GROUND FLOOR FARM MURAL ARTIST PROJECT

A few months ago, I participated in the mural project at Ground Floor Farm, an urban farm right in the heart of my hometown of Stuart, Florida. The project brought artists from near and far to paint sections of the wooden fence surrounding the farm--creating an engaging and exciting series of murals in every style imaginable around the farm's perimeter!

Upon receiving news that I was chosen to participate, I immediately began brainstorming ideas--I wanted to make my little piece of downtown into some sort of tribute to the place where I have so many memories of growing up! After going back and forth between a few ideas, I settled on an old-school postcard design--a greetings from Stuart mural! I love finding locally-focused murals and public art when I travel, so it was fun to create something that people can pose with for photos for years to come.

As I had never painted a mural before, I did a good deal of measuring, rendering, gridding, and triple checking before slapping any paint on the fence--thank you, interior design school. The whole mural took two long long days to complete (with a few taco breaks, friend visits, margaritas and a serious sunburn)--and I'm so happy with the result! 

I was most excited to be able to incorporate little nuances and tributes to my favorite places in Stuart--the House of Refuge (one of my favorite places on earth!), the Stuart Feed Store, the Riverwalk, Lyric Theatre, and others! All of these places are as near and dear to my heart now as they were when I was just a kid!

I hope you have a chance to stop by the farm and see all the incredible work from all the artists! 

WHAT IRMA TAUGHT ME

Though, as a Floridian, I’ve lived through probably dozens of hurricanes, this season has been one for the books--and has marked the first time that my life and home were significantly impacted by a storm. Two weeks afterward, though, I’m nearly back to normal--and able to look at those events with a fresh perspective. Here are just a few of the things that Irma taught me in these past few weeks.

FAITH

Natural disasters have a way of showing us our humanity--there’s not much we can do when they strike besides prepare, pray, and do our best to recover and help each other out when it’s over. Encountering shocking photos and reports of flooding from spots just steps from my home, I had no choice but to pray and be thankful that my puppy, myself and my loved ones were safe.

ACCEPTING/ASKING FOR HELP

This isn’t a quality that comes naturally to me, but sometimes there’s not a choice. I encountered acts of kindness that I’ll never forget, from the employee at a South Carolina Chick-fil-a who brewed me a fresh pot of coffee five minutes before closing, to my sister and brother-in-law who sheltered me for nearly two weeks, to my landlord hanging my soaking-wet clothing and shoes all around her own house to keep them from being ruined, to my Dad driving three hours to Jacksonville to help with an hour or two of yardwork. It’s deeply moving to know that these people didn’t think twice about helping out--and something to remember, as sometimes small gestures can leave a big impact.

GRATITUDE

When your home is damaged in a storm, it’s inevitable that material things will be lost--while I was fortunate to have a relatively small amount of flooding and damage to my home, I joined my neighbors in leaving a good deal of my possessions in a heap on the curb. It’s been a freeing reminder that life is about so much more than stuff...and that things like a roof over my head, a sunny day, and a cold refrigerator are gifts to be cherished (not to mention loving and supportive family and friends).

COMMUNITY

I heard it said somewhere that these storms have brought the worst of mother nature, but brought out the best of humanity. I’ve already witnessed neighbors helping each other out, made friends with passers-by asking how my home fared in the storm, and seen my neighborhood come together to support each other--both residents and small businesses. While I’ve hardly been here for three months, it’s already given me hope in a world that seems riddled with tragedy!

NEW WORK | FORGOTTEN COAST SERIES

It’s about time I update this old thing, huh? Plenty of updates and news to come (from my new home in JACKSONVILLE! And no, I didn’t foresee this move when I named my dog earlier this year...), but I wanted to share a little bit about the art I worked on during my last few weeks in Tallahassee.

If you’ve seen me in the last two years, you probably know how tough the grad school journey has been (sometimes I feel like the before and after version of me is similar to those before/after shots of presidents at the start and end of their term...ha!). So, naturally, some time (read: two solid months) was necessary to unwind, reclaim a normal sleep schedule, get anxiety in check, and actually do fun things!

