I am a person of where I grew up, and where I live now, two seemingly contradictory places.

I spent the first 21 years of my life amongst the forests between the Puget Sound and Cascade mountain range with Mt Rainier to the south and Mt Baker to the north. The rain that often came down over head rarely felt oppressing or depressing to me. The mountain peaks, the dense forests, and dark grey water felt accepting of your presence but unwilling to give up all their secrets. The landscape and the weather taught me humility and fostered gratitude for the gift of sunshine.

On the cusp of turning 22, I moved to the high desert Ponderosa Pine forests of the Colorado Plateau and Northern Arizona. Instead of rain I had the sun overhead, instead of mountain peaks I gazed down into canyons, instead of the ocean I walked through wide open landscapes. The forests were open instead of shut. I could see through the trees, the sunshine reached the ground. At dawn and dusk, the grasses illuminated with the most ethereal light I had seen.

This place I have called home for the past 16 years and counting, has gently coaxed me to be more open, like the forests; has encouraged me to shine more brightly, like the sun; and explore deep into my soul like the canyons.

I am inextricably linked to the places I call home. I find inspiration in how the light changes hour by hour and day by day. The tangible feeling of the forest depth is something I strive to communicate through my work. I seek to inspire others to explore their own creativity and spend more contemplative time outdoors.

I teach Nature Journaling Classes in Flagstaff, Arizona in partnership with the Museum of Northern Arizona. If you are not in Flagstaff, you can follow along in my work and adventures via my weekly blog, Little Moments. My work is available for purchase on my website and various local businesses in Flagstaff, Arizona.