Art

Therapeutic Art Class: Light and Shadow 1/8

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As you may have heard, I have started teaching Acrylic Expression classes at Willow’s in Eureka. This is an all age class where we talk about our shadows and it’s relationship to art. Our shadow is the part of us that we deny attention, rather we be ashamed, or not ready to face that the ego isn’t always as perfect as it makes it’s self out to be. Many times the community asks me, where do you get inspiration for your art? And my answer is through meditation. When I sit in meditation I am able to conceptualize things clearly and then I take those ideas and I use them in my artwork. In this class we begin introductions with a tarot reading. Everyone chooses a card and relates that card to their lives, without knowing anything about tarot. You may be surprised how much the imagery makes strong suggestions to what the tarot card means, but almost always the newcomer is able to relate the card to it’s intended meaning.

@littlelostforestart

Acrylic Expression Class on the Harvest Full Moon at Willows in Eureka. Theme of this class was Light and Shadow.

♬ This D.J. – Warren G

Next we sit (or lay) in a 30min-1hour meditation. During this meditation I guide my participants to the otherworld, but first we thank our directions and ourselves for showing up. When were in the other world I create a safe space that is different for each participant. Once that safe space is created we face our shadow selves, this can be negative traits of ours, problems we may be facing day to day, or with other people. We confront this shadow, talk with it, accept it and then let it pass. Then we return to the safe place and take note of all the details within it. Throughout this experience we draw inspiration to paint in our art session. When the participants wake up from the session we go into an art lesson. The themes are posted on the flier. Our first theme was Light and Shadow. I am going to post the lesson plans on here so you can do this guided lesson at home. Feel free to leave me a tip through the link to my etsy store. If you prefer a video I have also linked a video to my youtube channel so you can participate in the guided meditation at home.

Why do I put these lessons up for free? The class may never come up again in the same manner. These classes are experiences that are unique each and every session. I can’t promise that one session will be just like the other. To get the full experience it is highly recommended that you come to class in person. The classes structure will change after the series is done, next I would like to do a class targeted to pregnant moms, and new moms so they can explore their unconscious reactions to motherhood and paint it on canvas.

For this class we offer high quality, golden paints, a small canvas, a journal that you can take notes on, sketch paper and drawing tools, as well as cookies, and beverages.

This class takes place every other week. Below is the flier. Thank you for reading and I hope to see you in class.

Light and Shadow

6:15pm Introduction

Introduce class, who I am, the shadow and light physically and metaphysically and its relationship to self.

Introductions, Names, what brings you to art class today, What inspires you? What are you working on?

Talk about safe space, letting people speak, and not sharing other people’s stories outside of class.

6:30pm Lesson

Ask we progress through this lesson sketching is encouraged.

There is no light without shadow and no psychic wholeness without imperfection. -Carl Jung

The shadow is everything which one has no wish to be. -After Skool

Persona, social mask. Taboo to talk about our hardships and failures. hiding behind the persona.

The shadow is limitations, biases, fears, traumas, oppressed fears, and untapped potential.

The shadow is often seen in dreams. When the shadow is confronted, we can understand our potential and ideal self.

Similar to the Ying and Yang, we need both the light and the shadow to make a whole.

The shadow is seen as the enemy when really it is knowing what bad one is capable of. The shadow only gets hostile when it is ignored or misunderstood.

If working with a partner, set your intention on your relationship with that person; if you are on your own, focus that energy on your own lights and shadows.

Go over Light and Shadow and what that means to you. The shadow self. How our art doesn’t always come out the way we expect it.

Meditation: 7:00 pm

Deep Breathing Meditation

Something that brings us light.

Something that takes us into the shadow.

Imagine the color of light brought to you.

Imagine the shadow color you hide in the box.

Behind every negative action is a positive intent.

Look for the positive intent and reframe it to yourself as an adult. Heal it and acknowledge it so you can move forward.

The inner child but not limited to, lacks needs and has scars. Or at any point in life, these traumas could have occurred.

Rewrite your perception, I have become successful because of these traumas.

Drawn to the light what color do you see?  What is the light? What do you see?

Now hidden in a chest is another color is illuminating from inside. When you open it what do you see?

