Heart Land

So I'm finally back in Utah and I'm so much happier. It's funny when you know deep down exactly where you need and want to be but for some reason you're not there. I was welcomed with warm rains and starry skies. Even though I'm still struggling to make art, being happy it making it easier. I got my wonderful summer job back at the campground I worked at last year and I am now the social media and online store rep for my favorite climbing store in town. Things are looking up.

The desert is warm this time of year and with town being slow that means more adventures. With climbing, hiking, and camping at my finger tips, it's easy for me to find inspiration for new pieces. I'm continuing with my invisible cities concept, now including my experiences in Colorado. So be on the look out for those. I'm just amazed with my self on how this little desert town makes me so happy. I'm looking forward to this year more than any other.

In other news, I'm still looking for shows to be in, and more views and people interested in my work. I'm hoping that I can find some interest soon. I know it's not going to be easy but at least it's hard in a place that I enjoy being.

Dream chaser

Lately I've been talking a lot about my plans for the summer and my big dreams as an artist, traveler, and adventurer, while it is important to have goals and dreams but it's also important to enjoy the path that those dreams are taking you down. I often get so caught up in making plans and making things happen in the future that I forget to enjoy the now and make things happen right now. ​

With my lack of success that I've found in Denver, I've become even more anxious to make big plans for the summer. But moving here wasn't a complete bust, I've seen some places and things that I would have never seen this winter if it weren't for living here. And I discovered somethings about my self and realized that some of the things I thought I wanted, I actually don't want at all. 

I thought I wanted the big city life with a huge art community and tons of things to do every weekend but it turns out, I'm not city girl, nor am I a social butterfly. I repeatedly escape to the near by mountains and foothills for some solidarity. Places like Rocky Mountain National Park, the flat irons of boulder, and the Garden of the Gods have become the reasons why I love Colorado.  

So while I'm busy chasing my art dreams, it's a slow chase full of mountains, desert, friendship, and enjoying every step of this crazy adventure we call life.  

Constant

Goals and aspirations are what's keeping me going at this moment in my life. Two and a half short months ago I made a choice to leave my heartland in search for something more. Hoping to find art, community, and a warm welcome in the big city of Denver Colorado. Unfortunately I've now spent those two and a half months serving bagels and making coffee for the community that didn't seem to have a warm welcome for me or my art. Lately I've been thinking "well maybe I didn't try hard enough or didn't talk to the right people" but the truth I didn't find what I was looking for because on the inside I didn't want to. Moab is where I need to be and Utah is the art community I want to be involved in. Along with work, I spend my remaining weeks in Denver making art, reading travel books and making the best of this place. Exploring and enjoying the near by mountains. Maybe one day I'll show my art in a gallery in this great city but now is not the time. 

Snowy forest of Rocky Mountain National Park. 

To keep myself going I make small day to day goals, goals I want to finish before I move, goals for 2015 and goals for a life time. Goal number one, keep doing what makes me happy even if I'm not in the right place 'make art'. Other goals like save money, get into better shape, read more books, take more photos, talk to more people. Make 2015 a traveling year. These are all the things keeping me motivated and happy. Even though I don't like it here I'm still happy because that just means I have something to lookforward to and I tried something new. I've learned I'm not cut out for the big city but maybe one day my art will be. The only way to find out is to keep making art. 

Capitol Hill