I took a nearly two-year hiatus from painting during school--partly due to a lack of time, partly due to a lack of creative energy, partly due to a puppy who’ll pick up any and everything left on the floor. I was so excited to get back into it that I spent a few days exploring new subject matter and new techniques. Long story short, two years of not creating or selling many paintings means I had a lot of the same old same hanging on my wall for way too long...so I covered them in a light coat of white paint and got to work recovering!

This project was one of the first times that painting was a personal experience for me--old paintings held old memories, new subject matter reflected the changes that’ve taken place in my life since moving to Tallahassee--in each of these paintings, the hues and patterns of old paintings peek through and form a base for the multiple layers of color and texture used in each piece (acrylic paint, pastel, crayon, marker, pen…#leftovercraftsupplies).

Florida's Forgotten Coast is a truly special place--only a short drive from Tallahassee, the area is full of quiet beaches, nature preserves, friendly folks and places that are reminiscent of what Florida used to be. Pristine nature, gorgeous scenery, relaxing vibes--and the best oysters I've ever had! It's like going back to another time, and many spots became a quiet escape from the stresses of life and grad school. 

It was a really fun process to create these paintings, relive old and new memories, and explore new places--good and bad--as I painted. You can view a few of these pieces in my shop--I hope you enjoy!

THE VALUE OF A DAYCATION

This past weekend, I took a day trip to Apalachicola with my mom and youngest sister, who were in town to visit me, but mostly to meet my puppy before he grows up (but who can blame them?). We bopped around Tallahassee on Friday and Saturday, where I showed them around a few of my favorite shops and eateries--the opportunity to help the pup with socialization has me eating al fresco all the time and it’s the best!

We decided to take a Sunday afternoon trip to Apalachicola, a little seaside town about an hour and a half southwest of Tallahassee. If you’re not familiar, the city is known for its oysters--and for good reason--ours tasted like they were plucked from the bay and immediately placed on our table. As a native of the so-called “Sailfish Capital of the World,” I love some quality seafood--it’s hard to come by in the landlocked capital city.

Since Jackson came with us, our ability to pop in and out of shops was pretty limited, and most of the town shuts down early on Sunday (including Oyster City Brewing Company, where I was hoping for a brew or two!)--yet, I still returned back home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. I think sometimes a change of scenery can be like a little reset button for a worn-out spirit--as for me, a trip to the coast refreshes me almost instantly. There’s a peace and excitement in watching ocean waves, eating dinner with a view of the bay, and even driving over a bridge that spans salt marshes. And I mean, a puppy playing in the waves and chasing seagulls doesn’t hurt.

A daycation doesn’t even need to take place in a city outside your own--I visited a new-to-me park last weekend with my sister and brother-in-law and felt refreshed after a walk around the lakes and woods. It doesn’t take much! 

Here are some of our favorite restaurants and spots in Apalachicola--the town is small enough to explore in an afternoon, but I'd jump at the chance to spend a weekend eating oysters on the half-shell and walking Jackson along the boardwalks!

Boss Oyster: Beautiful views (it’s right on the water!), amazing oysters, and great fish dip.

Oyster Bones: Cute little pet store--good for bringing your dog (and buying nautical-themed dog treats)

Oyster City Brewing Company: We didn’t make it here, but walked by and it looked super fun! I love brewery atmospheres and have this at the top of my list for my next visit.

READING LIST | DEC/JAN

One of the lamer parts of grad school is the fact that it sucks up all of my time--magazines are left unread til a long break, books sit on shelves unfinished, and my digital New York Times subscription goes unused.

As part of my 2017 goal to incorporate intentional rest into my daily routine, I’ve been picking up books that I’ve had on my Goodreads list forever, and taking books from my parents’ collection at their home (thanks guys!). I love winding down my day with a good book and cup of tea or decaf coffee. Here’s what I’ve recently finished or am currently reading!

Present over Perfect | An easy read, and really makes ya think--this was encouraging to read during a rough patch this past year. I love her devotional Savor and think her writing and storytelling is so relatable.

The Light Between Oceans | I’ve been wanting to read this one for awhile and loved it! Also, I cried.

The Magnolia Story | read this whole thing after dinner one evening--made me love Chip and Jo even more!

The Boys in the Boat | I love a good memoir, and the storytelling in this book is SO vibrant. I’m only a few chapters in and seriously loving it so far.

All the Light We Cannot See | A recommendation from a few friends--can’t wait to get into this one!

What's on your reading list for 2017?

xo