Colorful landscape painting of red rocks and green bushes with a blue sky and a yellow and blue arched bridge overhead.

National Parks Project

En Plein Air

In 2014, I set out on an ambitious journey to paint every U.S. National Park on location. This was a bold act of devotion to the land has given me so much. Over four years, I traveled across deserts, forests, mountains, and coastlines, painting en plein air in all 63 National Parks. This project was never just about painting; it was about preservation, connection, and honoring the soul of these wild, sacred places. With each canvas, I hoped to capture the fleeting light and enduring spirit of the land, creating a body of work that speaks to the urgency of protecting what we are in danger of losing.

A painting of a tall waterfall cascading down a rocky cliff surrounded by green trees.

A woman wearing a hat and a jacket with patches paints on an easel in a forest with tall trees and a waterfall in the background.

A painting of a natural landscape featuring a woodland scene with tall evergreen trees, a fallen tree leaning at an angle, and a calm body of water reflecting the scene, signed by the artist in the bottom right.

There were moments I didn’t think I could finish. The physical, emotional and financial obstacles were real and sometimes overwhelming, but what carried me through was an unshakable trust in the path I had chosen. Along the way, I met others who shared a deep passion for these lands, and their encouragement helped fuel my own. Now, this journey lives on in a forthcoming book that brings together my paintings, stories from the road, and a call to others: to look more closely, to dream a little bigger, and to keep going even when the road gets rough.

A landscape painting of a canyon with steep cliffs, a blue river at the base, and sparse green trees in the foreground.

A woman painting outdoors on an easel in a mountainous landscape at sunset.

My forthcoming book is a visual and personal chronicle of my four-year journey painting all 63 U.S. National Parks on location. More than just a collection of plein air landscapes, it’s a story of perseverance, wonder, and deep connection to the land. Each chapter pairs original artwork with reflections from the road—moments of challenge, awe, and insight gathered from some of the most breathtaking and remote places in the country. Created to inspire and preserve, this book invites readers to slow down, reconnect with nature, and witness the power of following an improbable dream all the way through.