For all of my life, I have had a love for the outdoors. When I was a kid, you would find me building tree forts with scrap wood rounded up from the neighborhood. I used some of that wood to build go-carts, using 2x4s for axels and nailing old wagon wheels to the ends. When I wasn't building something, I was exploring dirt trails in the backyard woods, flying kites and paper airplanes, riding bikes. Being outdoors was about a sense of exploration and adventure.
Over the years, I continue to enjoy being outdoors for the same reasons--to explore and for the sense of adventure. Yet, I am more acutely aware of the roll the natural surroundings of my home have played. The natural surroundings offer a sense of place, of belonging. A sense of place is infused with memories as well as daily life. A sense of place can also be considered as a metaphor for life. The place where we find ourselves in the moment...are we present in the moment, taking everything in, appreciating what is, letting ourselves just be?
Recognizing the wealth of landscape subjects in my state, I am setting out on a new outdoors adventure--to explore the various scenery and events of nature that take place for the purposes of creating a visual diary, to capture the natural beauty of our spectacular environment. I am titling my project "Washington Americana."
Over the course of the next 12-18 months, I will report on my journeys through my blog posts so I can share more about the natural beauty of our state.
I will also add an occasional run of daily paintings of the locales I visit.
Eventually, I will create larger landscapes to be included in a coffee-table art book of painted landscape honoring the regionally diverse natural settings of Washington State.
Rhododendron & American Goldfinch Poster. 11x14". $15. See my shoppe!
I invite you to join me on this adventure. Here are ways you can add to the experience:
- If you like the post, share it with your friends.
- "Like" at the end of the post on the "heart."
- Please feel free to add commentary to my blogs when I post.
- Suggestions and insight for locales in Washington State are welcome!
- If you are not on my mailing list, please join!
Well, that covers the groundwork for now.
Here we go!
Mary
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