Now, these two images draw them together in the shape of a Yin and yang.

Talk about what the colors are and the things and what this may represent to you.

How can I redirect the darkness to support the light?

Confront your dark side.

Light From Above

Average Light

Half Tone Light

Average Shadow

Cast shadows- an object casts a shadow: will shadow adjust to object form shades.

Form Shadows- When planes turn away from the light. The shape is determined by the curve of the shape.

Halftone- Inbetween light and shadow. Control the halftone by choosing colors closer to the average light.

Pick two colors on your palette paper. Blend the colors slowly into one another. Also, make a line to depicting colors from white to dark. See how they correspond on the color wheel. Use only these two colors for your painting.

7:30pm Start Painting

Shadows are darker or lighter than light? Darker obviously

So remember shadows are darker than lights…

Talk about your painting.

8:20 Accept and Redirect 

You can’t be in acceptance and resistance at the same time. Truly accept your circumstances in the now. This can pertain to the painting, and this can pertain to real life. Your worst nightmare can no longer be your worst nightmare if you accept it. By accepting this fault you are no longer feeding into resistance.

Perceive how the mishap is a blessing in disguise. We write the narrative of the mishap to paint a brighter future that makes you unique because of your experiences.

Narrow down how to make your future goal meet your needs and discard the situations that no longer serve you.

8:30 Share your work.

8:45 Ending ceremony. 5 min

The Wigi Dome

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An Interactive Art Installation

What inspired the Wigi Dome?

The end of the school semester came in June, which meant a break from substitute teaching for me, and the beginning of summer. My daughter’s previous teacher and good friend forwarded me the “Call to Artist” by the Festival of Dreams in the Lost Coast Outpost. They were giving out $40,000 of art grants up to $2,500/ ea. The gears of my imagination pushed forward. 

The event’s theme was the Wigi, the Wiyot name for the Humboldt Bay. I was inspired to combine my job as a substitute teacher and my passion as an artist to come up with the Wigi Dome, An Educational type of Magic. 

What is the Wigi Dome? 

The Wigi Dome is a 19×18′ tent that can fit about 13 people, funded by the City of Eureka for the Festival of Dreams. For the event, Fun Facts were lined outside the tent made by second and third-grade students from Laurel Tree Elementary in Arcata. On the top of the canopy, local artists spray painted with water-based acrylic on cloth panels to represent different times of the day and places of the Manila Dunes. Artist such Gizmo (@neudepths), Jackie (@jackalope_studios_arts) and Joe Fox, Ruth (@ruthcreaates_4), and Amber (@mushroom.firy.logs), Autumn, Sera and Georgia.

What is the Festival of Dreams?

The newly created event is Festival of Dreams – a collaboration between the North Coast Repertory Theatre (NCRT), Ink People Center for the Arts and the City of Eureka. The festival will happen in two parts: an outdoor event Aug. 18 through 20 that will take place at Halvorsen Park and around Old Town, and an indoor festival on Oct. 5 through 8, that will be held throughout multiple different Eureka venues. And to make this new festival even more exciting, the City has made more than $40,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant money available to fund local artists who want to participate. 

–Stephanie McGeary, https://lostcoastoutpost.com/

The festival Started on August 25th as a parade danced through Old Town. Local businesses allowed performing artists to set a stage in their occupancy, including Eagle House and Eptimony Gallery. 

Saturday’s event took place in Halvorsen Park as the free interactive art festival commenced. There was a beer garden, vendors, and lots of interactive art. Perhaps you found yourself lounging in the Do Nothing’s Societies Oasis (@thedonothingsociety), hanging out with flow artist Zephyr, making your own tarot cards, and eating complimentary fruit. Enter the Kaleidoscope airplane or sit at a table at the Clam Juice, a psychedelic experience (@glittergizzard). Beautiful fabric acro dancers from Synapsis performed in the center of the park. You may have wandered into a forest of pom poms or the dream-like fabric maze. You step into the photo booth and allow its mechanics to hand draw your photo (@aart.by.mir). Live music and a late-night DJ rocked the stage. In the amphitheater, an artist hung a lanyard of butter wrappers painted with unique images. Ceramic artist Josh Roller (@darthgritty) displayed abstract creatures and wall hangers along the stone edges, along with a smoking dragon, a bone and metal sculpture, and much more art surrounding the amphitheater. 

