Tag: hiking

Makeshift. Backpacking With Watercolors.

Do you remember the scene in Wild where Reese Witherspoon can’t stand up under the weight of her pack? Every backpacker knows that weight is everything. Every ounce you add to your pack is an additional strain on your legs and back as you hike, which makes what should be an amazing, beautiful experience painfully agonizing.

Mr. F & I splurged on a brand new pack for me and decided at the last minute to take a quick overnighter along the Elwha River Trail in Olympic National Park.

It was so last minute, I didn’t have a tiny sketchbook to carry with me and I wanted to be able to do some watercolors when we had downtime. So industrious artsy that I am, I decided to create a makeshift watercolor kit for backpacking.

First task– create a sketchbook. The Mr.’s job recruiter recently came to visit & brought us some branded goodies– among them a few pocket journals, which just happened to be the perfect size for backpacking (remember, size matters! ha!). I ripped out the lined journal paper, then cut a few pieces of Canson Mixed Media paper to size, securing them inside with a heavy rubber band, recycled from grocery-bought veggie bundles (I always keep some on hand, they come in so handy!)

It worked perfectly– and as an added bonus, it is lighter than a moleskin would be and the pages will be easily removable as I fill them– so it will continue to lighten the more I hike & paint!

Onto the paint itself. I already had a super light weight flower-shaped watercolor palette with a lightweight cover. So I filled the wells with my favorite tube colors and let them dry out before packing them up. I zipped the palette up in a ziploc, to protect all my other things just in case there was any paint leakage.

A small, inexpensive brush is sufficient for tiny quick sketches. I hacked off about an inch from the end so that it would fit easily in a quart-sized ziploc with my sketchbook without bending the bristles. That ziploc was then placed inside the freezer-sized ziploc with my palette and a small plastic water cup. I also bring along a folded paper towel for blotting. Viva brand towels work best– light and super absorbent, so I can do lots of blotting and cleaning up without soaking the towel through.

Everything worked like a charm! I may eventually switch out the palette for something more secure, perhaps with a larger mixing area (I like this option, the thumb hole would make it much easier to hold onto), but for now, it does the trick. We’re hoping to do another overnighter this weekend along the Sol Duc River, follow me on Instagram for photos!

Here’s a clip of me getting ready for a backpacking adventure.. 🙂

May 31, 2017
Wayfinding.

5 Reasons Artists Should Backpack.

We aren’t all outdoorsy and it can truly be a challenge to give up the luxuries of beds and showers for a few days. But if you’ve never strapped on a pack and walked into the wilderness, as an artist, I can tell you the benefits will far outweigh the short term sacrifices. I have a love/hate relationship with backpacking. The whole no toilet/no shower thing isn’t my fave. Neither is carrying a big pack while hiking. However, I love the feeling of being on the trail, sleeping under the stars.

Last weekend, Mr. F and I took off into the Grand Tetons for a night and it got me thinking of all the ways backpacking can benefit us as artists.

A literal change of scene.

Artists tend to be solitary creatures. We toil away in our studios, sometimes forgetting to go out, eat, even talk to other human beings. We can get so wrapped up in what is going on within those four walls that we begin to overthink, overwork. Backpacking is a fantastic way to get a change of scene, to physically and psychologically distance yourself from the work. You’ll go back to it with a refreshed vision.

Quiet your mind.

No iMac. No iPad. No iPhone. The only I is you. Getting out and leaving technology and distractions behind, allows your mind time to calm. As your feet take you down the trail, your mind is free to wander, to look up, look down, look around and notice the beauty in the three dimensional world around you. You may even find new ideas flowing fast and furious thanks to a bit of peace and quiet.

Find room to breathe.

Those four walls I mentioned earlier? They can be suffocating. Especially when tied to pressure, responsibility, deadlines, all that adult stuff that goes along with being an artist. The longer you hike, the farther you go into the wild, the farther away from those four walls, the more air you’ll feel going into your lungs. Despite the weight of a pack, you feel lighter than air, your only concern is one foot in front of the other. There is finally room to breathe.

For the inspiration.

This one seems obvious, especially if like me, you are an artist for whom nature is your muse. But even if what you do isn’t remotely involved with nature, there are still mountains of inspiration to be attained. Watch the changing light, notice the textures and shapes at play, the juxtapositions of color. I dare you to come away uninspired.

For the adventure.

How often do we get to go on adventures? Our grown up days are usually filled with the monotony of errands and responsibilities. Backpacking will get you back in touch with your inner Huck Finn. There is adventure and possibility around every bend in the trail. Tackling a grocery store run with kids in tow will seem like a piece of cake once you’ve climbed steep switchbacks with a pack on your back.

If you get the chance, take to the trail. Your legs might hate you but your mind, your spirit, and your work will thank you.

All images by Lesley Frenz. Images from the Top of the World trail to Marion Lake and Granite Canyon, Grand Teton National Park.

