Artist in Residence - Tongass National Forest

In May 2023, I was selected as the Artist in Residence for Voices of the Wilderness which is run by the Forest Service and pairs artists with local field offices throughout Alaska. I was based in Petersburg, Alaska, a small fishing town in Southeast Alaska. I spent time with two USFS rangers and an intern in the Tebenkof Bay Wilderness area on Kuiu Island.

Kuiu Island and the surrounding areas are the ancestral and unceded land of the Tlingit peoples.

Going from the scorching summer heat of Tucson, Arizona to the cool coastal weather of Petersburg, Alaska refreshed my artistic spark.

During my time on Kuiu and the surrounding Islands in Tebenkof Bay, my daily rhythms synchronized with the ebb and flow of the tide and adjusted to the long summer days. The Forest Service rangers and I used our Feathercraft kayaks to navigate the waters of Tebenkof Bay where we conducted solitude monitoring, checked up on campsites, watched sea otter pups learning hunting skills, saw a 3-foot-long pile worm cruising around, and a pair of humpback whales circling the bay. The quiet air of the forest created the perfect studio atmosphere for me to draw, paint, and write in my nature journal. Each night, before tucking away in my sleeping bag, I spent time sketching bits of plants, shells, and taking notes of my observations. My sketches turned into an illustration featuring a “slice of the Tongass National Forest” from the treetops to the ocean.

This rugged wilderness where the sea meets the forest has gifted me memories that will last me a lifetime. I hope that my experiences and artwork inspire others to preserve and respect our natural world

Journey to Kuiu Island

Wilderness Day 1: Depart Petersburg via seaplane to Kuiu Island. Arrive at Clamshell Island and set up basecamp. The crew put together our Featherlight kayaks (which was incredibly challenging!)

Wilderness Day 2: Kayak from Clam Shell Island to Long Island to filter water. Kayak to East Island to monitor cabin site and eat lunch.

Megan, Sydney, and I searched for crabs in the tidal “pond” on East Island.

Wilderness Day 3: Packed up camp at Clam Shell Island, loaded up my kayak, and paddled about 30 mins to our next island, Lisa Point. Arriving at Lisa Point in the early afternoon. The group set up camp in the forest and

Wilderness Day 4: The next morning, we departed from Lisa Point to the Windfall Islands for a day-paddle. This paddle is the longest passage that I have done. My upper body was very tired but this paddle so worth it…the ranger Karissa spotted a bear from the kayak on a distant beach! Another amazing moment was getting out near the open ocean and feeling the swell slowly raise and lower our kayaks.

Wilderness Day 5: Departure from Lisa Point and the Tebenkof Bay

Sketchbook Tour!

Before heading out to Alaska, I made my own sketchbook with the help of fellow artist and bookbinder, Julia Jai Miller. I filled this sketchbook with Arches 150 lb coldpress paper and Stonehenge black watercolor paper. I appreciated the time that the residency gave me to connect with nature and have dedicated time to making art. Each day I’d spend time doing some plen air painting of the landscapes, specimens, writing, or recording my daily observations.

Enjoy!

Back from the Wilderness!

After returning to Petersburg, I hosted two science illustration classes for elementary students and adults at the Petersburg Library. During my classes, I shared my experience in the wilderness, shared my nature journal, and lead students through a science illustration exploration.