How was the Wigi Dome experience at the Festival of Dreams? 

The Wigi Dome offered tea and art by Erica Brooks (@fineartbyerica), Joe Mallory (@joemalloryart), Ruth Murphy (@ruthiecreates_4), Drake Munson (@draykinarts), Natascha, and Jeremy Pearson (@littlelostforestart). 10% of all paintings sold inside the dome go to Friends of the Dunes to restore Manilla. Kris Coffman (@kriscoffmaninsight) spoke on Love and Communication with an intimate group that shared stories, laughter, tears, and animal noises. Rah Kiv (@rahkiv) played Flamenco R&B to set the mood as the vendors finished setting up and the festival began. Ruth, vocalist, and Uncle Steve, violinist (@unclesteve1352) performed sea shanty and folk music throughout the day. I made a Wigi mix that was Lofi Hop and had the sounds of the animals of the bay mixed in for in-between sets. Stories on Humboldt County were shared within the Wigi Dome between our community and collaborators, along with discussions, lessons, and music. I ended Saturday night with Alien Paintings, where we free-painted on canvas, folded the cloth in half, and opened it with a groovy alien design. On both days, Jackie (@jackalope_studio_arts) spent a few hours painting fish ceramics with “kids of all ages.” Autumn was an active emotional support partner throughout the festival. 

At the Welcome table, we gave out an educational pamphlet by K-12 Educator Crystal Linde about the Wigi, The Wiyot name for Humboldt Bay. We also asked our guests to write an Orison (a 13th-century word for a prayer) for the Wigi. Here is what our community had to say:

We appreciate all the effort that went into the Festival of Dreams. The coordinators, staff, and volunteers. Along with all the other artists that participated. It was truly a beautiful experience to hold space in an interactive art installation to teach our community, hold space for discussion, and supportive relaxation. Thank you to all the Wigi Dome collaborators, artists, musicians, historians, businesses, volunteers, and community guests. 

The Wigi Dome doesn’t end at the Festival of Dreams. On September 9th the Wigi Dome will have a booth at Recovery Happens. Autumn and Natascha collaborated on a small interactive art piece where we will ask the community to write on a leaf, What in their life is worth living for and clip it onto the tree. I dream of displaying this place at Morris Grave. We will also be exhibiting the Wigi prayers at the booth. In the future, I can see further collaborations with educators, community, and artists and bring this project to schools to educate our youth in an interactive manner. 

Check out the Wigi Dome Website at https://littlelostforestar.wixsite.com/little-lost-forest.

Please donate toward our Go Fund Me! https://gofund.me/bc4db4cf

Come check us out tomorrow 9/9/2023 at Recovery Happens!

The Wigi Dome: What inspired it, What it is, What it has accomplished, and Where it's going next.

Beginners Guide to Vending

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I started as a live painter in 2012 and recently became a vendor. As a live painter, my responsibility is to entertain the guests with fantastic art. As a vendor, I create products that I have a passion for and a strong understanding of, and I share the benefits of my product with my community. I’m having a steady rise in sales as I learn the ins and outs of vending and which of my products people find valuable.

Here are some quick tips:

Post on social media before the event. If you want to post the same flier twice in one week, go for it. Just get it out there. 

Remember your business cards! 

They say it takes seven interactions for an onlooker to become a buyer. This might be a hear-say statistic, but it’s a good message. Don’t be discouraged. 

Practice pitching to your friends. The fairs may be intimidating if you’re not ready to pitch your product to your immediate community. 

Testers make sales. 

The booth has to be open and inviting for people to stop, and the person manning the booth needs to engage with the customer. Music is a plus. 

Proper weather guards like side panels, sandbags and solar-powered lighting are necessary.

Table clothes and displays are a must. Boxes to make multi-level presentations for your booth, a fence to hang items from, and S hooks (to replace zip ties.) 

Small and large recycled paper bags are recommended. 

Bring your square or online payment option!

Remember to write a receipt. 

Bring two chairs. 

