Some obsessions begin quietly.
Mine began long before I had a name for it.
Henry and I had traveled to Arizona to visit his mother. During a free weekend, we decided to explore the area around us. We found ourselves at Tuzigoot and Montezuma Castle, two ancient dwellings tucked into the Verde Valley that most people drive past without stopping.
I am glad we stopped.
At the visitor center, I discovered the National Park Passport book. A small, unassuming booklet designed for one purpose: to collect stamps from every national park, monument, and historic site you visit. I have always loved the idea of passports. The ritual of it. The proof that you were somewhere, that a place left its mark on you. However, instead of getting the small passport booklet, I went ahead and got the Collector's Edition instead. It has a little write-up of each park and you can collect additional stickers, which I thought was another good way of supporting the National Parks.
I had visited national parks before 2017. The Grand Canyon stopped me in my tracks. But it was this visit to these ancient dwellings that made me commit to reaching all of them. That was the beginning of the intentional journey. Since then, I have visited 48 national parks, monuments, and historic sites. Sixty-three national parks exist in the United States. I have been to 22 of them. I wish to complete this in my lifetime, savoring each visit. Being in the midst of nature and experiencing what people of the past have experienced brings a sense of groundedness you can only get by being there.
As an artist, I express what moves me and what I experience in my daily life. And somewhere along the way, the parks also found their way into my creations, whether through photography, drawing, or painting.
Yosemite. Zion. Bryce Canyon. Yellowstone. Rocky Mountain. Olympic. Mount Rainier. Arches. Grand Canyon. Channel Islands. Walnut Canyon. Redwood. Joshua Tree. Montezuma's Castle. Sequoia and Kings Canyon, which I am working on right now.
Each one is a place I have stood in. Looked up at. Felt small inside of, in the best possible way. It reminds me that we are here as custodians of the earth and it is our responsibility to keep these parks protected for future generations to experience what we have experienced.
The art I make from these parks is not just an illustration. It is not just a map or a souvenir. It is my attempt to hold onto what I felt when I was there, and to share that feeling with someone who has not been there yet, or who has been there and wants to carry a piece of it home.
In 2026 I created a calendar featuring my national park art. Now I am working on the 2027 edition. I am hoping to have it completed in July and will add it to the store soon.
Supporting the National Parks has always been important to me. This year I made it part of my business too.
For every National Parks-inspired product sold at MyLittleFe, one dollar goes to the National Park Service. The NPS turns 110 years old on August 25, 2026. That date is my target for making the first annual donation through MyLittleFe, and telling that story publicly.
It will be a small amount this first year. I am honest about that. But the act of giving, and the intention behind it, matters to me more than the number.
These parks have given me so much. A sense of wonder. A creative obsession. A reason to keep exploring. It feels right to give something back.
If you want to bring a piece of that wonder into your everyday life, the National Parks collection is at the link below.
And if you ever find yourself at a visitor center with a passport book in the rack, pick one up. You might be surprised where it takes you. 🌿
Explore the National Parks Inspired Collection