My Life & Artwork - July 2019

August 28, 2019 Teressa Jackson

July began with a Fourth of July trip to Page, Arizona, and the beautiful jewel that is Lake Powell. Aaron and I swam at Lone Rock beach, kayaked into Antelope Canyon, and ventured along with the hordes of other tourists to the Horseshoe Bend overlook. It’s a beautiful part of the state and a tiny bit cooler than the Phoenix metro thanks to its elevation. Plus… water!

Monsoon season continued through July, but was largely a bust. There were a couple of minor storms in the evening, but nothing compared to last year’s sky entertainment. I believe they have received a bit more monsoon action in Tucson, but it’s been less eventful there, too. Weather does what it wants.

I worked on two larger paintings this month with exhibitions in mind. I entered “La Corona” in the Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild’s Share our Walls juried exhibition and “Return to Goblin Valley” was entered into Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop’s Historias e Identidades (Histories and Identities) juried exhibition. I wrote a separate blog post about “Return to Goblin Valley,” explaining the meaning of this place to my own history and identity. Both pieces were accepted in their respective galleries. The SAWG show will run from 9/5-10/6/19, with an opening reception on 9/8 from 2-4 p.m. and the Raices Taller show runs through September 7.

Overall, I completed eight paintings in July. “Return to Goblin Valley” is currently for sale at Raices Taller and “La Corona” will be available for purchase at SAWG during their exhibition. Both galleries are located in Tucson. Five of the paintings I created, displayed at the bottom of this blog post, are all available for sale on my website as of this blog posting - starting at just $15.

I wrapped up July and began August with a change of scenery, visiting my sister’s family and my mother in Corvallis, Oregon. It was a wonderful time full of love and laughs, green scenery, a short trip to the coastal area around Yachats, and my first experience seeing Wicked the musical in Eugene. It was a good month!

Lightning I caught during an evening monsoon shower

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“La Ventana Natural Arch, El Malpais National Monument, Grants, New Mexico: 6/8/19, 15:01:39” 3x2” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “La Ventana Natural Arch, El Malpais National Monument, Grants, New Mexico: 6/8/19, 15:01:39”
3x2” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico: 6/10/19, 8:22:19” 3x2” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico: 6/10/19, 8:22:19”
3x2” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“Superior, Arizona: 5/10/19, 10:30:06” 3x2” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Superior, Arizona: 5/10/19, 10:30:06”
3x2” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona: 6/7/19, 12:44:05” 3x2” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona: 6/7/19, 12:44:05”
3x2” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“Mesa, Arizona: 5/12/19, 10:06:30” 3x2” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Mesa, Arizona: 5/12/19, 10:06:30”
3x2” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“Mesa, Arizona: 5/12/19, 09:21:08” 3x2” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Mesa, Arizona: 5/12/19, 09:21:08”
3x2” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“La Corona” 20x16” watercolor on 2” cradled Aquabord Available for purchase at Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild from 9/5-10/6/19. — “La Corona”
20x16” watercolor on 2” cradled Aquabord
Available for purchase at Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild from 9/5-10/6/19.

“Return to Goblin Valley” 12x16” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper Available for purchase at Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop until 9/7/19. — “Return to Goblin Valley”
12x16” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper
Available for purchase at Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop until 9/7/19.

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Return to Goblin Valley

July 28, 2019 Teressa Jackson

I am pleased to announce that my painting “Return to Goblin Valley” has been accepted for exhibition in Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop’s “Historias e Identidades (Histories and Identities)” show. The exhibition will open with a reception on Saturday, August 3, 2019, from 6 - 9 p.m and runs through September 7, 2019. Raices Taller is located at 218 E. 6th Street in Tucson, Arizona. Unfortunately, I will be on a trip to visit family in Oregon during the opening, but I encourage anyone who is able to attend. Their receptions are always a wonderful time full of lively fun!

And now, I share a story about this painting and why a landscape scene from Utah’s Goblin Valley relates to my own personal history and identity.

“The Artist is no other than he who unlearns what he has learned, in order to know himself.”

–E. E. Cummings

Return to Goblin Valley
by Teressa L. Jackson

The photo from which I painted, taken in 2017 when I revisited Goblin Valley with my mother

We pull up to the rim and peer down at the city of bulbous creatures that awaits us. Our imaginations take off like the lawnmower our father had once used to manicure our Midwestern yard. On the dividing line between child and woman, my sister Dee and I both fall back into old familiar territory for a sweet afternoon.

There are passageways and rooms, solitary figures and looming families. “This is my house!” I shout, but I don’t mind if Dee joins me in it. We had spent nearly our entire lives in a standard white post-war Cape Cod house, but in the couple of years leading up to this day, our father’s thin, towering 6’7” frame was no longer a part of that home.

When Dad left southern Indiana in pursuit of that elusive perfect job, Dee and I remained behind, learning to navigate airports a couple times a year. In our tween years, we were young enough for these trips to be frightening and old enough to find them exhilarating. In the late 1980’s, there were no mobile phones and no internet. We were disconnected, roaming free, changing planes through O’Hare’s hurried urban masses and disembarking in his new home, the Rocky Mountain wonderland of Salt Lake City.

The first few years we made this repeated cross-country journey, we enjoyed adventures that must have seemed exotic to our friends back home. We rode snowmobiles in the Rocky Mountains, learned to ski in the powder, breathed in the Grand Canyon, and smelled the sulfur of bubbling cauldrons and steaming geysers at Yellowstone.

Soon we entered the world of high school spectacle and our gravities shifted. We traded shared vistas and road trips for landline telephone custody battles. A year apart in school, Dee’s friends were what I considered “nerdy-popular.” I hung with the skateboarders, feeling a different exhilaration at punk rock shows and along Louisville’s Bardstown Road corridor.

That day at Goblin Valley seemed distant and almost forgotten most times over the decades that followed, but occasionally still surfaced as one of my fondest memories. As age forty loomed, my childhood years spent among desert, mountains, and sweeping views beckoned to me. I needed to return to these places – to rekindle my creativity, reawaken my sense of adventure, and reconnect with my original self.

I’ve spent the last three years becoming reacquainted with that young woman who visited Goblin Valley for the first time. I’ve revisited that wonderland and met new ones across the Southwest and beyond. My father and I haven’t spoken in nearly ten years, and it’s unlikely that we will ever do so again. However, I remain grateful for the foundation he laid through those early adventures and the way those places permanently shaped me.

I am, once again, the girl I left behind in that valley.

Me at Goblin Valley in 2017 (photo credit: Susan Jackson)

My Life & Artwork - June 2019

July 1, 2019 Teressa Jackson

June is my birthday month, and my birthday gift this year was a little solo adventure to northwestern New Mexico. I had read about the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness a few years ago, and had been longing to visit ever since, so I planned a trip to the various sites sprinkled around the region of this destination.

I stayed in Gallup, New Mexico, during my trip. I read a lot of negative things about Gallup before my departure, so I was prepared for whatever might greet me. Personally, while I didn’t spend a lot of time in the town of Gallup itself, I found the time I did spend there to be enjoyable and uneventful. Everyone was friendly and the town was sprinkled with Route 66 charm. It’s interesting how divergent and judgmental people’s perspectives can be.

