You Are Not Lost, You Are Found

Almost four months of living out of the van and I have learned more than I ever imagined I would. I knew there would be road blocks, tough times of confronting fear and anxiety, but I knew the opportunity for creativity and adventure was too great to turn down. We set ourselves up for this, taking baby steps for years until we made the leap.

Right now we’re in Sedona, AZ. We’ve been here for weeks now, it’s probably our favorite place we’ve ever been aside from Joshua Tree, CA. For years this place has called out to us, for so many reasons. The red rocks, the thick green trees, flowing Oak Creek, the vortex’s, and the energy of the people who live here. There’s always something to do, some inspiring thing that could happen at any moment. Living seems a bit easier here, I feel like I’ve slowed down my thoughts, relaxed my body, and am existing the way humans beings were meant to.

I wanted to pursue vanlife in order to be closer to nature and my art practice. Living in the city for the past decade, I felt the flow of life was so fast, time was slipping by and I felt stagnant, I needed room to grow and breathe. Believing there would be opportunities out there in the world waiting for us, we gave up our apartment and studio, sold our belongings, and hit the road.

hold onto it that gooey good feeling that one in your body  inside your head

like the water i give my body the wind, the smoke they dance with each other 

breathe in, breathe out attached but not really centered around what’s here in the moment

believe in yourself  be proud of what you do never lose sight of that dream

Early May in The Badlands, South Dakota

I’ve been wanting to share more from our road trips, so I’m giving it a try! Reflecting on thoughts and experiences, photos, sketches, and paintings from our trips. The road trips we’ve taken have influenced many of my new art projects, like my series, Spring Mountain: a reflection of early May in the Badlands.

On our first night camping off grid in the Badlands, we pulled up to our campsite and were greeted by a sunset made up of creamy pastels. The colors softly lit up the mountains below our feet, as we made a fire and settled in after our 8 hour long drive.

May 2, 2020 The Badlands, South Dakota

had to get way way way out to remember why why do things seem so much lighter in this bright sun white rocks gradient lines surfaces which crumble when you touch them

Sometimes getting away from the city and our common amenities at home is the best way we can heal and grow. There’s always an obstacles on these trips we take, but it seems like the views are always worth it. It’s about enjoying something that costs nothing.

too much of our lives are spent tucked away in crowded spaces

I study the colors, textures, and lines of the places we camp and explore. Studying the mountains, I trace their edges with my eyes, then draw a contour line. My sketches are inspired by the visual experience of being in a new landscapes.

All of our trips up to date have been pretty mild as far as weather goes, until this one. Twice we had to escape from storms that seemed to have developed right above our heads. One night I watched a black cloud of lightning build over the mountains out in the distance. As the lightning strikes came closer, the sound of the wind got louder. It was so aggressive our pots and crocs flew away in the wind, and our van shook from side to side as clouds grew dark and ominous.

wind is a sculptor pushing and crashing, active like waves fluid, like water free and uncontrolled

Isolation: A Time For Self Reflection

My first road trip to Sedona, AZ, spring 2018. Here I am, painting small studies off a trail at Cathedral Rock, one of my favorite spots to connect with the red rocks and gaze out at the vista views.

On this first road trip during the spring of 2018, we didn’t have our sprinter van yet, so our mini van took us across the Southwest. To date, we’ve take three long road trips across the west. Eventually, we see ourselves living out of our sprinter van. We get excited about a mobile future, an intentionally nomadic existence in the pursuit of connecting with nature and art.

I want this part of my website to feel like a journal. I keep about three physical journal with me on our journey’s and also in my home studio. These journals are filled with thoughts, poems, songs, and various lists. On top of the journals I keep, I have a couple sketchbooks I’m continually filling up, then filing away.

Those journals feel very personal. Lots of the things I write in there I would never want anyone else to read! However, some of that information I want to share with others. And if you’re out there reading this somewhere, thank you for getting this far.

This quarantine has forced us to be alone with our thoughts for longs periods of time. The isolation helped me realize what a powerful tool the internet is. While the physical world around us is changing and in a state of unknown, I still feel connected to the art world, family, and friends through the virtual worlds we’ve created. It’s uplifting to think we can stay connected and help each other through this difficult time with the help of these social media platforms & digital tools.

Anyways, here’s to trying to share more in depth about my life, the art & adventure, to self discovery, contemplation, and intentional living. I hope that by sharing this it inspires others to chase their dreams & maybe confront some fears along the way. Growing, learning, and helping each other along the way.