Adventures for Wilderness – Drawing and Centering

July 18, 2025

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• Adventures for Wilderness
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Text and photos by Ruiping Luo

 

So often, when pursuing the next mountain peak, or journeying along rivers, through forests and past meadows, we forget to appreciate the details. We don’t always take time to observe the pattern of trees, or notice how the light catches on the water, or count the petals on a flower.

For those gathered at Pinetop Recreation Area on July 16, the purpose was to take this time. Lead by Barbara Amos, a visual artist who has worked extensively in nature, we hiked a short distance into the woods and set up to capture nature on paper.

Close to the city, Pinetop Recreation Area receives a fair amount of visitors looking for an escape, though once away from the parking lot, the worries of modern life felt very distant. Wisps of clouds floated overhead, and through the leaves, dappled sunlight left shifting patterns on the soil. Flower bloomed at the edges of the path, attracting colorful butterflies. The water was clear, the chirp of birds and the occasional grasshoppers around us, and though we were interrupted by passing campers and other hikers, it was a perfect place for aspiring – and professional – artists.

The focus of this day was on watercolor. Before we started with paints and pencils, Barbara first suggested we hike down to the river, finding inspiration in the sounds and sights around us. Some found a quiet spot to begin their work, while others gathered back around Barbara, as she guided us through exercises to familiarize ourselves with our materials. Understanding your materials was important to getting the effect you want, she explained, and different papers, brushes, markers and brands will work differently.

We spent the rest of the time each working on our own creations, sharing our view of the world through brushstrokes and markers. Art is a form of expression, but it can also be a way to reflect, and to remember your values. Sometimes, it’s more important to enjoy the scene, instead of rushing forward.