The route to New Mexico took me through Payson, Arizona. I had never been to this town before. Payson is located on the Mogollon Rim, a geological feature that defines the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau. At about 7,500 feet above sea level, the edge of the rim is a beautiful ponderosa pine forest with sweeping views of the mountain ranges below. I arrived there in about an hour and a half from my home in Tempe, and, as always, it was amazing to watch the saguaro-laden desert morph into junipers and then ponderosa pines, and the temperature to drop accordingly. I spent a little time on a trail near the Mogollon Rim Visitors Center, and then continued on my way.

As I’ve mentioned before, I am a big fan of Petrified Forest National Park, and am especially fond of the Painted Desert section of the park. Shortly after passing Holbrook, Arizona, I found myself at the exit for the park, and it was too much to resist. I spent some time hiking down into the basin of the Painted Desert, where the hills are sprinkled with petrified wood and huge chunks of mica. During this trip, there were also abundant wildflowers, with bits of yellow and purple dotting the landscape.

Back on I-40, the landscape changed to sandstone mesas as I crossed the New Mexico state line, and soon thereafter, I arrived in Gallup. It was late afternoon and I called it an early night.

I started the next day at El Morro National Monument, a place with inscriptions in the sandstone bluffs dating back hundreds of years, including Europeans beginning in the 1600s and much older Native American petroglyphs. It was a stopping point due to the fact that it had the only source of water for many, many miles. At the top of the bluffs, there was a Native American civilization around 900 years ago, part of which has been excavated. I can see why they set up shop there - the views were so beautiful!

View from the top of El Morro, with Native American ruins

Around mid-day, I made my way to El Malpais National Monument. This park is also home to beautiful sandstone bluffs, but its most remarkable features are volcanic in origin - I saw lava tube caves, a caldera, and hiked around a volcano’s cinder cone. Later, I got a great view of the extensive lava flows from atop the sandstone bluffs. I encountered a very nice family at the monument, and especially enjoyed talking to the mom, who was the same age as me. In fact, it turned out that she had grown up in Harrison, Arkansas, a town that my family briefly inhabited when I was a child. It was crazy to think that she would probably have been a schoolmate of mine if we had stayed there.

The following day, I headed out to the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, the place that had been on my "to explore" list for nearly 3 years. I trekked 8 miles through this weird and wonderful desert world of hoodoos, badlands, and petrified wood, and there was still so much more I missed. I didn’t find any dinosaur bones, but this is one of the famous aspects of this place – it is where the Bistahieversor or "Bisti Beast", is a genus of tyrannosaurid dinosaur, was discovered. Surrounded by legions of strange formations, many of which are humanoid in shape, the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness is the type of place that definitely makes you question your sanity after a while. I’m not sure that any photos can truly convey what it looks or feels like there.

After a good night’s sleep, I drove around two hours to Chaco Canyon National Historical Park. The park is very remote, and the last 20 miles to reach it are via dirt road. However, it was well worth the effort. The Chacoan civilization that existed in the canyon (and beyond!) 1,200-800 years ago far exceeds anything you would have ever pictured... multi-story buildings – including one would have had around 650 rooms, commerce centers, roads, trade with civilizations hundreds if not thousands of miles away. These people traded to get chocolate and macaws from Mexico and seashells from the Pacific and Gulf of California. I drove away wondering what was under the earth all around me, even after I left the park. There is so much we don't know.

On my last day before driving home, I visited the Pueblo of Acoma (a.k.a. “Sky City”), where the native people built their homes on top of a mesa around 1,000 years ago. I had actually encountered some people from Acoma at the San Xavier del Bac mission in Tucson last year and never forgot their beautiful pottery or their genuine friendliness, so it was a special treat to see where they lived. Some of the tribe members still live up on the mesa, and they do so without running water or electricity. Their people are believed to have descended from those who inhabited Chaco Canyon. I so enjoyed meeting all of the wonderful people on the mesa, and I think Acoma was probably the highlight of my whole trip!

I ended the day with a hike to the top of Pyramid Rock at Gallup's Red Rock Park. It was a gorgeous red sandstone wonderland, and I was so glad that I found time to experience it. Lots of people were out for a Tuesday afternoon hike, and the views from the top of the rock were pretty spectacular.

Back home in Arizona, Aaron and I celebrated the day of my 43rd birthday with a trip to Slide Rock State Park in Sedona. The water was VERY, VERY (did I say VERY?) cold, and part of the day’s fun was watching people’s reactions to it. We laughed and laughed, froze a bit ourselves, and grabbed some food at a little Mexican diner on the way home.

The rest of June was spent painting, working, and thanking my lucky stars for the invention of air conditioning, as temperatures climbed into the mid-100’s and then beyond that to 112 degrees. I just tell myself that summer here equates to winter most places, when I wouldn’t be enjoying much of the outdoors, either. Most days, it is still pleasant if you get out before 9 a.m., too. I created a total of nine paintings, all of which are featured below, and many of which feature scenes from my birthday excursion.

Atop the Cinder Cone at El Malpais National Monument

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“Sky City” 10x8” watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Sky City”
10x8” watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“The Birthday Party” 20x16” on 2” cradled Aquabord This piece is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery in Tucson, AZ, from 3/21/2020 - 4/22/2020. — “The Birthday Party”
20x16” on 2” cradled Aquabord
This piece is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery in Tucson, AZ, from 3/21/2020 - 4/22/2020.

“Picacho Spring” 8x10” watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Picacho Spring”
8x10” watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“Open Arms” 5x7” watercolor on Aquabord For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Open Arms”
5x7” watercolor on Aquabord
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“The Giants of Marshall Gulch” 2x3” watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “The Giants of Marshall Gulch”
2x3” watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“Mogollon Rim, Payson, Arizona: 6/7/19, 10:28:36” 2x3” watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Mogollon Rim, Payson, Arizona: 6/7/19, 10:28:36”
2x3” watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona: 6/7/19, 13:50:18” 2x3” watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona: 6/7/19, 13:50:18”
2x3” watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“Red Rock Park, Gallup, New Mexico: 6/11/19, 14:59:23” 2x3” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Red Rock Park, Gallup, New Mexico: 6/11/19, 14:59:23”
2x3” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“Superior, Arizona: 5/10/19, 7:45:43” 2x3” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Superior, Arizona: 5/10/19, 7:45:43”
2x3” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

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My Life & Artwork - May 2019

June 25, 2019 Teressa Jackson

The gallery space where my exhibition will take place

May was pretty wonderful in Arizona this year. We had many days where the temperatures were 20 or 30 degrees below average, and I made sure to try to take as much advantage as possible to enjoy the outdoors before the triple-digit roast commenced.

I started out the month with a trip to Agua Caliente Park in Tucson, the location of my solo exhibition taking place in 2020. My friend Ursula and I explored the trails in the park and I took measurements and photos of the exhibition space. It’s a beautiful little oasis in the desert, featuring lush areas resulting from the natural springs and Arizona’s beautiful native fan palm trees. The saguaros were just starting to bloom, too.

