Claudia's Studio Updates
RMNP Artist Residency, Pulp Painting Workshops, and A BIG MOVE
Hi, Happy Summer!
I’ve just returned from the most awe inspiring two weeks as Artist-in-Residence at Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), immersing in the bountiful nature that the park has to offer.
I was fortunate enough to stay at the William Allen White cabin, built in the early 1900s, before RMNP was established in 1915. It looks over Moraine Park, with awe inspiring views of Longs Peak, and its sisters in the distance, and the winding Big Thompson river, which was raging with snowmelt whilst I was there. It was a wonderful place to observe nature; I spent an entire morning identifying wildflowers around the cabin, and a pair of resident hummingbirds and the curious ground squirrels would often stop by. I ate my meals on the huge porch, sometimes in shorts, other times in blankets, watching the days roll in and out.
Being at higher elevation in the mountains, I was reminded how quick the weather can change. I’d spent a fun and insightful sunny morning with Ranger Marilyn – who worked in RMNP for 20 years before retiring, and now volunteers there - touring me around the park, telling me stories at her favourite spots. I’d just got back to the cabin as the clouds rolled in and deep-belly thunder boomed, followed by sporadic fat drops of rain, becoming hail at points. Sunshine arrived moments later and then back to the storm. It slowed me down and I loved it. I hoped for daily afternoon storms.
Escaping my usual home routines led me to creating new ones. I spent most of my sunsets down by the river, searching for the resident beaver who’s dam I’d spotted. One evening I bumped into ‘innkeepers’, Tom & Julie, who were a delight, sharing their knowledge of the history of the park cabins, as well as where they’d seen the beaver. Despite my best effort, it eluded me my entire residency, but it didn’t really matter, it was magic to be by the water watching the colours change.
Nature spotting was aplenty though; amongst other things I saw moose (meese), deer, elk, a Garter snake, marmots (the animal I think I’d be if I lived in RMNP), bats, bighorn sheep, lizards, fish, all the types of squirrels. I was really spoilt! I even saw Western Tiger salamanders up at Bierstadt Lake with Matt, who came to visit for a few days. At one point, we’d waylaid our trail whilst salamander seeking and stumbled upon a solitary Fairy Slipper orchid – it felt miraculous! Energised by the environment, I covered some serious distance over the residency, around 80 miles and over 14,000ft of elevation.
Surprisingly, there was so much companionship to be found in the mountains. I would have long luxurious conversations with people I met on the trail, sharing experiences and hearing their tales. I screen printed with around 100 individuals at the visitor centre and met countless Park Rangers.
Despite it being a preciously limited time, I had a sense of spaciousness, to move through my days with ease, leaning into what I wanted to do. I hiked, read, wrote, drew, took naps, spent time on the porch, did daily tick-checks (a necessity), ate, chatted, nursed cups of tea whilst watching the sky, and played board games. I am so grateful to have been selected for the program, and cannot wait to see what comes out of it. I don’t think it’s superfluous to say that it was a phenomenal experience, and one that I will carry with me!
Pulp Painting Workshops
I’m teaching Pulp Paint Play at the Summer Art Institute at Women’s Studio Workshop in July. You may remember from earlier newsletters that I was an artist-in-residence there for two months in early 2023. I’m delighted I was invited back to teach – I cannot wait to see Upstate NY in it’s summer glory! You can read about the workshop here.
A Big Move = A Big Sale
Big News! Matt and I are moving back to the UK, our homeland, at the end of August! I’ll share more of our plans in my next newsletter, but this means I’ll be having a HUGE sale on prints in my online shop from the beginning of August. I’ll also be having one final exhibition in Denver before I leave, so pencil August 10th in your diaries if you’re local. It’ll be a mix of newer works in the gallery and a print and ceramics sale in the garden, more details coming soon!
And now, some things I’ve enjoyed recently…
Read:
The cabin had an excellent little library and I found myself dipping into A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains. It reads like a diary, though it’s actually a collection of letters written by Isabella L. Bird, to her sister in 1873. The blurb describes her as a middle-aged English lady, travelling solo by horseback. Read it for her descriptions of the wilderness and a woman adventuring in a time when that was not the norm. Do not read it for her antiquated views on race, class, and politics.
Cook:
Peanut noodle salad from NYT – it’s a taste sensation, exactly what I need on a hot day, salty and fresh, a salad with substance. I like it with more herbs than listed, adding basil, mint, and chives, or whatever’s in the garden.
Listen:
I met a birder who works for the amazing non-profit Rocky Mountain Conservancy whilst on the trail in RMNP. We got chatting and I asked her who was in the meadow around us, she shushed me and then proceeded to SEE WITH HER EARS all the different birds in the vicinity, tuning into them one-by-one. I was in awe. I don’t know my birds by sound, but spending 5mins at dusk listening to who / whats around is special.
Look:
And that’s it! Thank you for reading, I appreciate you : )
The pictures and stories are so lovely! Every one was like a juicy bite! Sounds wonderful!!!
You have the most poetic writing <3 I did, however, have to stop RIGHT AWAY and click the link to your pulp painting class. My wheels are turning..