I've been spending a lot of time in Montana the past few months, and in doing my best to be in two places simultaneously, I've gotten creative in where and how I work.

Before this visit to MT, I accepted a sizeable watercolor commission of 6 animal portraits, and the deadline is looming - in a good way. I work well under a bit of pressure. That being said, I needed space to work for extended periods, so not the dining room table.

When I arrived in Missoula, the skies were clear, and the weather was stunning! So I poached my dad's outdoor shop workbench and set it up in the sun, so I could work with the best light ever. Besides getting too hot at certain points in the day, this setup worked fabulously for what I needed. I smeared on plenty of sunscreen and got to work! The sun helped dry my paper in record time, and I could work much faster than usual. I had a wonderful time!

I worked this way for two solid days, then…the smoke started to roll in. At the time of this writing, Missoula is surrounded by wildfires, and it's too unhealthy to be outside. Let me tell you how bored Princess Roxana is right now. This also means no long extended dog walks, so we are both bummed out.

And I still needed a space to set up in, so I went to the place in the house with the best light. The front porch. This is a bit nostalgic for me as this was my mother's painting studio for the entirety of my childhood. She has since taken over my old bedroom. It's surreal to be the one painting here now, the place where she spent so many hours and created so much beauty with her brushes.