Stay from open to close. I have learned it is bad etiquette to leave early. I recommend not packing up until at least thirty minutes before the show has come to an end. If this is a new event, drivers might stop after passing it more than once. If the vendors leave because of a low turnout, it is harder for the promoters to continue to promote their event. If it’s raining, it’s up to you if you want to stay if it’s okay with the promoter. Some events are rain-or-shine, while others are flexible about the weather. 

Half of what I do at my booth is promotion, and the other half is sales. Drawing people into my booth allows me to share my business motto, values, and ethics. Building a relationship with the client can ensures future sales. 

Things I would want to do in the future. 

Make sales goals. This will help me determine if the audience at an event is drawn to my product. To make this an accurate depiction, I have to take away the booth costs (and if an additional license or insurance was purchased) to compare different productions properly. 

Don’t give up! After one year of being a vendor, is this worth my time? has come across my mind, and I hear it whispered among other vendors. By seeing other successful vendors, I know that the profit is all you put into it. Even if one show doesn’t go well, if you have a great product, you are bound to continue to sell. 

When I asked a peer of mine what they thought about selling less variety and choosing products to showcase at events that fall into one category she recommended displaying everything I had, you never know what people are looking for.

Cheers!

Find my Vendors Checklist on my Etsy store! Some links are affiliate links.

Interview with Josh Roller; Ceramics Artist to be showcased at The Festival Of Dreams- August 25th- 27th in Eureka!

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Josh Roller and Natascha sip on iced green tea at a table in Ramone’s Bakery in Old Town. Natascha excitedly plays with the voice recorder to ensure it is working.

Natascha: Is it working? Test. Test. Red button on. Hello. Today, Natasha with Little Lost Forest is interviewing Josh Roller. Did I say that right, Josh? Awesome. A ceramics artist participating in the Festival of Dreams, August 25th to the 27th in Eureka. Hey, Josh. How is your week going?

Josh: My week is going good. Very busy with creating.

Natascha: What are your pronouns, Josh?

Josh: He. Him.

Natascha: Thank you. What do you have brewing up for the Festival of Dreams?

Josh: I am going to create or currently, I’m creating, intuitive sculptures made from stone, stoneware, and ceramics. It fires up to cone-ten usually, which is really hot, high fire. My process really is not having an actual idea or goal. It’s really very intuitive. It’s very feeling the moment.

Natascha: Josh was one of many artists that got a grant for the Festival of Dreams. They supplied local artists with $40,000 of artist grants. Josh, how long have you been making ceramics for?

Josh: I have been doing ceramics since I was actually a senior in high school. I learned how to throw on the wheel back then and did a little bit of hand-building. So, it’s been quite a while, but I’ve actually been away from it for ten years. I kind of just stepped away to do other stuff and found myself back with my hands in the dirt.

Natascha: What high school was that that you learned?

Josh: I went to Eureka High School in- In Eureka.

Natascha: Super cool. I bet you that program is still going on, and other kids are seeing your art and being inspired to continue making ceramics after high school. What inspired your pieces for this festival? You said it’s a kind of intuition and feelings. Can you tell me more?

Josh: Yeah. So basically, a couple of months ago, I recently got back into ceramics. I had a few sketches in my sketchbook, so I had goals of some things that I wanted to make. But as I was trying to make them and trying to shape the things that I was going for, I just kind of lost interest. I got kind of bored trying to, to duplicate something or translate this particular thing.


So, I just- maybe- I stepped away for a day or so, and I came back and just kind of went with it and I just started making a coil pot and just went for it and was just having fun. It’s all about- it’s all about the process and the fun, for me.

(Interview with Josh Roller)

Natascha: How does this process reflect your everyday lifestyle?

Josh: I would say that I’m- I’m a very like, I don’t know, go with the flow sort of person. Not that I don’t like plans because I think plans for your everyday life are pretty important, but at the same time, you know, it’s all, it’s all in how you feel at the moment. Like you can plan on doing something tomorrow, going somewhere, doing something. But if you don’t feel like it, whether you- whether you go for it or not, I’m trying to, to feel good. I’m trying to be confident and understand that, that it’s really all about feeling good. And I think that’s kind of like my new way of looking at things, because before I would do a lot of a lot of stuff that I didn’t really want to do, and I’m tired of that.