October 1, 2015
The Artsy Nature. Jennifer JL Jones + Olympic National Park

Whenever Mr. F and I are away from the coastal Northwest for a long period of time, I find that what I miss most is the mossy trees and fern covered forest floors. These “Muppet trees”, as I like to call them, inhabit the moist woods in the Pacific Northwest and in this edition of The Artsy Nature, after spying Saline. Lumi. Breath., a gorgeous new painting by Jennifer JL Jones, I was immediately transported back to one of the loveliest spots in the Northwest.

photo | staircase hike, olympic national park, wa

art | saline. lumi. breath.( detail ) by jennifer jl jones, mixed media on wood, 72×72

On a foggy, cool morning in the early Fall of last year ( before the government shutdown closed access to the National Parks ), Mr. F and I began a short little jaunt into Olympic National Park that would be one of our favorite hikes of 2013. Not strenuous, no giant, sweeping views of snowcapped mountains, just the quiet hushed lushness of the temperate rainforest. Clouded skies cast a purplish light into the woods, only the dripping of the dew from the leaves and the fall of our feet on the mossy floor to be heard. If big mountains are outdoor cathedrals, woods like these are tiny chapels. Cozy and unassuming, you are left to ponder not on the grandeur of creation, but on its ever closeness.

More of Jennifer JL Jones‘ work can be seen on her website and, if you’re in the Atlanta area, she opens a solo show, SECRETsaline, at Alan Avery Contemporary Art this Thursday!

See more forays into The Artsy Nature here and check out my guest Artsy Nature feature on artist Jessica Zoob‘s blog!

Photo by Artsy Forager, art source linked above.

August 19, 2014
This Artsy Life: Weekend 43 [ Dear October, We Love You ]

I’m so with you, Lucy Maud Montgomery! Mr. F and I were talking this weekend about how October is just the perfect month. The crisp air is such a welcome change following summer, the turning leaves are in full glory ( it’s been exceptionally colorful here in Western WA! ), and for us in the Northwest, the winter rains haven’t yet set fully in.

We took advantage of a clear, crisp day and made a beautiful drive to hike at Mt. St. Helens. We both hate getting up before the sun, but I love our day trip ritual. A stop at Urraco Coffee for a latte & croissant for the road, trees barely visible through the morning fog and NPR on the radio as we chat about the week past and future plans.

October feels to me like that last wonderful hour of a party.. you know, the one where the people who really love hanging out together are just kind of sitting around, chatting and basking in the afterglow of a fun time together. No one wants to say goodnight. Because once you break the spell, the magic is gone.

[ norway pass hike, mt. adams in distance ]

But then, there is something equally lovely about that post-party feeling. Taking off your shoes, climbing into a warm bed and snuggling. Sometimes we need that recovery day as much as we needed the party. Following its eruption in 1980 ( I was in the 3rd grade.. 3rd grade was big for me, St. Helens erupted, I won the spelling bee and my little brother was born ), acres around the mountain were devastated. Within just days, new seeds of life had already been planted.

[ old destruction, new growth ]

We need that, too. To slow down, sometimes to destroy in order to rebuild. And although things may not look exactly the same ever again, we emerge, perhaps even more solid and strong.

[ mr. forager, mt. st. helens & spirit lake ]

As we move into this season of hibernation, I’m sad to see October go. But I’m looking forward to cozying up to November, to entering a quieter season, a season for thinking and planning, for resting and renewing.

[ homemade seafood chowder ]

[ fall decorations at urraco ]

How does this change of season make you feel, Artsies? Do you get as excited as we do? Or were you bummed to see summer go?

Want to see more from this artsy life? Follow me on Instagram! I’m finishing up the #foliophoto project, too!

October 28, 2013
This Artsy Life: Weekend 37 [ The Rains Come, Fall Begins ]

I know it’s not officially Fall yet, but this weekend it finally began to feel as if it is on its way! the Pacific Northwest has had an utterly gorgeous, yes, but uncharacteristically warm and long summer. And as a Florida girl who moved to the Northwest hoping to never experience 90+ degrees again, I am more than ready to welcome my favorite season!

When we were in this area two years ago, we loved being so close to Olympic National Park, but since we were closer to the coast then, we explored more along the West side of the park, never making into the Hood Canal side. It was a cloudy and foggy morning, but that just added to the beauty of our Saturday hike. The Olympics, to me, feel the most “Northwest” of all the parks in these states. You get a little taste of everything– big mountains, crystal clear streams, giant ferns and moss covered trees.

