That Girl

On hike in Penllyn Woods along the Wissahickon Creek with my "travel" fishbowl

My sister lived in Montana years ago after graduating from college. She is a hiker and camper, so the backcountry trails outside of Yellowstone gave her lots of opportunities. She would check in with her weekly calls and fill me in on her adventures.

The best conversations were about the interesting things she would see on her hikes. She saw a man hiking with his llama and another hiking with his cat. But the most unusual thing she ever saw was a girl hiking with her fish!

She wanted to ask what circumstance brought her out in the deep woods, but she stepped aside and let her pass by with water and fish sloshing as she carefully hugged the bowl. For years, we would wonder about that girl and make up scenarios of what sent her hiking with fish in tow.

Now I am that girl!

I didn't set out to be that girl; it just evolved. I hike with my fish bowl to get inspiration for my paintings. I love this part of my process. I used to take photos of interesting scenes to use as a starting point for my paintings, adding my bowls and fish later in the studio. But once I started taking my fish bowl out on my hikes, and then my fish (he's fake), it all got so much more interesting! Seeing the way the light hits the water, reflecting the sky and rocks and trees, and the colors of the fish catching the edge of the waterline, brings it all to life for me.

Okay, I am geeking out now! Occasionally, I will see someone looking at me like, "What's up with that girl?" I'm always happy to explain and to talk about my process. So, be that girl or guy, and go out and do that thing that lights you up!

Next time my sister and I wonder about that fish girl, our new scenario might be "artist!"