Natascha: Well, that’s a beautiful lesson. Yeah. When you consider yourself empathic.

Josh: 100%. Yeah, absolutely.

Natascha: Can you tell us a little bit about your childhood and how that could be reflected in some of your art?

Josh: Yeah. I was a spaz. I was very energetic, very all over the place. Very loud. Um, yeah. So, I feel like that kind of, the whole play aspect, has become a really important thing to my art. Because before, like I said, when I was trying to, copy things or make certain things, it was just like more frustrating and less freeing. And so, when I think about me as a child, just kind of just out there roaming, doing, doing whatever. Being kind of crazy and all over the place. That’s what translates in my art through that intuitive nature that I enjoy.

Natascha: Awesome. Yeah. Who are some of your artistic influences?

Josh: That’s a good question. Since I have been away from the art world for so long, I’m not really good with names. So, I don’t have, like, particular names. But lately I’ve been really into music and, and kind of seeing that crossover with musicians doing other art forms. So, people like Erykah Badu and, Andre 3000. Like those, those kind of eccentric folks who are very musically talented. But it’s cool to see them, like dabble into other things, dabble into fashion, dabble into painting and doing weird-just, just doing their weird, eccentric things- I find things like that to be very fascinating and inspiring.

Natascha: By any chance, are you a musician, too?

Josh: Um, of sorts.

Natascha: That’s wonderful. I like the cross between the two. The artistic brain. Where do you envision your art going in the future?

Josh: That’s a really good question. I’m not too sure because of that intuitive nature, that is the most fun. I don’t know if I really see a direction or goal for it, but I know that I want to keep on doing it. I won’t stop doing it because it feels, it feels good to do. But it is also very nice to have people recognize and be interested in it too. And I think I’ve been away for so long that I haven’t, I haven’t gotten that for a long time. It’s really cool to see other people interested in it, asking questions, and curious. And I think that kind of drives me to, to keep going. I think that as long as people are interested then I’ll keep wanting to put myself out there because it’s, it’s definitely a thing that I’ve shied away from in the past. This is kind of my first, first go for it.

Natascha: When was a time when your art took you by surprise?

Josh: That’s a very good question. Think lately almost every piece has taken me by surprise because of that, that nature of not having an initial idea. And basically just like taking a couple of steps and, and taking steps back and looking and kind of talking with the clay and, figuring out, what do you, what do you want to be, you know? So, I feel like that has, has been always surprising when, you put a coil up to one side and you’re like, wow, that actually looks really cool there. Let’s… let’s just do that. Because if it messes it up, I could always make another one. And I think that’s something that I never had instilled in me before. I was always like so afraid to make the next move because it would ruin the best thing that I’ve ever made. But now it’s like, no, this, the base of this didn’t take very long. Like, I’m just going for it so I could always do it again, you know? So.

Natascha: What advice do you have for a younger or a beginner artist?

Josh: My advice is super simple. It’s just to do it.

If you feel like doing it, just do it.

(Interview with Josh Roller)

Because it doesn’t, it doesn’t matter- ultimately. It’s for you do the art for you. Don’t try not to do it for other people. And just keep going because, you know, the more that you put it off, the more you’re probably going to want to do it. But it kind of creates an anxiety that you’ll stay away from. And I think really the advice to my younger self also would even just be to, to just do it. Stop talking about it and just try it. Because the more that you fail, the better you will be, because failure isn’t scary, It’s- it’s learning.

Natascha: Check out Josh and his art and ceramics at the Festival of Dreams August 25th to the 27th at Halvorsen Park Pre-party with us August 13th as we parade through Old Town Eureka. Thank you, everyone, for reading and thank you, Josh, for the wonderful, amazing interview.

Josh: Thank you.

Natascha: Great. Bye.

Tarot for Beginners and Deck Reviews

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Original Art by Natascha Pearson

Tarot has been an impactful tool to explore my reflection and objections of self and a life path guide. Sometimes I will draw cards on my past, and the card will put things into perspective about how I channeled my energy at that time. Other times the cards will map out a future path and remind me of what I should avoid or be wary of or what I should accept and be open to. I interpret the cards, and part of that interpretation is an inside intuition, and that is the psychic within. 