This little hike was so beautiful, I felt like I was grinning the entire time. While the long, arduous hikes usually reward us with panoramic views, sometimes these quiet woodsy hikes are just as nice. It’s on these traipsing-through-the-woods hikes that we really talk and connect and check in with each other. ( I’m usually too out of breath on the more strenuous hikes to do much chatting! )

At one point, we sat quietly on a felled tree along the riverbank, just soaking in the smells and sounds so different from what we’d been experiencing recently. We agreed that although we both felt some sadness that Seattle didn’t work out for us, our decision was right. We need quiet. We crave peace and wildness and beauty. And while you certainly catch more glimpses of such in Seattle than perhaps other cities, we knew we would long for more than glimpses.

We talked about how much we loved the landscape in this region– this perfect mix of mountains and rainforest, how much good stuff is such an easy distance away– a short drive and we’re at the Pacific, in Seattle, in Oregon wine country, in Portland, at Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, even the drier, more desert-y Eastern Washington, if the rain ever gets to be too much. We reflected on how funny it would be if we were to end up settling in the first Northwest place we came to together. We’re still not sure what the future holds, but the Olympic Peninsula is still on our list of possibilities. 😉

The rain held off and gave us a perfect day on Saturday, while Sunday was a more typically Northwest Fall-ish sort of day. Quiet, sporadic drizzly rain made for the perfect day for a day at home, Mr. F in the kitchen and I on my laptop catching up on blogs and watching a lovely, autumnal movie.

We have so much to look forward to, so many trips to take and plans to make and dreams to nurture. In many ways, it feels like this Fall is a new beginning. I can’t wait to see what else is in store!

How was your weekend, Artsies? Did you enjoy fine weather? Dream and make plans? If you’d like to see more from This Artsy Life, follow me on Instagram.

First three images by Artsy Forager, last image foundhere.

September 16, 2013
This Artsy Life: Weekend 30 [ Just Us Two ]

Here’s the thing. Mr. F & I love people. We really do. But we’re both introverts, he being a bit more on the outgoing side than I. So as much as we love to socialize, people can be exhausting for two introverted folk! When it’s just us, we can just BE. And usually, when we’re traveling, unless we happen to be in a place where there are friends to hang with ( Seattle ) or a place where his work crew is awesome and super social ( Idaho ), we are each other’s sole company. And we’re totally OK with that. More than that, it’s the way we like it.

So as happy as we would have been to be joined by a gang of friends on our hike this weekend, as it was shaping up by the end of last week, we were secretly pleased when it turned out to be just us two. We arose super early Saturday morning to make the 2 1/2 hour pilgrimage to Mt. Baker.

[ skyline trail ]

[ we were as giddy as this guy ]

[ even on our hike, we each got a little alone time ]

[ snow in august! ]

[ glorious day ]

We felt guilty that our underestimating the drive time meant that we missed out on a friend’s birthday celebration. But having more him & me time was like a surprise gift, and a much needed one as we’re in the midst of the stressful few weeks before packing up and traveling on. Speaking of, on Sunday we concentrated on dwindling down our belongings even lighter– no more renting a trailer each time. Everything must now fit in the back of the SUV. My closet is now 1/3 its normal size.

[ the clothes that made the cut ]

I am determined to take a few essential art supplies with me, too. Will be working on sorting that out next weekend. What did you do over the weekend? Anything fun? Did you party like it’s 1999 or just enjoy some down time alone?

If you’d like to see more of This Artsy Life, you can follow me over on Instagram!

July 29, 2013
This Artsy Life: Weekend 28 [ Forging Ahead ]

Our weekend started off gangbusters with a fun surprise for me from Mr. Forager. Obviously I love painting and all things artsy and a few times post-gallery hopping, Mr. F has mentioned that he would like to give his creative wheels a spin. So Friday night, Mr. F signed us up for a little painting & adult beverages at Mind Unwind in West Seattle. Now normally, the art snob in me might think these kinds of places are super cheesy, but I loved seeing folks like Mr. F, who don’t consider themselves creative or “artists” tap into a completely different part of their brains. A little wine and beer doesn’t hurt the loosening up the art making joints, either!

[ blank canvas, beer ]

Following our foray into couple’s painting, we arose super early on Saturday to go hiking in the Wenatchee National Forest. It was a moderately cool, cloudless day, perfect for hiking. Wildflowers and waterfalls greeted us were plentiful, as well as mosquitoes once we reached our destination.

[ weird balloon sighting on the trail.. can you spot Mr. F? ]

About a mile and a half of the trail was a pretty grueling uphill climb, followed by a slow, try not to break any bones trek back down. Although this was by no means the longest hike we’ve done, it was more strenuous than anything we’ve done since leaving Idaho last year. These kinds of hikes always teach me a big lesson in perseverance. I take each small victory, each rise conquered as testimony that big things can be done when taken in small steps. The rest of the weekend was decidedly lazy, though we’re making headway on some big decisions and transitions. More on that later.

[ chinese takeout picnic ]

[ nothing but blue skies ]

Did you enjoy gorgeous summer weather in your neck of the woods? Want to see more from This Artsy Life? Follow me on Instagram!

July 15, 2013