Tag Archives: texas state parks

Making Time

May 25, 2023 Cara

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.

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!

Colorado Bend

October 26, 2021 Cara 2 Comments

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.

Davis Mountains

August 20, 2021 Cara

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

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.

Possum Kingdom

July 27, 2021 Cara 1 Comment

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.

Cactus Flowers

June 25, 2021 Cara

Something special happened this year, and maybe it’s something that happens every year, but this was the first time I’d noticed it. The blooming prickly pear cacti were absolutely gorgeous!

I was inspired by the cacti at Allen Park in Austin and decided to paint them. But I seemed to accidentally follow the path of cacti bloom west to Enchanted Rock and then north to Caprock Canyons, where I was blown away by the number and color of the flowers…

Working on the painting, based off of the outlines I drew.

The final painting “Blooming Cactus”, acrylic on canvas, 30″x30″, part of my Iconic Texas series, which seeks to highlight The Lone Star State’s public parks.

The flowering prickly pear cacti at Enchanted Rock State Park, Fredericksburg, Texas.

The prickly pears at Caprock Canyons State Park, Quitaque, Texas.

…They were just so absolutely stunning, I think I need to make more of these paintings!

COMING UP!
Art For The People Gallery will be hosting an opening reception for their THRIVE! exhibit on Saturday, July 10th from 3-6pm. I’m thrilled to have some art included in the exhibition and to be attending their first reception of the year! Come celebrate with us!

The event is free and BYOB! And if you can’t make it to the reception, the exhibit will be on display until September 30th.

Getting Back Out There

April 21, 2021 Cara

I don’t know about you, but this April has been busy. It feels like the world is reopening, and just in time for some beautiful spring weather!

The drive-thru art event ARTic Expedition took place (where I debuted my dynamic-light and fabric sculpture “Magic Eye”), I went camping with friends, and I got down to the Gulf Coast for some time with my family.

I’m looking forward to more outdoor social time and camping trips before the infamous Texas Summer begins. Bring on the sunshine, fun, and relaxation!