Art is a story

Art is a story and inspiration often arrives in unexpected, amusing ways.

My husband convinced me to go on a short hike in a very remote area of the Owyhee (oh-WYE-hee) Canyonlands, in the southeastern corner of Oregon. Despite our differing definitions of a “short hike”, we embarked on what turned out to be quite the arduous adventure. Armed with some water and snacks, we ventured off the beaten track to savor the last remnants of warm late fall weather. It soon became apparent, that our hiking trail had disappeared, but we weren’t deterred yet. We forged on, guided by the vague map that my husband had the foresight to download to his phone. Bushwhacking through sagebrush, we descended into Painted Canyon, relishing the serene quiet interrupted only by birdsong and the crunch of our footsteps. After following dried creek beds, we realized it was time to ascend from the canyon, confronted with the task of scrambling up sizable boulders and loose rocks. Each time we crested a hill, another valley without a road or trail in sight greeted us. It was a daunting and discouraging sight. Really regretting my shoe choice and becoming increasingly thirsty, I wanted to give up. Aside from spending the night outside in the cold, no other choice but to keep plodding along. One agonizing step at a time. We eventually found our car, a mere 6+ hours later.

I find parallels between this experience and life’s challenges. Instead of getting overwhelmed by what lies ahead, take one step at a time. Occasionally, glance behind to appreciate how far you’ve come, for it’s a beautiful sight.

Therefore, welcome to my new series, appropriately titled, “Painted Canyon”. Naturally, my husband takes pride in being the muse for this new collection.