(All links in this article are Affiliate links or lead you to my Etsy. Thank you for exploring and supporting my writing by purchasing through these links at no extra cost to you.) 

Tarot, the suit cards, 21 trump cards, and the matto card (aka “the fool”) were played as a game in the 1430s, originating in Italy and spreading throughout Europe. Roma gypsy people took this deck of cards and began the divination fortune-telling Tarot we know now. They believed Tarot was a tool for psychics to interpret symbols for divination, realization, and understanding. 

I started with tarot cards when I was in high school. I became interested in witchcraft and began with the traditional starter deck Rider-Waite Tarot. I liked this deck because the images represent the card’s meaning more evident than most. All tarot decks come with a book for reference. Studying the book wasn’t something I was drawn to at first. Instead, I would pull a card and read up on it as I went. I would sit with that card and see how it resonates with me and my life at that moment. At this point, I was not ready to read for other people, but I was prepared to pull a past, present, and future Tarot spread. After shuffling my deck, I choose to discard my first card or not to discard depending on what came naturally to me. There is no rule on what is right and what is wrong. It’s about flowing with you’re own practice. Thank yourself for showing up and putting forth effort. It is unimportant if you forget to discard the first card before putting out your spread, but it is an option. If the cards are reversed, it is your choice to take this as an opposite meaning or to think of it as upright. You should take into consideration the other cards surrounding it. Either way, go with what flows naturally to you. Don’t be disappointed to receive reversals; if it’s easier for you, flip it upright. 

Then at Lucidity in 2015, an artist I treasure, Gabriel Welch, let me read his cards using his deck. His deck resembled the Druid Animal Oracle Deck, and I remember pulling some prolific birds that predicted a vibrant ongoing career along with obstacles that could arise. I could have been a better tarot reader, but I remember this as a special moment. He took the cards very seriously, considering the images and meanings. 

Later I met my husband, and we traveled to Shasta, where we lived in the woods, this time for about three months. He had the Egyptian Tarot Deck, it was very worn, and I could tell it was full of his energy. I did not have a tarot deck at this point, and I used his for divination. This gave me a lot of hope and guidance as to what our futures looked like and what I could expect. It even foresaw a struggle we would endure that would change our life paths. I was forever thankful for this deck and my time with it. Even though it wasn’t the deck that called to me as my own, it resonated strongly with my husband. It’s a superstition that tarot decks must be gifted to their beholder, but the magic remains the same if it is bought or gifted as long as the deck resonates with the owner. As you can see, there are many different tarot cards, and the symbols may be completely different. The card’s symbols are meant to bring meaning to the card, but there can be different perceptions of cards, such as the King of Cups. Where someone might see the King of Cups as fulfilled and abundant emotions, they might use a deck with the image of a king with a crown and staff holding a cup full of water and his kingdom behind him, or it might be a man at the beach meditating with a singing bowl and starfish like this Light Seer’s Deck. The tarot reader must choose a deck that resonates most with them so they can get the most meaning from the images. This also helps the reader decipher the card’s meaning without looking at the book.

My current deck is the Mystic Manga deck. I got it for my birthday four years ago and enjoyed the imagery and the manuscript with the description of the cards facing forward and reversed. I made this tarot deck cloth; you can purchase it at my shop. I also really like this Past, Present, and Future spread cloth from Tamed Wild and their beautiful Moon phase deck. 

Whichever deck you use to explore your deviation ventures, be easy on yourself. I thank you for researching Tarot and spending the time to explore not just this psychic art but also this bridge to you and the otherworld.  

Here is a gift to you for 10% off of any Tamed Wild product

Happy New Year!

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Thank you to my 50 followers. I appreciate your commitment.

This New Year has been a resting period for me. I apologize that the blog has been less active, and this can be expected for the next two months.

Opportunities have come up with my edible company, and I am currently trying to settle on a name that captures my brand and stands out from the crowd. Since we also offer salves.

