There are two main ways I connect with the higher power...(for simplicity's sake I'll call God): Creating and Nature. In the past, connecting with God through Nature meant days long backpacking trips or hours spent in the canyons of Smith Rock climbing. When I began working full time, I had to find ways to connect with God in a shorter stints of time. That's when my Traveling Art Pouch came into being.
The above piece began as an exploratory of a new traveling watercolor kit. Green has always been my go to color: hence, the color of the basecampvagabond 1979 VW Bus. I had been contemplating what my "camp name" for my new job would be. (Every one at camp has a camp name: defines a person in a way that isn't necessarily covered in a traditional name. Camp names become your alter ego.) I was trying to incorporate ideas of freedom, color, nature, green, flowers, etc. I am enthralled with the idea of mandalas as a spiritual discipline. In many ways, this very asymmetrical free form mandala reflects my spiritual life. Unlearning the "have to's." Letting go of the should do's. Finding freedom. The artwork remains unfinished....just like me and all of us vagabonds. Let's continue trying to figure out who we am & how we relate to the world.