Hello everyone! 

Wow! How did another year pass by so quickly, and how did I let my newsletter fall by the wayside for so long? I’m not quite sure, but I hope to change that pattern with this message. 

Over the past year, I embarked on a journey with Ten Dragons—a collection of ten block prints and poems reimagining the Zen Ten Ox-Herding story with dragons as the central figures. This project accomplished just what I had hoped, yet it remains a work in progress. I’m allowing some time to sit with it and see what percolates: https://youtube.com/shorts/UlFRn9UQMCQ?feature=share

A huge influence on many of my artistic directions from last year was a 317-mile thru-hike I accomplished with my 16-year-old daughter Esmé. It not only provided a powerful connection with her, but it also reinforced the potential for a unique kind of personal retreat that a long-distance hike can offer.

As part of a holiday craft sale, I am preparing to sell art items. I developed an idea into the Random Novel Moments Generator, which was inspired by my personal fascination with serendipity that I encountered during my recent travels. I wanted to explore how I could incorporate that sense of unexpected joy into my day-to-day life.
https://youtube.com/shorts/6Cw5g1ShSBw?feature=share
https://youtube.com/shorts/I_qmr-roG7I?feature=share

If you find the idea of random novel moments interesting, I have a few copies available for purchase: https://www.etsy.com/shop/GatelessGateStudio

This past October, I participated in the month-long drawing exercise called Inktober, with sketches based on photos from my recent PCT hikes, and the daily tempo of drawing proved to be incredibly interesting and beneficial for me.

Upcoming Project: As February unfolds, I am excited to begin a storytelling adventure with my latest project, “How I Got My Trail Name.” Imagine a homemade zine/comic-like narrative made up of sketches and stamps that tell the story of how I received my trail name on my PCT hike last summer, along with how I was introduced to the PCT. https://youtube.com/shorts/mm5nUE6mzQE?feature=share

I’m eager to continue sharing more exciting updates and creative endeavors with you. Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm.