Best Day Ever, Digital Drawing on Photograph, 3x4", 2022 (This postcard was sent out after I returned to all the patrons who purchased one before I went on trail)
I thru hiked the Superior Hiking Trail in northern Minnesota starting on August 29th, 2022. I finished 260 miles, from the northern terminus to the northern border of Duluth, in 18.5 days. It was quite the journey, I averaged about 14 miles a day and I set a new personal record of 23 miles in one day. My backpack weighed in at about 34 lbs fully loaded up with 6 days worth of food and 3.5 L of water.
I did a project while on trail about my experience and the personal growth that occurred. To document my experience I created my own lightweight notebook to take on trail made of Riteintherain paper. This is a special paper that is waterproof so if it is raining or it accidentally take a dip in a lake the ink will not be compromised. Then when I came home, I made a collection of 3 digital drawings and a post card, in addition to the original drawings I made on trail.
Superior Hiking Trail II, Digital Drawing, 11x14", 2022
Superior Hiking Trail I, Digital Drawing, 11x14", 2022
Superior Hiking Trail III, Digital Drawing, 11x14", 2022
There were some days that I didn’t know if I was going to make it to my next camp that day because every step hurt so bad. I suffered from giant blisters, foot pain, knee pain and shin pain. I felt like every time one injury got better, another one started and I could never win. There was one day that my knee hurt so bad I had to have a serious conversation with myself about getting off trail. I also encountered multiple days of rain in a row and with wet gear and no way to get dry. Not the most fun way to spend time outdoors in the fall in Minnesota.
Crushing it!, Graphite on Riteintherain paper, 8.5 x 11", 2022
Water Bug Dance, Graphite on Riteintherain paper, 8.5 x 11", 2022
Water Study, Graphite on Riteintherain paper, 8.5 x 11", 2022
Happy Little Flowers on a Hard Day, Graphite on Riteintherain paper, 8.5 x 11", 2022
Full Moon Shadows on Tent, Graphite on Riteintherain paper, 8.5 x 11", 2022
Overall, I am so grateful for this experience and that I was able to make art about my experience. It is so therapeutic to make art about an experience I had and relive it (both the good and the bad) through my artwork.
To buy the prints available please see my store page for pricing and details.