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).
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.
This summer has been full of adventure and art. I’ve been busy exploring new places, meeting new people, and I feel like I’ve finally found a good rhythm in my studio.
Here’s a taste of what I’ve been up to:
Sunset over Possum Kingdom Lake. I went camping at the state park for a couple nights and enjoyed the quiet of a lake right before the July 4th weekend.
One side of the rock formation know as “Hell’s Gate” in Possum Kingdom Lake, which was alive with cliff swallows darting in and out of their nests.
My friend convinced me that we should rent a small pontoon boat for the day and I’ll be forever grateful – it was so much fun!
Possum Kingdom State Park is small but has everything you’d want for a weekend on the lake. There are boat rentals, fishing supplies, and even a few short hiking trails which offer nice views. I saw lots of deer, but not a single possum.
Back in Austin:
My art installation “Magic Eye” added a little something extra to a private event.
At night it glows different colors, which creates the appearance of movement in the optical illusions.
Drawing the outline for a stylized painting of Hamilton Pool (a popular swimming destination just outside of Austin).
“Hamilton Pool”, acrylic on canvas, 20″x24″
Live painting at an event in West Lake Hills.
The finished painting: “Flomot Longhorns”, acrylic on canvas, 20″x30″
I’m painting just about every day and currently planning a camping trip to Davis Mountains State Park, which is close enough to Marfa to do day trips. I can’t wait to explore the area and see shooting stars move across that clear night sky.
Mark your calendars: I finally got the dates for my first solo exhibition! Iconic Texas is scheduled to be on display at the Julia C. Butridge Gallery November 6, 2021 through January 8, 2022.
Good news! I finally have some dates for my first-ever-solo-art-show that was originally scheduled for May: my Iconic Texas series will be on display during May, 2021 at the Dougherty Arts Center!
Of course, we don’t know exactly what the exhibition will look like in terms of group gatherings, but we will figure out a way to safely enjoy the art together, in person. I’m thrilled to have this opportunity and the support of the Dougherty. Check out this amazing video they created for my show:
And coming up a little sooner: the Austin Studio Tour is kicking off in November! It’s a virtual event and I’ve been busy adding art to my online gallery, prints to my shop, and videos to my YouTube channel.
Find out more about my art by checking out the newly expanded tour website at AustinStudioTour.org starting November 14.
The Studio Tour is my go-to for holiday gifts and I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone has been creating.
All this planning for the future made me realize that we’re heading toward cooler weather and my swimming days are numbered. So I grabbed my tube and headed out to a couple Travis County parks along the Colorado River.
Tubing near the cliffs at Tom Hughes Park on Lake Travis.Watching sailboat races from Bob Wentz Park on Lake Travis.
I had no idea these parks existed until just a few weeks ago! After seeing all the new-to-me places on the Travis County Parks website, I’m challenging myself to explore them all.
MORE GOOD STUFF
If you live in Austin, check out Dear Diary Coffeehouse on Chicon Street, they’re helping out the local art community by turning their indoor seating area into a gallery and gift shop! You can browse stickers, prints, and much more when you pick up your coffee and you can even order art delivered to you when you place an order online. Check out the “Local Artists” menu to see photos of the art.
I’m currently re-reading Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert. It’s an easy, fun, inspiring journey through the inner lives of creatives. It’s on the list of books that have changed my life and I recommend it to everyone.
I’ve been getting in the Halloween spirit by watching horror movies by A24 Films and decorating my apartment with crafty cute little bats made by reusing paper towel or toilet paper rolls.
Catty and I wish you a wonderfully spooky and happy Halloween!
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).
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!
