My Artwork - November 2016

November 28, 2016 Teressa Jackson

On October 22, 2016, I embarked on a year-long adventure of traveling the United States to experience living in different locales and see all the beauty our country has to offer. After a 10-day long trek of over 2,000 miles, I settled in to Las Cruces, New Mexico for November.

One of the main intentions of this journey has always been to have more time and inspiration to fuel my creativity. Staying in a location for an extended period enables me to really experience the many facets of that area, and gives me more than a moment to spread out my tubes of paint and paintbrushes and let the pigment fly.

During November, I created the following paintings inspired by my travels and informed by my original photography. Some are already sold, but I still have a few left that could grace that empty spot on your wall or be presented to someone you love this holiday season!

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White Sands National Monument, New Mexico: 11/2/16, 17:24:58

Cleo Springs, Oklahoma: 10/30/16, 12:39:38

Talimena Trail Scenic Byway, Oklahoma: 10/28/16, 13:36:02

Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas: 10/26/16, 10:01:08

Organ Mountains, Las Cruces, New Mexico: 11/6/16: 01:36:00

East of El Paso, Texas: 11/13/16, 17:57:32

Photo taken on my way back from Guadalupe Mountains National Park - read about it on my blog

Aguirre Springs, Las Cruces, New Mexico: 11/18/16, 17:08:20

Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park, Mesilla, New Mexico: 11/7/16, 15:14:07

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, New Mexico: 11/16/16, 12:37:57

Read about my visit to Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument on my blog

Every $25 you buy in art helps keep me rolling on my adventure across the United States for approximately 1-2 days (gas is expensive!). I'm truly grateful to all the people in my life who keep me fueled up, both literally and figuratively!

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Gratitude and Getting a Move On

November 27, 2016 Teressa Jackson

Alamogordo, NM from up on the adjacent mountains. You can see the white glow of White Sands National Monument in front of the mountains in the distance.

I had a nice Thanksgiving, including a trip to a well-stocked buffet at St. Clair Winery and Bistro and a beautiful afternoon at White Sands National Monument. I skipped Black Friday and instead did a short hike at Soledad Canyon, a part of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, and took a lovely drive through the pecan tree groves that surround Las Cruces to Chope’s Bar and Grill in La Mesa, a restaurant that has been feeding hungry New Mexico residents for around 100 years. It was kitschy and delicious.

I always like to think I have so many reasons to be grateful, but this year has been especially full of gifts from the world and people who surround me. I am grateful for the many wonderful friends, family, and coworkers in my life. Although I am far away from most of you right now, your help and love has been and continues to be heartwarming and amazing. Whether you purchased one of the many household items I hocked on Facebook, offered me a place to sleep, bought my artwork, said a kind word of encouragement, or supported me with any number of other gestures, I appreciate it more than you know. I absolutely would not be where I am now doing what I was doing without all of you fabulous people.

I’m thankful to have had safe and fun travels, to have good health, a strong body (at least for a 40-year-old), little desire or need for material things, and an adventurous spirit. I know that when the time comes for me to settle down again, this disposition will take care of me as much as it does now.

Last but not least, I’m a little nervous, a little sad, and the tiniest bit grateful to be leaving Las Cruces on Thursday and heading to Austin, Texas, where I will spend the month of December. I’ve really enjoyed this city and the many wonderful sites that surround it in southern New Mexico. The mountains, the desert, the food, and the people have been delightful, warm, and welcoming. I can see why Las Cruces has doubled in population since 1990, and I look forward to this not being my last visit to the “City of the Crosses.”

Thankful for a November Home

November 2, 2016 Teressa Jackson

Bound for Las Cruces, New Mexico, I was excited to see mountains on the horizon, and couldn't wait to get closer to them. I was also eager to meet the place I will call home for the month of November.

I'm not really sure how I ended up selecting Las Cruces as my first major stop of this year of reflection and relocation. I suppose that browsing around on Airbnb will take you to some interesting locales. One of my goals has been to spend the majority of my time during this trip in places I have not previously been. Another aspiration is to skip cold winter weather. Last, but not least, I wanted a complete change of scenery. Las Cruces fit all of those criteria.

The drive proved to be as wonderful as I had hoped. The mountains grew in size and quantity as I wound through Ruidoso and Alamogordo. Usually, I would have stopped more to explore at these little outposts, but I was both impatient and tired. My inner explorer needed to recharge her battery.

The temptation became too much to resist, though, when I reached White Sands National Monument. I had been looking forward to seeing it, and thought it would be nice to have a preview for when I returned. As a holder of an America the Beautiful National Park Pass, it was also a free preview.

After snapping a few photos and winding my way along the drive plowed into the white gypsum sand, I was back on the road. The Organ Mountains grew larger and more spectacular, and soon I was descending through them into the Mesilla Valley, my new home.

My house has more room than I could ever need, seeing as my earthly belongings consist of four totes, a suitcase, an art portfolio, and a small SUV. It is comfortable, bright, and has a lovely oasis of a backyard. It will make the perfect spot to paint my impressions of the beautiful places I have seen so far on this journey, and it welcomed me with a spectacular sunset to kick off that inspiration.

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