Come With Me
Reposted from my April 2024 newsletter, edited for this platform.
It's full-on spring in Alaska!
Migratory birds are arriving, willows and cottonwood trees are blooming, and the temperatures are hanging in the 40ºs to low 60ºs. Daylight is plentiful, too!
I know the bears are emerging, but I haven't seen any yet. It's calving season for moose so I imagine new and expectant moms are in hiding.
The natural world is awakening with wild energy.
I was away for the second half of April, taking care of business in New England – getting my travel van ready for the season and establishing relationships with new business partners.
For that reason, I thought I would do something different this month.
I am taking you on a field trip! As a field artist, I want you to see what it's like to work outdoors.
Time in nature with my sketchbook is so important to me. Wherever I go, so does my field kit.
It won't surprise you then, that, throughout my trip, I made stops to observe and document the shifting season.
On my last day in New England I visited a very special place, a rail trail in Newfields, NH.
That's where I'm taking YOU.
I packed three hours of field work into a 90-second video.
I made the process look easy but, trust me, it's hard work. ; )
Weather conditions and pesky insects are among the bigger challenges.
Transitioning from former obligations of the day to a mindful state can be quite challenging, too, and can take time, even on a good day.
Sometimes I seek out a specific subject to give my attention to; other times the subject reveals itself to me as I settle in and listen.
You might enjoy the January 2021 article I wrote about the meditative quality of Nature Journaling.
When you are ready to go, tap the journal page.
If you enjoy this vicarious view into one of the most personally meaningful parts of my work, maybe I'll bring you on another outing.
Next time, somewhere in Alaska!
Let me know if you have any questions about what I do or how I do it. I'd love to share more about my field experiences with you.