Return to flip book view

ON 
Interviews | CAMP FOODS | how-tos | camp style | CollectiblesWINTER 2022magicWinTeR

Our Contributors Caroline Eubanks Caroline Eubanks is an Atlanta based writer and author of This Is My South The Essential Travel Guide to the Southern States Page 60 Tony Peggy Barthell Tony Peggy Barthell are popular speakers at camping events nationwide They own StresslessCamping com where they host their podcast as well as tips stories and expert advice on camping Page 76 Mike Caudill Mike Caudill is an internationally recognized expert in all things auto and a frequent contributor to major media outlets nationwide He s also the co founder of the apparel brand Rooster Nation Follow Mike at OurAutoExpert com Page 80 Terri Marshall Terri Marshall an award winning writer covering cultural travel multi generational travel food drink road trips cars and characters is based in NYC From hanging out with penguins in Antarctica to fishing for piranhas in Peru Terri s always up for an adventure Page 62 Sarah Miller Sarah Miller is a national feature writer who loves the outdoors and travel adventures After an editor assigned her a story on RVing in America she spent her next paycheck on a used Starcraft Pop Up camper Her stories are chronicled at sarahmiller2 contently com Page 66 Kellie Speed Kellie Speed has more than 20 years experience writing for publications like Haute Living CBS Boston U S Veterans magazine DiverseAbility magazine Mohegan Sun s Legends and Amtrak s Arrive Page 69 7 GIRL CAMPER WINTER 2022

Painter Alice Leese has landed her dream job, not once, but three times, as a National Park Artist-in-Residence which most people would say is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In 2018, Leese spent a month at the Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site in New Mexico. The following year she landed a month-long residency at the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, and in 2021, her residency was scheduled for Dry Tortugas National Park, on a private island on the Gulf of Mexico. “It really is a dream job,” Leese says. “I get to work in these beautiful surroundings.” While such a program may seem like a natural fit for the National Parks, it was fellow artist Tanya Ortega’s personal program that started it all. “As a photographer, I set up my own artist in residences, then I found residencies for my friends,” Ortega said. “Next, I founded the National Parks Arts Foundation in 2013.” Today, the nonprofit organization oers residences across the country in eight dierent National Parks. After seeing an online advertisement for the program, Leese immediately applied, but it took over three years of applying before she was accepted. Clearly her perseverance paid o. “Keep applying,” Leese advises. “Have a clear proposal. It’s important to look at why we need to preserve these areas. Think of how you can give back to the parks with your art. I did plein air painting on site so National Park visitors could learn about art and the park.”When she’s not painting the parks, Leese is a cattle rancher in West Texas at the family business started by her-great grandfather more than 100 years ago. Her art studio is on the ranch just 100 yards from her house. “My dad was a rancher and had a flexible schedule, so I grew up camping in National Parks,” Leese said. “It felt like my dad towed our camper to every National Park and monument in New Mexico, Colorado and Texas. The parks became a large part of my experiences.” Her month-long residency in Fort Union was steeped in history and natural beauty. “Seeing the fort’s red adobe walls at sunset is captivating,” Leese said. “It looks like it’s on fire. I think of the people that travelled to the fort long ago and their story--the journey these people took, to finally know they made it here.”While the desert and short grass prairie of New Mexico inspired Leese, her next stop presented a whole new type of beauty. She swapped her ochre color palette for lush green paints at the Hawai’i Volcanoes Creating Art in Our National ParksBy Sarah MillerAlice painting on Black BeachTanya Ortega, founder of the National Parks Arts66 GIRL CAMPER / WINTER 2022 ◼ LIFESTYLE

National Park. The volcano never erupted during her visit, but the landscape provided plenty of inspiration. She also connected with experts to learn about Hawaiian culture. Leese painted en plein air on site where park visitors could watch her at work. Later, she presented an evening slide show for the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. She recalls, “My drive back from the presentation that night was magical. Light mist and a full moon created a white, glowing moonbow.”“Regionalism with a twist” is how Leese describes her artistic style. “Rhythmic movement is found in the landscape, especially the clouds. The light and shadows are always shifting.”She says she draws on nature’s wonderland to inspire others toward “conservation and respect for Mother Nature.” Her love of the National Parks radiates in her paintings. The program’s founder Tanya Ortega, who spoke with us from her teardrop camper “Penny” based in the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, wanted to give a word of encouragement to any artist. “You don’t need a residency to create,” she said. “I want everyone to go out in the parks and create beauty.”Plein air painting of Fort UnionPaining at the Volcano House workshop67 GIRL CAMPER / WINTER 2022 ◼ LIFESTYLE

DREAM JOB NOTICEThe National Parks Arts Foundation hosts more than 50 residency programs across the country, accepting visual artists, writers, musicians and other creative media. Artists should exhibit an interest in park preservation and sharing their talents with the public. Guidelines vary with each residency, but most require the artist to donate one piece of their work, with copyrights, to the park. Some require the artist to stay alone; others allow families to join. Most programs provide housing and a weekly stipend with a stay ranging from three days to three months. Parks with upcoming opportunities include Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico (April and October 2022); Haleakala National Park (summer 2022); Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park (September 2022); and Death Valley National Park (January 2023). For detailed information and future opportunities, visit nationalparksartsfoundation.org. Alice’s studio with panels of Volcano Plein air of Julien easel wagon repair shopAlice presenting Fort Union Alice’s painting donated to Fort Union National Monument