The coconut milk is OFF

Watercolor sketch on the Selway River

Like the latest season of White Lotus (OMG, did you watch it? The coconut milk is off, we need to talk!), I've been feeling pretty untethered lately. 

 Those who know me well know I struggle with remaining present in this reality. 

Any given moment I could go from intently listening to your story with great interest and then all of a sudden my brain is like a helium balloon, floating above and around and thinking about light and shapes and…"I'm so sorry what were you saying?" 

It's a gift as an artist, a challenge as a soul in a meat suit that has to pay taxes.

On a bright note, I'm excited to say I've been awarded an artist residency via Open AIR at a fire lookout in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness this summer.

Honestly, I almost withdrew my application because I started to have sooo much anxiety about being alone in the wilderness for 4 weeks.

Then I thought, maybe this is exactly what I need to help deflate the helium a bit—or let my brain drift and float to its heart's desire. (My 'brain's heart's' desire? Anyone interested in being my newsletter editor?)

Already the wheels are turning about what kind of work I want to create while I'm there, and there's something that has sparked about the literal sense of 'being where my feet are.' 

I've made a lot of work expressing the grandeur of epic landscapes, but l think I'd like to get really granular.

Channeling the queen herself, Georgia O'Keeffe, with a touch of Mary Oliver, I want to dive into the intricacies of a wildflower or a grasshopper and explore how the tiniest details are essential to creating the bigger picture; how they may reveal the deeper layers and greater meaning of the whole.

…and omigosh the TATTOO designs that will come!

I'd love for this residency to be a collaboration—sharing thoughts, stories, and of course, art along the way. So, I'm all ears for ideas! I swear I'm listening. 🎈