Kalisha and me representing Kentucky in Arizona (no sloppy track here)

My friend Kalisha and her partner Andrew had a Derby Party on May 4, so I fashioned myself a fascinator with paper, Scotch tape, and watercolor paint, made some snacks, and Aaron and I spent a lovely afternoon at their apartment in downtown Tempe. I made a small longshot bet on the winner, and came away $300 richer. I think I’m luckier when I’m not in Kentucky!

Later in the month, I spent more time in the outdoors exploring the areas surrounding Phoenix. I visited the Superstition Mountains, Usery Mountain Regional Park, and Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Usery Mountain, located about 20 miles west of me, reminded me of the Tucson Mountains. It features lots of saguaros and sweeping, expansive views (and if you know me, you know I loooove the Tucson Mountains). From the cave near the top of the mountain, you could see the Phoenix metro urban areas to the west, and I even spotted the small butte (Bell Butte or “T” Mountain) located next to our apartment.

The scenery from the Wind Cave Trail at Usery Mountain Regional Park

Boyce Thompson Arboretum is the largest and oldest botanical garden in the state of Arizona, and was absolutely gorgeous. It is located about 45 minutes east of where I live in the midst of gorgeous mountain scenery. It was so peaceful (despite the fact that I was quite literally attacked by hummingbirds repeatedly), and I feel sure this place will become a favorite.

Last but not least, I did a lot of painting! I completed five pieces, and three of these were quite large compared to my usual work in recent years. After all, I have 88 linear feet of gallery space to fill! I only used paper with one painting this month, continuing my exploration of Aquabord (a surface made of clay). There are many things I like about Aquabord, but also a few things that I don’t. I am starting to learn the types of scenes that work best on this surface and be able to select appropriately.

All the paintings I made this month are featured below with the original photo that inspired them. Many of my larger pieces are being held back for exhibition at my show, but there are still a few paintings in my online shop if you want to shop now ›

“Sunday Afternoon in the Park” 20x16” on Aquabord This piece is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery in Tucson, AZ, from 3/21/2020 - 4/22/2020. — “Sunday Afternoon in the Park”
20x16” on Aquabord
This piece is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery in Tucson, AZ, from 3/21/2020 - 4/22/2020.

“Verdant Verdin” 5x7” on Aquabord For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Verdant Verdin”
5x7” on Aquabord
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“Old Pueblo Oasis” 12x16” on Arches 140 lb. watercolor paper This piece is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery in Tucson, AZ, from 3/21/2020 - 4/22/2020. — “Old Pueblo Oasis”
12x16” on Arches 140 lb. watercolor paper
This piece is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery in Tucson, AZ, from 3/21/2020 - 4/22/2020.

“Palo Fuego” 5x7” on Aquabord SOLD — “Palo Fuego”
5x7” on Aquabord
SOLD

“Southern Sentinel” 16x12” on Aquabord This piece is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery in Tucson, AZ, from 3/21/2020 - 4/22/2020. — “Southern Sentinel”
16x12” on Aquabord
This piece is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery in Tucson, AZ, from 3/21/2020 - 4/22/2020.

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My Life & Artwork - April 2019

May 3, 2019 Teressa Jackson

The first day of April was moving day! Thank goodness movers did the heavy lifting, and my back was spared the agony. It’s amazing how long it can take to move, even when you don’t feel like you have much “stuff.”

We hadn’t seen our actual apartment in Tempe, and I was a little anxious about it. Our place in Tucson had been such a nice spot to call home. I was pleasantly surprised to arrive to an entirely renovated, brand-new unit. I couldn’t ask for anything nicer. The view isn’t quite what it was in Tucson, but it’s not bad, either. We have a nice view of Bell Butte (which they kindly adorned with a “T” for “Teressa” …. er…. maybe for “Tempe,” which makes for a good sunset backdrop since it’s directly west of us.

Mid-April, I got some fantastic news! I was selected to exhibit my artwork in a solo show at Agua Caliente Park’s Ranch House Gallery in Tucson from March 21 to April 22, 2020. It’s good that I have nearly a year’s notice, since I have 88 LINEAR FEET of gallery space to fill. I had applied for this opportunity last year without success. This year, I was one of just ten artists to be selected to show during the course of the year. It will be my first solo exhibition in over twenty years! I’m very excited, and have already started creating paintings with this space in mind.

Some lovelies from Desert Botanical Garden

It’s cactus flower season, and the desert is popping with the most gorgeous, lush blooms. I’m not sure why cactus flowers seem magical, but they totally are. With that in mind, my friend Ursula and I spent a day at the Desert Botanical Garden, one of my favorite slices of desert paradise. I’m lucky to live just about 15 minutes from it now that I’m in Tempe, and a great place to soak up some artistic inspiration.

I tried out a new painting surface this month. I hadn’t ever used Aquabord before, but it caught my eye at Jerry’s Artarama and I bought a few pieces of it. It’s basically a clay-coated surface for watercolor painting. After sealing the painting, it can be framed without glass. It has definitely been an adjustment to paint on this surface, as it handles the paint in a very different way from paper. I certainly still like paper, but Aquabord will definitely be an ongoing addition to my painting arsenal. I have now created several pieces on the surface (see below!) and I’m in love with the vibrant colors I am able to produce. I think these will be really nice additions to my body of work for the show at Agua Caliente, too.

And just like that, April whooshed out the door and May arrived. I have a feeling that March 21, 2020, will be here faster than I would prefer. Hi ho, hi ho! Have a great May, friends!

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“Pusch Ridge Rainbow” SOLD (Commission) 7x5” on watercolor paper — “Pusch Ridge Rainbow”
SOLD (Commission)
7x5” on watercolor paper

“I Don’t Bite” SOLD 5x7” on watercolor paper — “I Don’t Bite”
SOLD
5x7” on watercolor paper

“Winter Watcher” For sale as of this blog posting 3.5x5” on watercolor paper — “Winter Watcher”
For sale as of this blog posting
3.5x5” on watercolor paper

“Perched Plumage” For sale as of this blog posting 3.5x5” on watercolor paper — “Perched Plumage”
For sale as of this blog posting
3.5x5” on watercolor paper

“Ice Cream Dream” For sale as of this blog posting 5x7” on Aquabord — “Ice Cream Dream”
For sale as of this blog posting
5x7” on Aquabord

“The Ringleader” SOLD 7x5” on Aquabord — “The Ringleader”
SOLD
7x5” on Aquabord

“The Incubator” For sale as of this blog posting 5x7” on Aquabord — “The Incubator”
For sale as of this blog posting
5x7” on Aquabord

“Prelude to the Pursuit” This piece is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery 11x14” on Aquabord — “Prelude to the Pursuit”
This piece is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery
11x14” on Aquabord

I have not yet titled this piece. I’m also not completely sure it’s finished! This painting is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery 12x12” on Aquabord — I have not yet titled this piece. I’m also not completely sure it’s finished!
This painting is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery
12x12” on Aquabord

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Umm... Happy 2019!? (I'm a bit of a slacker.)

April 9, 2019 Teressa Jackson

Hey there!

