"Witness"
The forest is an interesting place, especially when you are alone. I went through a phase of solo hiking in college- driving up to Yonah Mountain to climb to the top, read, or journal. I typically went with no issue, up and down and then home. My last hike was different than that. On the way up, you pass through a rock formation- one I had passed through times before. This time I could have sworn someone was there with me- out of sight. I blamed it on my footsteps echoing oddly off the surrounding rocks. Once I got to the top, I always tried to find a spot that was more secluded where I could lay out my blanket and take in the view. After a few minutes, a man approached me. My intuition screamed like alarms in my head and stomach and I decided I needed to get out of there as soon as possible. I stuffed everything in my backpack and headed down as fast as I could walk. On my way down, the road kept forking- offering two paths to take. I could not remember which way I came up or which way I usually go, so I would wait just off trail for someone to pass. Sometimes I was there for 15 minutes waiting behind a tree. I was getting very stressed out. It started to get darker out and I decided I just needed to get out and get to a road and that I would figure it out from there. I was almost running down the mountain when all of sudden I looked up. I was surrounded by a pack of deer. They were so close I was only a few steps away from the nearest one. And unlike usual deer, they were so unafraid, unbothered. A friendly sight after a roller coaster of a journey. The universe will talk back when you need it the most.
Original Painting, “Witness”
Ink on Wrapped Canvas
24”x18”
*Ships bubble wrapped in box. Please give up to 2 weeks for your painting to go out.
The forest is an interesting place, especially when you are alone. I went through a phase of solo hiking in college- driving up to Yonah Mountain to climb to the top, read, or journal. I typically went with no issue, up and down and then home. My last hike was different than that. On the way up, you pass through a rock formation- one I had passed through times before. This time I could have sworn someone was there with me- out of sight. I blamed it on my footsteps echoing oddly off the surrounding rocks. Once I got to the top, I always tried to find a spot that was more secluded where I could lay out my blanket and take in the view. After a few minutes, a man approached me. My intuition screamed like alarms in my head and stomach and I decided I needed to get out of there as soon as possible. I stuffed everything in my backpack and headed down as fast as I could walk. On my way down, the road kept forking- offering two paths to take. I could not remember which way I came up or which way I usually go, so I would wait just off trail for someone to pass. Sometimes I was there for 15 minutes waiting behind a tree. I was getting very stressed out. It started to get darker out and I decided I just needed to get out and get to a road and that I would figure it out from there. I was almost running down the mountain when all of sudden I looked up. I was surrounded by a pack of deer. They were so close I was only a few steps away from the nearest one. And unlike usual deer, they were so unafraid, unbothered. A friendly sight after a roller coaster of a journey. The universe will talk back when you need it the most.
Original Painting, “Witness”
Ink on Wrapped Canvas
24”x18”
*Ships bubble wrapped in box. Please give up to 2 weeks for your painting to go out.
The forest is an interesting place, especially when you are alone. I went through a phase of solo hiking in college- driving up to Yonah Mountain to climb to the top, read, or journal. I typically went with no issue, up and down and then home. My last hike was different than that. On the way up, you pass through a rock formation- one I had passed through times before. This time I could have sworn someone was there with me- out of sight. I blamed it on my footsteps echoing oddly off the surrounding rocks. Once I got to the top, I always tried to find a spot that was more secluded where I could lay out my blanket and take in the view. After a few minutes, a man approached me. My intuition screamed like alarms in my head and stomach and I decided I needed to get out of there as soon as possible. I stuffed everything in my backpack and headed down as fast as I could walk. On my way down, the road kept forking- offering two paths to take. I could not remember which way I came up or which way I usually go, so I would wait just off trail for someone to pass. Sometimes I was there for 15 minutes waiting behind a tree. I was getting very stressed out. It started to get darker out and I decided I just needed to get out and get to a road and that I would figure it out from there. I was almost running down the mountain when all of sudden I looked up. I was surrounded by a pack of deer. They were so close I was only a few steps away from the nearest one. And unlike usual deer, they were so unafraid, unbothered. A friendly sight after a roller coaster of a journey. The universe will talk back when you need it the most.
Original Painting, “Witness”
Ink on Wrapped Canvas
24”x18”
*Ships bubble wrapped in box. Please give up to 2 weeks for your painting to go out.