.
Tracing the photograph and simplifying the outlines.
Cara painting a bright orange color.
Painting in the outlines after they’ve been transferred to canvas.
The nearly completed painting.
Almost finished!
Close-up image of the painting.
Detail of the people crossing the river.

Before starting the final painting, I made a smaller 12″x12″ version as a way to test the bright colors before committing to them. This was a slightly different way of working for me and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed creating the same scene in different sizes and shapes. It was a challenging but also freeing, so I plan to continue this process with my next painting.

Small version of painting with award.
Inside Santa Elena Canyon, acrylic on wood panel, 12″x12″

Because the small version was finished first, I was able to exhibit it at the Austin Studio Tour’s Group Show, then the Neill-Cochran House Museum (where it won an Honorable Mention award!). Shortly afterwards, it was purchased by a collector in South Austin. I’m thrilled by the reception this painting got as it’s personally one of my favorites – the brightness of the red canyon walls makes my eyes happy!

I’m incredibly grateful for the continued support of the community and can’t wait to see what I create next! Thank you to everyone who has purchased a painting or print, come out to art openings, followed me online, and showed up at the art markets – I couldn’t do this without you!

Making Time

Traveling with friends and family has always been one of my favorite things. And so, amidst the chaos of packing up my home and studio and moving across town, I somehow managed to make enough time for a couple short trips – first to New Orleans to enjoy Jazz Fest with my family and then to Enchanted Rock for some camping with friends.

Exploring Bourbon Street at sunset
Catching some music after dark
Back in Texas, Enchanted Rock was absolutely bursting with wildflowers
It was revitalizing to slow down and spend some time in nature
There’s no shortage of laughter when camping with these goofballs

On top of all that, I installed my biggest art display yet at the Blue Genie May Market (you can still catch the last weekend: May 26-29).

My 8’x12′ wall of paintings and art prints!

With so much going on, I felt that my trips were too short, my home too disorganized, my body and mind exhausted, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m proud of myself for being up for tackling so many things and making it work.

I do wish I could spend more quality time with the people I love. It seems like it’s gotten harder to slow down and enjoy a conversation and that’s something I want to cultivate at my new home, where I’ll be able to host small gatherings.

I’m still working on my studio space, but it’s getting closer every day. I’d just started planning my next Big Bend painting when I had to take my studio apart to move.

Working on the outlines for a new painting

I won’t stay put for too long though, next month is going to be full of adventure. Stay tuned!

COMING UP

I’ll have a couple paintings at Art For The People Gallery as part of their Vibrance Of Summer exhibition (June 10 – Aug 11, 2023).

Stop by their sweet S. 1st Street gallery and see these babies in person!

Caprock Canyons, acrylic on three canvases, 30″x70″
Scorpion, black light reactive acrylic paint on wood panel, 12″x12″

I hope you’re finding ways to make time for the things that bring you joy!

Ocotillos

Those weird stick-like plants that spring up out of the desert floor all around Big Bend National Park.

I timed my visit to catch the plants in bloom, when they transform themselves from dry thorns to delicately leaved stalks, each topped with a flame of brilliant red flowers.

These plants are so tall and strange, they remind me of something you’d find growing underwater, perhaps on a coral reef. (Even stranger, they’re more closely related to blueberries than cacti!)

The ocotillos that inspired me to make a painting, near the Fossil Discovery Exhibit in Big Bend National Park.
Tiny leaves and bright red flowers on the Ocotillo.
Planning the painting by first drawing outlines with India ink pens.
The final painting: Ocotillos, acrylic on canvas, 24″x36″

COMING UP

This weekend I’m bringing paintings, art prints, and stickers to Blue Genie in preparation for their May Market! It’s a great place to find unique treasures and gifts and the May Market tends to be less crowded than the winter one, so if you’ve never been to the Blue Genie Art Bazaar before, this is the perfect time to check it out. Find dates and times on their website.

I’m moving to a new studio in South Austin! I’ll have more space and will be closer to some of my favorite places (like Barton Springs Pool and the Greenbelt). I can’t wait to get settled in and share photos of the new setup!

Thanks for reading – I hope you’re enjoying this fabulous spring weather!

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!

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.