Me outdoor painting on Mount Seymour. As I worked on this painting, a humming bird stopping by. Moments I don't get while on my mountain bike.

On Creating Time to Explore

I often re-read the chapter titled ‘Nature’ in the book Art as Therapy by Alain de Botton to remind myself how important nature and art are to us. Both are so challenging to prioritize in our busy lives.

This new collection of paintings is titled Time to Explore. I hope, as you view the work below, it reminds you to make time to explore nature. Hopefully more than making just enough time to park at the trail head, start your Strava app and race through a planned route.

But time to spend a moment exploring, looking, deviating from the route and taking it in.

The other day when the un-forecasted sun came out (we'eve had a lot of rainy days this season), I spontaneously delayed working on print orders and did a lap of Mount Seymour on my bike. Afterwards, I was awake much later than usual working on prints. However, I found new energy packaging forest-themed prints after spending time in the forest. My time in nature energized me.

I specifically included time in the title of this collection, as time is a new resource for me as I start my journey as a full time painter this year. I had high expectations of what I could do with that time. Specifically I expected I would create more art.

However, I noticed the new-found time got quickly used researching & improving my business systems, studying landscape painting techniques, and spending time outdoors with my mountain bike or with my outdoor paints. As I look back on this work, I spent time exploring both the forest and being an artist. And although I did not create more art, I hope that these efforts create a sustainable art practice for decades to come.

Inspiration to prioritize nature

Despite my paintings requiring me to think and explore nature, even I find it challenging to make time to be in nature. With higher gas prices I ask myself, "Does it really make sense to drive all the way out to North Vancouver?" And in the meantime, consistent print orders need to be fulfilled and the relentless keeping up with correspondence and marketing to build my practice. The constant work that needs to be tended to makes it tough it challenging to prioritize nature. And this is my experience... And I have an art practice centered around going to the forest!

So I hope the art below inspires you, just as they have inspired me to make time to explore nature.

And, in this moment as you are in front of a screen looking, I hope this collection brings a moment in nature on your device.

P.S. These paintings will be available for purchase on Thursday June 16 at 9am PT.