Great Outdoors

Over the holidays I had the opportunity to spend some time outdoors (thank you, California!). I went on walks along the beach, went for a hike on the bluffs of Palos Verdes, and went camping on the central coast of California. Although I am decidedly a city lover, it was nice to slow down, quiet down, and get out and enjoy the small and large wonders of the natural world. I was reminded of how much inspiration can be drawn from the outdoors – not only because of the beauty of the landscapes and seascapes, but also because of the focus and clarity it brings. When you are hiking or merely ‘being’ outdoors, distractions are gone and all that’s left to focus on is the environment. You become increasingly aware of the noises, smells, colors, and textures. As an artist, I immediately begin to wonder, how might I paint that hillside, or that tide pool? What colors would I use, what kind of brushstrokes? Other thoughts fade away and I am content to simply contemplate my surroundings. Its no wonder that the Transcendentalists and Impressionists turned out such inspired work. And then there is of course the wonderful sense of peace that the outdoors brings – a reminder of the larger forces at work, and the pure miracle that is such an abundance of life. The ‘natural high’ one gets from being outside is a powerful, visceral force, when one really sinks into it.

And yet – it is tragically fleeting. We get back in our cars, back to our homes, our comforts and conveniences, and the spiritedness and revelations we experienced, the gratitude we felt simply for being alive, are soon forgotten. Of course it would be nice to simply abscond from our modern lives and amenities. Some do just that - this couple, recently highlighted in the New York Times, live full-time with their baby in a yurt out in the Alaskan wilderness:

And this is certainly admirable – but for those of us who want to balance a host of interests and goals requiring contact with modern society, it is necessary to find a way to integrate nature with urban life. One approach is to bring the outdoors in – creating homes and spaces that celebrate nature. John Carson of Margaretville, New York, embraced this idea when he decided to build his home around a 250-ton boulder:

Although perhaps a bit extreme, I love the idea of co-habitating with something so massive and raw – there is no way to avoid contemplating the natural building blocks of our earth when you have a eight-foot tall rock in your living room.

However you integrate nature into your life, whether it is with regular walks, camping trips, living in a yurt, or building your home around a giant boulder, it is important to make an effort to connect with the outdoors on a regular basis. It reminds us of our history, our unity, and our mortality as human beings.

Palos Verdes, California