We have sold out of products at Emerald Genetics/ Cal Sole, and our next harvest is in February. We will have on the shelves Gelato 25/ Dosido and OG. Sales and building client relationships have proven to be a challenge. I must constantly reevaluate why our product stands out and what we offer that no one else does. As I’ve been told, growing cannabis in Humboldt county isn’t enough. Even though we can’t hold onto product, I am still establishing myself as a sales face for Cal Sole. You can find Emerald Genetic Products at 101 M Street Dispensary inc. in Crescent City.

I am taking a writing course with my favorite writer Francesca Lia Block. This is the real secret my blog is being put on hold. I write ten pages a week, and I answer some questions that help me explore my characters and also myself as a writer. I then review my peer’s work and then meet on Sundays to review our pieces. It has been a dream of mine to take this course and I am very thankful to be under her guidance.

Little Lost Forest is working on getting its business license and signing up for upcoming fairs. Competing with the artists in Humboldt county takes work. All the talented people seem to come out of the woodwork to live here! So I am going strong with my Etsy and will update it soon.

My best friend, who you might be familiar with, Orion, moved in. He is going to Cal Poly and working on a social worker degree. He will be helping me with the edibles and also with the children.

My husband and I have talked about doing more things together, but we still need to do actually do them. We spent many years getting stable enough to have a child while raising our oldest. We don’t have a lot of time with each other… alone. For now, it is what it is, but since I talk about marriage and relationships in this blog, this is a genuine piece of my life. I miss having “fun” with my partner, like going on car rides along the coast or spending time together at the beach without the kids.

Please take a second to reflect on how you have come into the New Year. Reflect on all the progress you’ve made in the past fifteen days and the goals you have set in place for the rest of the year. Your goals are attainable.

I hope that you are going through the New Year with ease. Enjoy the rain Humboldt County.

Zen Humboldt

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Saturday, December 5, 2022- (Eureka, CA) Little Lost Forest put on its first art exhibition, Eris’ Apple, at Zen Humboldt dispensary, which will be on display throughout December. The opening occurred during Arts Alive Eureka from 6-9 pm, accompanied by other local artists. Landscapes, female characters, and meditative practices are themes in the acrylic and spray paint art by Natascha and Jeremy Pearson. The paintings are strung along with a story that will be developed into a book called Discordia, to be released in 2024. 

@original_cannabis_leaf_art– Dan, a Rio Del local, creates unique customized items using real marijuana leaves in his delicate approach. He showcased Christmas ornaments and “high Santa” and Halloween art like a framed pot leaf spider.

Ruthie Creates Art @ruthiecreates_4 (IG) & @Ruthiecreates (FB) from Arcata brought a whirlwind of fun, colorful, and comfortable goods such as crocheted animal-styled beanies, plushies, and shell chimes sourced from local beaches. These pieces are all unique, custom, and one-of-a-kind, perfect gifts. 

Alexis, a Eureka artist, and her partner Novak set up their booth Fern + Fire which can be found on Etsy under FernnFire. They displayed wood-burned wall pieces, runes, Christmas ornaments, and beanies. 

Loren with Primitive Roots brought his wooden goods! (info@primitiveroots.art and FB at Primitive Roots 707) displayed resin and wood bowls, cutting boards, some with transformer-burned wood designs with a resin coating, unique cribbage boards, and much more. You can find a video of Loren woodburning with a neon sign transformer here and his IG.

Jeremy and Natascha Little Lost Forest @littlelostforestart brought rolling trays, local photographs on metal plates (@emeraldtriangle.photos), and self-care boxes including rose salve, face scrub, and body scrub made from all-natural ingredients. 

Water and Tea were served, and as it rained, guests trickled in. They folded up their umbrellas and walked through the cannabis room to a large lounge room where the artists were set up. Guests had a chance to talk with the artist, and once again, our community came together for a beautiful event. If you find yourself in Eureka, please stop by Zen in December to see the Little Lost Forest paintings.

 

Thank you, Zen Humboldt, for allowing us in your space, and I look forward to January’s Arts Alive at Good Relations. See you there! 

Interviews on Using Proper Pronouns

/ N.Pearson / 1 Comment

(Ranma)

I conducted three interviews this week on folx in the LGBTQIA community. Here is one of them!

