Hiking for Inspiration

I spend most of my time in the studio, but recently I have taken up hiking with my dad.  He loves Civil War history and so we go out hunting for old building and fort sites.  It's great to get outside, and extra fun to "treasure hunt" around for ruins.  I also have the opportunity to observe nature!

Beautiful, large quartz stones (Dad for size)

I love the ring of moss around this tree.  The contrast of textures and colors, it inspires me to create work with more variety of the two.

The low cut in the earth is the "moat" of an old Civil War fort.  The rise to the right (beside the shed) is an odd backward 7 shape and where the fort used to sit.

These bright greens popped out of no where, everywhere else on the stream was still brown!

This lovely stone has made me want to find a new matte glaze with a blue hue.  Its important to think of what colors help others pop (something I forget sometimes)

Part of an old mill dam, built up to stop up the creek and feed the mill.

These tree roots weave over each other in such a delicious way.  And just think! the creek used to travel down this path but now its path has changed and this tree is left floating.

What could be under this huge rock? (next to the site of an old house, which took us two tries to find)

It's a well!  An old, hand dug well. Stone lined.  I was only able to take the photos by sticking my phone down the hole.  The craftsmanship is astounding.  40ft deep perhaps.It makes me think of the inside of a coil pot.  Smoothing out the coils can be a bad thing, when you end up hiding such great textures.

Hope to go on more hikes in the future and find more cool places!