Week 16: (Still) in the forest.

Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico

Hey, hi, hello! Hope you had a great week! For those that are new here, welcome! It’s hard to believe it’s been 16 weeks since we sold our house in Austin, Texas to travel full time in a converted camper van. I still can’t quite believe it that we’re living our dream.

We’re still dispersed camping in Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico — on the side of a super volcano! It’s been so good to stay still for a while in this beautiful place. It’s also pretty still, as there are not that many insects at this elevation (we’re at 8,850 feet). There ARE these funny grasshoppers that sound like party favors going off when they fly through the air — and they all seem to take off at once like they really are having a party!

We’ve wondered why there aren’t many insects here, and from our research we think it’s because of the cold temperatures in the winter.

It’s kind of eerie at first!

At night the silence can be profound.

The forest during the full moon as seen from the van. Wow! Just wow. Look at all those stars.

Although the stillness takes some getting used to, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m savoring every moment — so different from the sounds of city life in Austin, Texas.

The full moon here was incredible as it lit up the clouds and the forest. We had to put the window coverings up in the van to in order to sleep.

Also - phone cameras have really come a long way, right?

Still Feeling Under the Weather

Whatever crud I picked up last week is still kicking my a**, so I’ve been sleeping a ton and trying to take it easy. Seems like every time I start to feel better the next day it kicks in again. Luckily the symptoms aren’t too bad, just sinus pain, a sore throat, slight fever and general achiness. (I haven’t bothered to take a Covid test since we’re out here by ourselves in the forest, but I kinda suspect that’s what I have.)

If it keeps up I guess I’ll have to go to urgent care, but luckily today I’m on the mend again.

In the meantime I’ve been working on a few projects and keeping busy.

Project #1: Updated My Website // Artist in Residence at Valles Caldera

I finally had a chance to finish editing the photos of the paintings I did during my residency at Valles Caldera National Preserve, yay!

See them all HERE on my website.

I added a few more pages to my website and portfolio, too — I’d love to hear what you think!

Project #2: A New Palette for my Perpetual Journal

I finally had a chance to put together a palette to use with my perpetual journal and I tried it out on a sketch walk around camp, sketching bearberry (haven’t seen a bear yet!), pussytoes, and a not-so-common juniper that was filled with berries:

How do you like my stump desk?

Can’t wait to use this palette more!

PS. This is a Folio palette with 2 extra large mixing pans with way more colors than I need — but it will be so fun to use — feels so luxurious, y’all!

Art Toolkit Discount Code

I’m honored to be a Brand Ambassador for Art Toolkit and they’ve given me a code to share with you: Use code LISAFAN10 for 10% off your purchase of an ArtToolkit, palette, or mixing pans.

When you make a purchase using the code I’ll receive a small commission at no charge to you. I truly appreciate your support! Reviews here are my own, and I purchased this palette and toolkit.

Project #3: Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Conference

This week was the 6th annual Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Conference — and my 5th one! How is that even possible? My first one was in 2020 during the pandemic (really needed that.)

I’ve learned so much from these conferences and from John “Jack” Muir Laws and can’t recommend them enough. A video pass of recordings of the conference will be available in October, so no worries if you missed it live — you can still catch the fun!

Just a few of the live workshops I did during the conference.

It boggles my mind that I got to participate in the conference from out here in the forest — and join in the Puffin Party — including the dance party! — with hundreds of people from all around the world. Just so cool. (BTW, Jason did the puffin dance with me too!)

Some of my favorites so far: creative ways to begin a page with Mattias Lanas, painting a banana slug with Robin Lee Carlson, painting garden flowers with Sushma Hegde, sketching a hummingbird and waterfall with Rosalie Haizlett, fractals in nature with Roseann Hanson (random fact about me — I gave a talk on fractals at a math conference in grad school!), looking closely at the colors of spiders with Verena Hillgärtner (who mentioned my Nature Spot Challenge during her presentation!), painting a monochromatic Mount Rainer with Claire Giordano, following along with Nishant Jain, and the conversation with Jack and Tony Foster.

I still have a ton of recorded workshops to watch — cannot wait.

I feel so jazzed up after the conference and so happy to be a part of this community.

If you attended the conference too, drop me a line in the comments with your favorite workshops — and how cool is it that we watched it together!?!

Short Hikes from Camp

I just HAD to go on a few short hikes this week even though I was feeling under the weather. The photos below are all within a few miles of where we’re camping in the Jemez Mountains.

Even the road is beautiful!

Signs of fall are everywhere, and the temperatures are falling too — it’s been in the 60’s during the day and 30’s (!) at night! I’m loving it!

This amazing scene is right down the road from us!

Just love all the colors.

Here is the view to the valley west of us — what a view, right?

As I was standing here admiring the view it started sprinkling…

…and then we were lucky enough to see a rainbow!

Here’s the valley to the north of us — such cool rocks!

And Redondo Peak peeked out, too.

I love the sound of aspen leaves in the wind.

That’s a Wrap!

That’s it for this week. I’m going to soak up every last bit of our time here. Next week we’ll be heading back down to lower (and warmer) elevations — stay tuned…!

Thanks so much for following along on our adVANtures — it’s so good to have you along for the ride! — Lisa + Jason

Walking back to camp.