Travel is Taxing

A colored pencil sketch of a white-tailed deer.

Opening weekend for my current show was on Father’s day weekend, and with all the travel, setup, and elevation change, I wasn’t able to draw something in time for my dad (I had managed for my mom all right). I will this week, though.

Whenever someone tells me that they envy my life on the road, I always want to remind them of the little things that you have to give up to be here. Father and Mother’s day, sad, but kids are supposed to move on, and I can make them gifts. I missed my nephew’s first birthday. While my road community is strong, if economic conditions change so that the fair wouldn’t open (like another pandemic), I would lose track of most of my friends (ask me how I know!).

I’m not any kind of way about all this, I wanted the perspective from travel and outdoor life that I couldn’t have gained any other way. I just don’t think people realize that the connections you gain from staying in one spot are valuable in different ways. I will forever cherish this life that I have made work for me, but it has come with sacrifices that I know a lot of others wouldn’t want to make, and that’s worth noting.

A hamster painting on a pencil case on a sketchbook full of hamters.

I want to do at least some jewelry this week, as I have some shows in the fall (I’ll do some tomorrow!), but I am so happy with how this pet portrait is turning out. Very excited with all I’m learning about color, and supremely excited that I have one more to do.

I also have a current events piece that I’m working on. Hopefully that will come together this next week.

Other than art: Learning all sorts of things about myself from my recent switch to veganism. I want to get some time tomorrow to write up my first thoughts about it. I have gotten cheesed at every restaurant I’ve tried to order food at, but finding eating at home easy.

That’s it for now. See y’all soon!