Yep, it’s April 9, and I am just now writing my first blog post for 2019. Whoops!

Anyhoo, I’m doing it now. And that’s what counts, right? It’s not like I can go back in time…

One of the big themes for the first part of 2019 was SNOW. Say what?! Yes, that’s right, on rare occasions, even Tucson gets some of that fluffy white stuff. This year, the mountains got dusted, capped, and coated so many times that I lost count, starting on New Year’s Day itself. The highlight, though, was February 22, when even the city of Tucson itself saw white flakes falling from the sky. My friend Ursula and I made sure that this rarity didn’t go to waste, and had a wonderful time playing in the snow at Saguaro National Park East. I even built a snowman!

I continued to exhibit my artwork at Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop. The first show of 2019, “Año Nuevo, Obras Nuevas,” displayed three of my larger landscapes I created in 2018. I sold “Cactus Cartel,” a scene from Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, to a collector from Portland, Oregon. I have another set of paintings on display there currently in their “Common Ground” exhibition (a tribute to Cesar Chavez), and have reportedly sold "Tomato,” a piece featuring the architecture of tomato roots (see below in my art round-up for image). I’m very pleased with the response to my work through these opportunities, and so very grateful to this non-profit gallery for all of their hard work.

Aaron and I took a couple of trips these past few months. We stayed in Choya Bay outside of Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico, at the end of January, enjoying the sounds and the smells of the sea, as well as some beers and Mexican food at JJ’s Cantina up the road. In March, we visited a different body of water, spending a long weekend at Lake Havasu City, where the Colorado River is dammed to form a beautiful desert oasis.

Mom and me at the Desert Botanical Gardens

February and March both brought some familiar faces to Arizona. In February, we enjoyed a visit from my sweet mom, and I had a great time touring her around Tucson. It was fun to give her a more in-depth experience of the area, visiting several local eateries, Tumacácori National Historical Park, Tubac, San Xavier del Bac, Desert Botanical Garden, Saguaro National Park, and part of the Tucson Gem Show. My dear friend Allison visited for about 48 hours in March, and a whirlwind tour of Mexican eateries, Saguaro National Park, and Ironwood Forest National Monument ensued.

The snow and plentiful rain did their job this year, and wildflowers have abounded this spring. For the past month and a half, swaths of the desert have been covered in yellow, pink, orange, and blue. They popped on the hills around Lake Havasu, ran down the slopes of Picacho Peak, and prettied up the route to Ironwood Forest National Monument. It’s a good thing that digital cameras exist, because I hate to know how many rolls of film I would have devoted to capturing their precious petals.

Ursula and I hiked in the Superstition Mountains mid-March. This trip turned out to be a foreshadowing of things to come, as the Superstitions are located just east of the Phoenix metro area. Two weeks after our beautiful hiking adventure, Aaron and I relocated to Tempe, which is immediately adjacent to the east of the city of Phoenix, so that Aaron could pursue a new career opportunity. I’m adjusting to a slightly faster pace of living, more traffic, abundant Indian restaurants (if you know me, you know this makes me HAPPY!), and slightly less amazing views. I’m excited to have a new place to explore, new opportunities, and a closer proximity to places like the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Lake Havasu, Sedona, and my friend Kalisha! I’ll certainly miss Tucson, but luckily it’s still only an hour-and-a-half drive down I-10.

Last but not least, I cranked out 28 paintings over the past 3 months, including several commissions. I also marked down all paintings created prior to 2019, and sale prices will remain in effect until those pieces find a new home. All of my January, February, and March 2019 creations are featured below, with availability at the time of this blog posting indicated.

I’ll try to do better with next month’s blog post! Cheers to 2019!

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“One Main Street, Bisbee, Arizona” For sale as of this blog posting 7x5” — “One Main Street, Bisbee, Arizona”
For sale as of this blog posting
7x5”

“Rowdy Crew” For sale as of this blog posting 10x8” — “Rowdy Crew”
For sale as of this blog posting
10x8”

“Echo” For sale as of this blog posting 10x8” — “Echo”
For sale as of this blog posting
10x8”

“Fraternal” For sale as of this blog posting 9x12” No original photo, as this was created in nature — “Fraternal”
For sale as of this blog posting
9x12”
*No original photo, as this was created in nature*

“Valen-Tine III” SOLD 5x7” — “Valen-Tine III”
SOLD
5x7”

“Valen-Tine I” For sale as of this blog posting 5x7” — “Valen-Tine I”
For sale as of this blog posting
5x7”

“Valen-Tine II” For sale as of this blog posting 5x7” — “Valen-Tine II”
For sale as of this blog posting
5x7”

“White-Striped Agave Study” For sale as of this blog posting 5x3.5” — “White-Striped Agave Study”
For sale as of this blog posting
5x3.5”

“Buckhorn Cholla Study” SOLD 5x3.5” — “Buckhorn Cholla Study”
SOLD
5x3.5”

“Valen-Tine IV” SOLD 5x7” — “Valen-Tine IV”
SOLD
5x7”

“Valen-Tine V” For sale as of this blog posting 5x7” — “Valen-Tine V”
For sale as of this blog posting
5x7”

“Valen-Tine VI” For sale as of this blog posting 5x7” — “Valen-Tine VI”
For sale as of this blog posting
5x7”

“Lemon” Available for purchase at Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop from 3/2/19-4/20/19 8x10” — “Lemon”
Available for purchase at Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop from 3/2/19-4/20/19
8x10”

“Tomato” 8x10” SOLD — “Tomato”
8x10”
SOLD

“Pecan” Available for purchase at Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop from 3/2/19-4/20/19 8x10” — “Pecan”
Available for purchase at Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop from 3/2/19-4/20/19
8x10”

“Twenty Dollar View” SOLD (Commission) 14x11” — “Twenty Dollar View”
SOLD (Commission)
14x11”

“Maggie May and Ginger Afield” SOLD (Commission) 14x11” — “Maggie May and Ginger Afield”
SOLD (Commission)
14x11”

Compilation of photos of these two pups!

“Havasu Spring” For sale as of this blog posting 10x13” — “Havasu Spring”
For sale as of this blog posting
10x13”

“Cattail Cove State Park, Arizona: 3/2/19, 15:34:54” SOLD 3x2” — “Cattail Cove State Park, Arizona: 3/2/19, 15:34:54”
SOLD
3x2”

“Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona: 3/3/19, 12:26:27” For sale as of this blog posting 3x2” — “Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona: 3/3/19, 12:26:27”
For sale as of this blog posting
3x2”

“Tucson, Arizona: 2/6/19, 18:03:55” For sale as of this blog posting 2x3” — “Tucson, Arizona: 2/6/19, 18:03:55”
For sale as of this blog posting
2x3”

“Cattail Cove State Park, Arizona: 3/2/19, 15:44:23” For sale as of this blog posting 2x3” — “Cattail Cove State Park, Arizona: 3/2/19, 15:44:23”
For sale as of this blog posting
2x3”

“Camp Jackson” Gift for my mother 3x2” — “Camp Jackson”
Gift for my mother
3x2”

