Morning in Costa Rica begins early.

Bird o'clock early. 

Sleeping in our lodge with all the windows open to the tropical breezes, we woke to the birds' dawn chorus each day. First we'd hear a little trill, then a few random chirps. Then the troublemaker bird would start -  the one we dubbed my "boyfriend" since he liked to sing I'M HERE! I'M HERE! right outside my window in the dark.

As the sky began to lighten, we would hear the big Montezuma birds who have a strange burbling song. But all bets of sleeping were lost when the parrots flew in to feast on the tree next door. Covered in orange blossoms, that tree became the early morning target of dozens of screeching green parrots. When the parrots were finished, we could hear the quiet zing-zooming of the tiny hummingbirds who snacked on the purple flowers beside the porch. 

THIS is how we should all spend the month of January! Waking up to birdsong, drinking fresh-off-the-farm coffee, laughing and painting with friends. I spent a glorious warm week away from the polar vortex at the Finca Luna Nueva eco-lodge near Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica.  My travel buddies were twelve amazing artists, many of  whom were dear friends from Charlotte, NC. 

Hats off to the terrific trio of organizers and teachers who have become Wild Hair Adventures! Pam Goode, Jean Cauthen and Laura McRae Hitchcock led us in creative exercises throughout the week; it was the perfect place to study color!

The activities were as great as the art classes - we hiked the rainforest trails (at night and during the day) with our local guide Roy who could find and name every creature there - we had a tour of the biodynamic farm with the chief farmer who kept quizzing us on the multitude of plants grown for food (yucca, banana, milkfruit, jackfruit, ginger, allspice, cinnamon, vanilla, turmeric, black pepper and CHOCOLATE!) - one night we floated in a gorgeous hot spring fueled by the volcano - we zoomed on a crazy scary zipline over treetops and past waterfalls - we saw SLOTHS! - we took a safari float down the Penãs Blancas river, home to howler monkeys, iguanas and crocodiles (we saw them all!)

Needless to say, we found inspiration everywhere.
I had fun working with collage pieces and with vibrant neocolor crayons. 

All I can see myself painting in the next few months are colorful plants and birds!! Stay tuned...