Taking the Leap

Almost exactly a year ago, I set out for a cross-country voyage with my dog, Do. A long time dream of mine had been to solo camp in wild lands across America for a stint of time, and I had finally put the dream into motion. The back of my Subaru would be my house on wheels for the month of May, and I was fully prepared for the open road and backcountry life.

The first couple of days of driving weren’t too exciting. I drove and drove and drove and drove. I left Knoxville late one Wednesday afternoon with enough daylight to get me to Land Between the Lakes right where Tennessee turns into Kentucky. I woke early the first morning to a storm and made tracks allllll the way to the middle of Kansas, and the next day I passed through the plains and then through the Rocky Mountains. These were long hours in the driver’s seat. I was running on the thrill of what was before me. 

Suddenly I found myself back in a familiar landscape that felt like home—the wide, dry desert stretching endlessly under the sun. The shift was immediate and exhilarating. I remember gripping the steering wheel, windows down, smiling for no reason other than I made it. A feeling of pure freedom overwhelmed me as I entered the canyonlands of Utah and felt the hot sun on my shoulders.

Out there, in the middle of nowhere, I passed an abandoned little building with a coffee sign on top of it—sun-faded, a little crooked, quietly defiant against the vast canyonlands around it. I snapped a photo of it because it looked like a scene I would want to recreate with watercolor. Not because it was grand, but because it marked the small, strange, beautiful things you only see when you take the leap of faith.

That sign became the subject of my first painting on the trip— and this month’s print club painting.

I felt that, since it’s been a year now, I should spend some time reflecting on what this experience meant to me and in turn share with you all what I gained.

Of course, this painting is about more than a place. It’s about momentum. About saying yes to the long drive, the unfamiliar road, the creative spark that shows up when you least expect it. It’s about trusting that something meaningful is waiting, even if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for yet. When you are open to challenging new things, life is even more abundant and beautiful. It takes initiative, tenacity, bravery and a willingness to fail at something, but gumption like this always generates a chance to learn.

I hope this story reminds you to take the leap—whether it’s a journey, a new idea, or simply a pause to notice what’s right in front of you.

“Desert Coffee” prints are still available on my website. And remember… its never to late to jump into my Print of the Month Club!!

Thank you, as always, for being part of this little creative adventure with me.

Warmest wishes for a colorful May,

Caroline Black

Inspo for my first Print of the Month!