“Picacho Peak State Park, Arizona: 3/6,19, 9:39:03” SOLD 3x2” — “Picacho Peak State Park, Arizona: 3/6,19, 9:39:03”
SOLD
3x2”

“Picacho Peak State Park, Arizona: 3/6,19, 9:06:01” SOLD 2x3” — “Picacho Peak State Park, Arizona: 3/6,19, 9:06:01”
SOLD
2x3”

“Tucson, Arizona: 3/7/19, 18:39:40” SOLD 3x2” — “Tucson, Arizona: 3/7/19, 18:39:40”
SOLD
3x2”

“Pearl of a Girl” SOLD (Commission) 5x7” — “Pearl of a Girl”
SOLD (Commission)
5x7”

“Layers” SOLD (Commission) 8x10” — “Layers”
SOLD (Commission)
8x10”

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My Life & Artwork - December 2018

January 21, 2019 Teressa Jackson

Me at the reception for “Tesoros Pequeños”

I opened the month of December by attending the reception of “Tesoros Pequeños,” an art show I was accepted into at Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery in Tucson. Because the theme was small and precious works of art, I made some “icons” featuring desert rarities, complete with copper halos. I wasn’t completely sure how successfully I thought that they turned out, but it was an attempt at something different, which I need to push myself to do more often. I ended up selling one of the pieces and I hope its new owner loves it - it was definitely my favorite of the three. The other two are now up for sale in my online shop.

I changed up my style and technique for some other pieces I created in December, too (specifically, “Sunset over Sombrero Peak” and “Sibling Rivalry”). I feel like I’m in a bit of a “searching” stage, trying to figure out what direction I would like my art to go next. I have a tendency to default to realism, and need to push myself to explore other approaches. I also feel I want to explore some different subject matter and color schemes.

My nephew posing on Christmas morning with the portrait of him I painted

Towards the end of the month, we had a holiday potluck for my art class. Larry Wollam, my drawing and painting instructor throughout 2018, hosts this event annually. It was a lot of fun to see people from my drawing class who I hadn’t seen since transitioning to Larry’s painting class. I’m missing Larry already as our classes are currently on hiatus until approximately March due to an impending surgery he was facing. I hope all goes well and he is on the mend quickly. He certainly taught me so much in 2018 and was a big part of making the year a success for me artistically. What luck that the classes were right around the corner from where we live.

I created some commissioned pieces for the holidays for my friend Heather, and I also created some pieces to give to my family for Christmas. These types of projects are especially difficult because of the expectations that come along with them, but they are also a good opportunity to challenge myself and be a part of someone’s special moment. I hope everyone loves their creations for years to come.

I also did some hiking in December, enjoying the beautiful, mostly mid-60’s weather in Tucson. This is definitely the time of year to live in the desert. I hiked the Finger Rock Trail on Christmas Day. It was a gorgeous way to spend the holiday and made me feel less lonely since Aaron ended up having to go to Mexicali for work. A couple of days later, I spent some time hiking along the international border at Ramsey Canyon Preserve and Coronado National Memorial with my new friend Ursula, who is also an artist and nature lover.

My friend Kalisha came down to visit from Tempe for New Year’s Eve, and we had a wonderful time catching up while painting pottery. Our pieces both turned out really fun, and it was so nice to see her. It had been far too long.

I’m looking forward to seeing where 2019 takes me and my art. As gorgeous as it is here, I’m definitely itching for some different scenery to help inspire and expand my artistic horizons. Happy New Year to you, wherever you are and whatever it holds for you. Make it great!

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“Sunset over Sombrero Peak” For sale as of this blog posting 5x7” — “Sunset over Sombrero Peak”
For sale as of this blog posting
5x7”

“Painted Desert²” On exhibit at Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery until February 23, 2019 14x11” — “Painted Desert²”
On exhibit at Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery until February 23, 2019
14x11”

“The Source 1” Gifted to my mother 10x8” — “The Source 1”
Gifted to my mother
10x8”

“The Source 2” Gifted to my sister’s family 10x8” — “The Source 2”
Gifted to my sister’s family
10x8”

“Sibling Rivalry” For sale as of this blog posting 5x7” — “Sibling Rivalry”
For sale as of this blog posting
5x7”

“Baby Blue” SOLD (commission) 5x7” — “Baby Blue”
SOLD (commission)
5x7”

“Warm Fuzzies” SOLD (commission) 5x7” — “Warm Fuzzies”
SOLD (commission)
5x7”

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My Life & Artwork - July & August 2018

September 5, 2018 Teressa Jackson

Monsoon beauty on Linda Vista Trail in Oro Valley, Arizona

Well... I was a slacker and didn't do a blog for July. So, here's one covering two months!

The monsoon season really ramped up in July, and during July and August, you could at least spy a rain shower on the horizon someplace or another a good portion of the time. This also meant cooler temperatures (more 90's, less 100's) and higher humidity (oh joy - I thought I escaped that!). I'm a sky gazer anyway, and it's been a glorious time to watch the drama unfold above.

On a hot day in early July, I took a trip up to Mount Lemmon to escape the heat. At over 9,000 feet, it was nearly 30 degrees cooler on the mountaintop than down in Tucson. The trek is a little time consuming, but well worth it. During the monsoons, though, part of the key is finding a time when it's not raining up there, as the mountains get so much more rain than the city does.

The wildlife sightings weren't as plentiful over July and August, but we did see our first tarantula spider outside the apartment. He didn't bother us in the least and I thought he was pretty interesting. I know, I know, I'm a weirdo. We also had a few onslaughts of Sonoran Desert Toads (aka Colorado River Toads) in the depression outside our apartment, which the monsoons filled to make a little lake. They make the weirdest (loud!) noises and depart as quickly as they appear. I was totally baffled the first time they showed up until I figured out what the racket was.

I also got to spend some time in the Tortolita Mountains, just north of Tucson, while house/dog sitting for my second cousin Kim and her sweet dog Murphy. Kim and her husband Ian have built a beautiful home that is surrounded by a rocky desert wonderland. It was like a mini vacation in our own backyard.

The fam along the coast in Newport, Oregon

August was, well... full of love. The first week of August, I took a trip to Corvallis, Oregon, to see my sister and her family. As a bonus, the icing on the cake was that my mom was there, too. We had lots of fun and laughs and a trip to the coastal town of Newport, where the high was 60 degrees - not a temperature I've seen in a while!

I visited my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, the last week of August for a whirlwind few days. Having never "moved away," it's a new thing to visit home and figure out the logistics of how to cram in visits to everyone who's been an important part of nearly 40 years of your life. I was sad that I could not arrange a way to see every one of the many, many lovely people whose faces I miss. I had many more great intentions than I had days and hours, and unfortunately time seems to have a way of evaporating when you’re trying to meet new babies, celebrate milestone birthdays, help moms, catch up on major life changes, check in on puppy dogs that own your heart, attend weddings... you get the picture. I did my best and that's all I can do. I can't wait for next time!

And now, art! I think I did pretty well considering that I took two trips. I started making 2"x3" size "miniature paintings" and have really had fun with these little studies. Many have sold and they've proven to be a popular item.

