It was fun helping my husband create a mock-up of a book cover for project he has been working on with a colleague. Although the publisher made some simplifications by the end, it was still an enjoyable experience searching for just the right image and playing around with the layout.

​I had a wonderful time at Yellowstone National Park, exploring and simply enjoying the mysterious places. With so many amazing things to see, it's hard for me not to be inspired to create new works. I saw wildlife every day, including bears, bison, elks, pronghorns, and deer, as well as a bald eagle, golden eagle, moose, coyote, and a wolf. Throughout the week I enjoyed the many breathtaking landscapes of mountains, lakes, river beds, and prairie grass lands, and I also experienced the magic of the numerous geysers, mud pots, and hot springs that are sprinkled throughout the park. Always one of my favorites, I caught myself spending a lot of time examining the curious structure of the bacterial mats surrounding these features; just fascinated by the colors, patterns, and forms they encompass. I'll admit, I ended up taking A LOT of close up pictures of these mesmerizing natural abstractions. 

Most of my days were relatively unplanned, so it was very refreshing to be able to start the day with a few destinations in mind, but still have the freedom to simply stop and pull out my sketchbook whenever I desired. It feels so rare of an opportunity these days to be able to pause yourself and enjoy a moment without the pressure of having to stick to a strict schedule of times and destinations. It's an uncommon enough thing for us humans to do anymore, and I feel we all need to just go exploring now and again.