"The Land of Stories" I & II, all framed up and ready to go to their new home

I also received a really neat commission. I was asked to recreate one of my miniatures as two 5x7" paintings. The scene, which was from a trail at Madera Canyon, Arizona, made the customer think of the stories she reads to her grandchildren. She said it felt “like you could walk right into a land of tales and mythical creatures.” She plans to have them help her hang her piece and to help them hang theirs. Then she will tell them that when they look at their painting she will look at hers, and they’ll meet in the “Land of Stories.” So sweet!

There are, of course, still pieces waiting for you in my online shop. I hope you'll hop on over and see if one of them takes you to a special place, too. Shop now ›

"Sonoran Suitor"For sale as of this blog posting — "Sonoran Suitor"
For sale as of this blog posting

"Cactus Cartel"For sale as of this blog posting — "Cactus Cartel"
For sale as of this blog posting

"Fetish Pottery Still Life 2"For sale as of this blog posting — "Fetish Pottery Still Life 2"
For sale as of this blog posting

"Newport, Oregon: 8/5/18, 13:05:08SOLD — "Newport, Oregon: 8/5/18, 13:05:08
SOLD

"Newport, Oregon: 8/5/18, 13:05:08"For sale as of this blog posting — "Newport, Oregon: 8/5/18, 13:05:08"
For sale as of this blog posting

"Tucson, Arizona: 12/24/17, 15:21:20"For sale as of this blog posting — "Tucson, Arizona: 12/24/17, 15:21:20"
For sale as of this blog posting

"Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado: 5/27/18, 19:22:12SOLD — "Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado: 5/27/18, 19:22:12
SOLD

"Armory Park, Tucson, Arizona: 5/19/18, 14:59:29"For sale as of this blog posting — "Armory Park, Tucson, Arizona: 5/19/18, 14:59:29"
For sale as of this blog posting

"Bahía la Cholla, Sonora, Mexico: 6/20/18, 12:14:32"SOLD — "Bahía la Cholla, Sonora, Mexico: 6/20/18, 12:14:32"
SOLD

"Madera Canyon, Arizona: 5/10/18, 12:48:27"SOLD — "Madera Canyon, Arizona: 5/10/18, 12:48:27"
SOLD

"The Land of Stories I" and "The Land of Stories II" - SOLD (Commissioned pieces)

"Tortolita Mountains, Marana, Arizona: 7/28/18, 19:33:28"SOLD — "Tortolita Mountains, Marana, Arizona: 7/28/18, 19:33:28"
SOLD

"Tucson, Arizona: 8/17/18, 19:14:22For sale as of this blog posting — "Tucson, Arizona: 8/17/18, 19:14:22
For sale as of this blog posting

"Tucson, Arizona: 8/11/18, 19:09:32"For sale as of this blog posting — "Tucson, Arizona: 8/11/18, 19:09:32"
For sale as of this blog posting

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My Life & Artwork - June 2018

July 4, 2018 Teressa Jackson

It's definitely summer in the desert! I'm pretty sure that every day of June was over 100 degrees. And while people here in Tucson seem to relish complaining about it as much as people universally love to gripe about weather, I actually haven't minded it too terribly much.

My desert wildlife sightings have most certainly continued this month, and I got to check some previously empty boxes. New sightings included two bears (YES, BEARS) while hiking at Chiricahua National Monument, wild horses while tubing the Salt River, and two bobcats at my apartment. I've also spotted plenty more rabbits, lizards, and a javelina. I have still not seen a scorpion or a gila monster in the wild, but perhaps they're next. Oh, and before you lecture me about being cautious (which I am), I promise you that all of these critters were more afraid of me than I was of them, something that so many people seem to just not understand.

After a couple of months of saguaro cactus blooms (and some are actually still blooming!!), my giant prickly friends began to produce fruit this month. The fruit is green on the outside, but eventually bursts open to look almost like a red flower with its pulp showing. The birds have been seen delighting in this sticky, seed-filled treat, and the local Tohono O'Odham Nation has been harvesting it for their traditional uses. The saguaro fruit harvest and the arrival of the summer rains signal what their culture considers to be the beginning of a new year.

The monsoon season officially began on June 15, better known as my 42nd birthday. Unfortunately, we were in Phoenix that weekend, and while Tucson got a hefty storm, we got mostly sprinkles. I hear that we may get rain again next week, though. ((fingers crossed!))

We finally made plans to visit "Arizona's beach" this month. Indeed, there is ((almost)) oceanfront property in Arizona. Puerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point, is located just over 4 hours from Tucson in Mexico, at the northernmost tip of the Sea of Cortez. Also known as the Gulf of California, the Sea of Cortez was clear, blue, and very warm. The landscape there is still very much the desert, with rocky mountains and dusty sparse landscape surrounding the water's edge. Aaron and I drove to Puerto Peñasco and felt completely safe driving through Mexico and while on our little getaway. It's so nice to be so close to the sea - we'll definitely be back!

My last little treat in June was the realization that Kate, one of my closest friends who lives in southern Indiana, was going to be in Sedona. I couldn't resist making plans to see her, and I spent a fantastic day with her and her family at Slide Rock State Park, where there are natural water slides carved into the rock.

And yes - despite all this traveling and activity - I was much more productive with my artwork this month! Hooray! I changed some things up and have listed my drawings for sale on my website as well as some options for framed art. I'm still deciding if it's 100% finished, but I'm pretty sure I have completed the first painting from my watercolor class with instructor Larry Wollam (also my drawing teacher), and I'm very pleased with how much I've learned in just a couple of months. I haven't listed it for sale yet, as I am considering entering it into an upcoming juried exhibition in town. Wish me luck!

Some of the pieces I made this month are sold, but several are still available, too. So if one tickles your fancy, you'll sure make my day if you shop now ›

**Armory Park, Tucson, Arizona: 5/19/18, 14:59:51 (available for purchase as of the date of this blog posting)**

Denver, Colorado: 5/30/18, 18:24:21 (available for purchase as of the date of this blog posting) — Denver, Colorado: 5/30/18, 18:24:21 **(available for purchase as of the date of this blog posting)**

Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado: 5/28/18, 9:01:36 (available for purchase as of the date of this blog posting) — Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado: 5/28/18, 9:01:36 **(available for purchase as of the date of this blog posting)**

Duck Statue Still Life (available for purchase as of the date of this blog posting) — Duck Statue Still Life **(available for purchase as of the date of this blog posting)**

Denver, Colorado: 5/31/18, 9:46:28 (SOLD)

Denver, Colorado: 5/31/18, 9:11:12 (available for purchase as of the date of this blog posting) — Denver, Colorado: 5/31/18, 9:11:12 **(available for purchase as of the date of this blog posting)**

This piece is not yet titled nor for sale. This is the first painting I completed in my watercolor class.

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My Life & Artwork - May 2018

June 2, 2018 Teressa Jackson

I sound a bit like a broken record, but it's always hard to believe a month has gone by. I think that if I didn't set a goal to write one of these monthly, I might find that six months had passed before it occurred to me to sit down and record another. I certainly can't complain that time goes by slowly.

The first Saturday in May brought a visit from our good friends Kerri and Brian from our Louisville hometown. They spent five days with us in the desert, and it was so nice to catch up and host them. Kerri and Brian have so many exciting things going on (especially the impending arrival of their baby girl) and Aaron and I were very grateful that they took some time out to journey across the country to spend time with us.

The weather has been nearly 100% fantastic in Tucson since we settled here in October, and May brought a few days of 100+ heat. I guess it can't be perfect all the time. In response, I took the opportunity to visit Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains just south of the city. The elevation means cooler temps and a different landscape. These mountains are one of 27 Madrean Sky Islands in the U.S. Their higher elevation and more plentiful precipitation make for more abundant greenery and lots of wildlife.

Silly me thought that the wildlife in the hot desert would hide from the heat like most humans do. I was wrong! During May, there were several interesting sightings near our apartment, including large troupes of coyotes, even more hummingbirds than in winter, a western diamondback rattlesnake, and a desert king snake (a "good" snake that eats rattlesnakes).

I enjoyed a lot of time with friends in May. In addition to Kerri and Brian's visit, I spent time with my friend Kalisha in Tempe and Heather in Tucson. I also wrapped up May with a visit to Colorado with Jenny, who was once my college roommate at Bellarmine University. She kindly informed people along the way that we were celebrating 20 years since we graduated from that institution of higher learning. What did I say about time?

Jenny and my trip was a bit of an impromptu idea. She wanted to go somewhere I'd never been, and those options seemed a bit slim. She'd also never visited a major national park. So, I suggested Colorado, and we spent the last few days of May in Estes Park, Colorado Springs, and Denver. It was as gorgeous as I expected, and I look forward to painting some of the scenes I encountered there. Highlights of our trip were Rocky Mountain National Park, Garden of the Gods, the city of Manitou Springs, the Denver Mint (where our pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters originate), and the Denver Botanic Gardens.

Work in progress from my watercolor class

I began taking a watercolor painting class from my drawing instructor. While I have a Bachelor's Degree in painting, I trained in college using acrylic paint, a completely different medium than the watercolor and gouache I've been using the past couple of years. I've never really received instruction in watercolor, and I feel the class has already helped me a lot. I plan to continue with both classes for the foreseeable future, both because they help me improve my artwork and because I really enjoy my instructor and classmates.

Sadly, I think this might have been the least productive month I've had since embarking on my artistic journey in 2016. I completed just two paintings, but I do have two more underway and also wrapped up two drawings in class. Of course, I did take a vacation and host house guests, which I wouldn't trade for anything.

June is looking to be a hot one, with triple-digits in the forecast as far as the eye can see. I'll be taking a trip to Phoenix and then heading to the beach in Mexico mid-month, but right now, I think I need to wrap up this update and get out the paints! Thanks for following along. :-)

Shameless plug alert! In case you're wondering, I have a few more paintings available for sale in my online shop than I often do. Also, I'm open to selling any of my drawings - feel free to make an offer or ask about pricing. Shop now ›

Photo from which I painted Sunny (compiled from two separate photos)

Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson, Arizona: 4/24/18, 9:06:56

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I Dare You

January 2, 2018 Teressa Jackson

This morning's sunrise - that's the moon setting to the right

"And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been." ~Rainer Maria Rilke

When I have connected with new people along the route over the past year, or spoken to people before I embarked on my year of traveling, or told people in my new Tucson home about the chapter I just finished, their most common response is, "I wish I could do something like that."

This saguaro cactus appears to rejoicing in the day, even in its afterlife

Also heard:

"It's really nice you are in the position to do that."
"I want to do something like that one day."
"I'm living vicariously through you."

I fully recognize that there are unique barriers we all face to living out dreams*. Sometimes I get the impression that people thought it was easy for me, possibly because they didn't see the months and months of hard work, planning, and emotional decisions I had to undertake to become a nomad.

Trust me, it was nice to be in the position to do that... AFTER I finally reached that point and nearly had a nervous breakdown getting there!

I could have said that I would wait for the new year, or to have a certain dollar amount in the bank, or any number of other arbitrary milestones. If you keep waiting on Someday, though, it has a funny way of never showing up. That "Someday" is a slippery little character.

The fact of the matter is, most things are more within your grasp than you think they are. Once you take that first step, and then the next, and the one after that, momentum has a way of building and carrying (or pushing!) you along. Eventually, turning back will seem just as difficult as moving forward once did.

I seriously wake up every day and can't believe this life I'm living. I never, ever, ever actually believed I would make any semblance of a living as an artist, or reside in the desert, or watch technicolor sunsets over jagged mountain vistas nearly every night. But that's precisely what my soul needed.

Since leaving my home of 40 years, I have felt compelled to live each day in a way that makes the sacrifices I made and the gift I have been given worthwhile. Now, I feel driven to live in a way that doesn't waste the opportunity to do what I always wanted but never though possible, and I love that little nagging feeling. Sometimes I fail, but most days I think I do pretty darn o.k.

What does your heart crave? Big or small, weird or mundane - I dare you to make it happen. Tick tock.

Happy New Year!

*Disclaimer: I fully realize that I do not have children, and that they add certain constraints to life with which I do not have to contend. No need to point that out to me. :-) Thank you!

The Gifts that Keep on Giving

December 20, 2017 Teressa Jackson

Sunset from outside our apartment. I recently hiked to the top of the tallest mountain you can see in the distance.

"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us." ~Hal Borland

The year's end is almost inevitably a time when most of us look back and reflect, although my favorite direction remains squarely in front of me. I don't like to live in the past or dwell on things, and that's probably good since I have a pretty terrible memory.

Several people have suggested that I author a book, and I haven't written off that idea, although I tend to think that I am, in general, not all that exciting or interesting. However, 2017 has certainly been one of, if not the most, eventful years of my life.

I'm a numbers person, so I'm going to indulge in a little breakdown here in that regard. Since embarking on my extended road trip on October 22, 2016:

I've laid my head to rest in 70 different places.
I've created 113 pieces of original art, and sold 84 of them. Seventeen remain for sale, and I'll probably crank out a few more before 2017 leaves us.
I've visited 31 national parks and monuments.
I've traversed four countries - the United States, Belize, Mexico, and St. Martin/Sint Maarten.
I missed a catastrophic hurricane by a mere three days.
I've driven approximately 30,000 miles.
I've traveled by car, foot, airplane, water taxi, repurposed school bus, bicycle, taxi, scooter, colectivo, ferry, motor coach, and teeny tiny prop plane.

In my life, whenever I've left one environment for another, I'm interested to see how relationships change - with whom do I maintain contact, with whom do things diverge, and how to the nature of those relationships that continue become different? Having lived my whole life until now in one geographic area, I'm mostly referencing academic and professional transitions. This time, this occurred on a much broader scale.

There are certainly more than a few people with whom I feel that I've lost touch since leaving home. I never know what to think when this happens, especially when I become disconnected from people about whom I care deeply. I won't blame myself, but I also don't blame the other. I've always said that "the phone works in both directions," and it (and e-mail, text message, etc.) truly does. To those people with whom this sentiment resonates, I'd just like to say that I welcome the opportunity to become a part of your life again, even if I can't seem to figure out how personally, and even though we now reside 1,500 miles apart.

We've lived in Tucson now for over two months, and I'm enjoying slowly settling into the routines and surroundings of this Sonoran Desert wonderland. I took a Korean cooking class at the Jewish Community Center, am becoming involved with the Humane Society, and I'm hoping to take some art classes at the nearby Northwest Art Center in 2018. Most importantly, I almost never miss the opportunity to watch the sun's final light show each evening.

I've yet to find a fantastic spot to eat Indian food, but was pleased to discover some amazing Chinese dumplings at China Pasta House, something I could never locate in Louisville. I'm set on sampling all of the taco shops, taquerias, and Mexican eateries that exist here. If you Google "Mexican restaurants in Tucson" you get 2,440,000 results, so I might be just a minute. Stand by...

Aaron and I are currently sharing the use of one car, and for the most part, I'm enjoying that challenge and opportunity to rethink what's necessary. He requires the car for work far more than I do, but I honestly haven't felt very hobbled without unlimited access to motorized transportation. The area where we live is close to everything I could really need except a post office, we are close to a nice walking and biking trail, and the climate is pretty much perfect for being a pedestrian. I've also considered getting a bicycle, and still might (although I'm slightly daunted by pedaling up hills... er... mountains).

I continue to receive reminders that life is short and precious, and that we should accept risks and opportunities and give love and forgiveness as much as possible. I'm not much for the holiday season, and it's been nearly unnoticeable here in sunny Arizona, but these are the gifts that keep on giving no matter what time of year it is.

Much love and merry everything to you all!

Even the daytime skies can be pretty fantastic here

My Artwork - October 2017

November 1, 2017 Teressa Jackson

October was a whirlwind! Aaron and I made a quick trip home; loaded our storage unit into a Uhaul; took a 5-day journey across Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico to Arizona; stayed in an Airbnb for a couple weeks while we waited on our apartment to be ready; and moved into the new apartment. We are official Tucsonans.

Needless to say, I'm kind of proud of myself for finding the time to paint ten pieces during that craziness. My friend the reverse mermaid (and merman) made a return, and I also made a few more paintings from our time in Saint-Martin.

It's nice to finally have a place of my own to paint. I think I'll continue to mostly create smaller pieces, but it's nice to have the option to do some larger works once again, too. For most of my life, I've made BIG art, and it's been a nice challenge to change that up.

Two of this month's pieces remain available in my shop, as well as some pieces from past months. I truly can't possibly thank all of the people who have bought my art enough. It's been flattering, humbling, heartwarming, and just plain fun to see so many of my creations find new homes.

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Happy Bay Beach, Saint-Martin: 8/23/17, 11:49:27

Cupecoy Beach, Sint Maarten: 8/24/17, 15:19:11

Pinel Island, Saint-Martin, 8/27/17, 11:15:25

"El Pescado Está en una Tabla de Paddle Stand Up"

"El Pescado Está en el Desierto de Sonora"

"El Pescado Está en una Tabla de Paddle"

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Teressa the Tucsonan

October 11, 2017 Teressa Jackson

"To be a human being is to be in a state of tension between your appetites and your dreams, and the social realities around you and your obligations to your fellow man."
~John Updike

I wasn't yet three years old when my family arrived in New Albany. Although I wasn't born there, it and the Louisville area are the only home I've ever known.

As a teenager, I couldn't wait to leave the area. I applied and was accepted to Chicago's DePaul University. At the last minute, however, I changed my mind. I remember that my mother was pretty upset, and she issued an understandable challenge given our family's financial situation. If I could persuade Bellarmine University to (re)award the scholarships that I had already declined, she would let me alter my plan. To both our amazement, I was successful.

Bellarmine was a good fit for me, and in retrospect, I think DePaul and Chicago would not have been. A couple of years after graduation, I continued my education at the University of Louisville, and my Master of Public Administration degree led me to work primarily in the human services sector. By the time those eight years had passed between high school and graduate school commencement, I not only had bought two houses in my New Albany hometown, I had a goal to work to actively help those who lived in the area. I was invested.

I can't believe that fifteen years have passed since then. My career has led me to meet some truly amazing individuals who comprise the bulk of the people in my life I refer to as friends. In fact, a humbling number of them have bought one or more pieces of my artwork and helped support my wandering over the past year and/or cheered me on instead of telling me I had lost my mind.

Although I have found great fulfillment in my life and career, I have also always felt that I missed out on something by never living anywhere else. Maybe it was the number "40" entering my life, or maybe it was just finally time, but I felt that my wandering over the past year was something I had to do. I didn't want to be someone who said they were going to do something "someday," but discovered that someday never came.

Once I set my mind to making the events of the past year happen, my determination drove me past hurdles and doubts. Many times, we spend more time thinking about why we can't do something than how to change that reality. I'm admittedly a little proud that I found the courage to set those uncertainties aside, stare the obstacles down, and make changes.

The places I have temporarily called "home" over the past year have provided me with many valuable experiences and inspirations. Staying in a place for a couple of weeks or even a month definitely provides a different perspective than a few days on vacation, but it's still a far cry from truly settling in and making a life there.

Now is the time to take that next step.

After leaving Saint-Martin, Aaron and I flew to Tucson. We had been to the area previously and enjoyed it. The prospect of living in a place with some of the mildest winters possible, beaucoup Mexican fare, a visually inspiring desert landscape, and a population around the size of our Louisville hometown lured us to consider it as a more long-term option. Aaron scored a job more quickly than we expected, and we hurriedly flew home and have spent the past several days driving our few remaining belongings from my mother's house in Johnson County, Indiana to the Arizona city also known as the Old Pueblo.

Me at Tucson's Saguaro National Park in January

I am tremendously fortunate to be in a position to casually look for local employment while I continue my contract work and creative pursuits. It will be interesting to see how we adjust to living in this city, but so far, people have been quite friendly and welcoming. So for now, and maybe even for good, you can refer to me as "Teressa the Tucsonan."

If I know you and you're reading this, chances are, I miss you. I hope to see you on my future visits back to Derby City when I should have more time for socializing, and invite you to look me up if you ever find yourself in this corner of the Sonoran Desert.

Living in an apartment instead of out of a backpack or vehicle, I'm looking forward to having the space and focus to create more and larger works of art. I have a lot of inspiration from this past year, and I can't wait to keep working through it all. Stay tuned as I continue to document my adventures as a new resident of this community, and stay in touch as I continue to keep you all in my heart.

Much Love,

My Artwork - September 2017

October 1, 2017 Teressa Jackson

I left the island of St. Martin September 3, just before Hurricane Irma hit. The rest of September was spent in Tucson, Arizona, with short trips to Ajo and Flagstaff, Arizona. Feeling lucky to have missed the tragic effects of Hurricane Irma, I created three paintings of St. Martin and donated the proceeds of their sales to charities working to help with relief efforts on the island. All three sold less than 24 hours from when they were posted!

Altogether, I created eight new paintings during September. A few remain available, as well as some pieces from past months. Orders are $5 off now through October 5 when you use the code "FALL" at checkout.

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