Natascha: Hi, this is Natascha with Little Lost Forest, and I will be interviewing Ranma today. A very good friend of mine for the past ten years. Ranma, how are you doing?

Ranma: I’m doing good, thank you for asking.

Natascha: Awesome, I’m so happy to hear. Will you please tell us your pronouns?

Ranma: Well, my pronouns are she and her.

Natascha: Sweet, and as I understand, you have transitioned?

Ranma: Yes, that is correct. I have been in transition for about a year, and I think four months now.

Natascha: Wow, the time has gone by. It flies. Can you tell me a little about yourself, what you do, and what your hobbies are?

Ranma: I’m an artist. I’m very athletic. I used to break dance. I love listening to music. I love making illustrations. I try to do illustrations for the trans community, and I also do designs for everyone else. As you know, I’m very open with my artwork. As for a real job- that is basically my real job because I have epilepsy and can not work.

Natascha: Well, a full-time artist is definitely a real job, and you keep yourself quite busy.

Ranma: It helps when you’re mad.

Natascha: Yeah, it does help when you’re mad. I can agree with that. How has transition healed you?

Ranma: Um, well, it allowed me to be myself completely. And now I actually have a bigger palette of fashion than I had before. More clothes to choose from, which can be awesome and really bad at the same time. If you saw my room, you could see the toll it’s taken.

Natascha: That’s great. The clean-up might be more now.

Ranma: Yeah! I need one of those machines now that they clean the ice with-

Natascha: Like in Meet the Jetsons.

Ranma: That’s right, a Zambonie. A Zamboni or a mechanical maid or something.

Natascha: I’m sure you can manifest anything. It will come to you. Why is it important to use proper pronouns while someone is transitioning?

Ranma: Well, because, for one, that person was never actually their birth gender. Inside they were always woman or male, and actually saying so would help their body’s energetical cells (helping every trans person realize that they are beautiful, Angelic even) to actually blossom. -Because it feels good to be called what you’re striving for. It was always there, but you know, you’re just trapped in this skin suit.

Natascha: That’s beautiful. Why do you think some cis-gendered folks are bothered by others’ use, announcement, or display of their correct pronouns?

Ranma: Well, to be honest, I think a lot of cispeople are very uneducated about their own sexuality. And also I think that they’re fearful. For instance, if they see a cute woman and that woman turns out to be a transwoman, it’s like, ‘Oh Shit, am I gay now?’ You know, and vice versa. To be honest, I think it’s just insecurity.

Natascha: Do you feel transitioning has changed you in any way?

Ranma: I can’t answer that one too precisely because I have always been me, but the biggest change that I can say is that I am actually 24/7 happy.

Natascha: I’ve heard that a lot in these interviews. That it [transition] has helped with depression and has made people very happy. That is wonderful.

Ranma: One of my friends I went to bars with was like, ‘Oh my god, you’ve changed so much.’ For instance, you smile more, and I thought to myself, I thought I always smiled. No, no, no, you smile a little bit, and then you put on a depressing song for karaoke, and then you sing a depressing song for karaoke, but here you are dancing and smiling and more upbeat songs for karaoke. So I’m like, alright, well, thank you, I didn’t notice that.

Natascha: Cool, this is a question I threw in there, which is kind of important to me because I have children, and I’m introducing my daughter into the LGBTQ(IA) community.

Ranma: Awesome-

Natascha: Why do you think it is important to introduce children to the LBGTQ community?

Ranma: That has so many answers. For one, it’s really good for child evolution right there to be accepting of everyone and everything and to realize that there is more than one way to live life. And everyone is the same. You know, it is also the journey of who you are. There are grown adults who have no idea who they are.

Natascha: Yeah, absolutely, and there are people that transition later in life so, and don’t find happiness until then.

Ranma: I am one of them. I didn’t even know I could do this until four years ago when I had my trans fiance, and we broke up, and I found out that, as much as I don’t want to admit it, I was completely jealous of her.

Natascha: Does it all make sense now? Are things coming together for you?

Ranma: Yeah, the only thing I have to really be cautious of is haters.

Natascha: Can you tell me a little more about that? What kind of negative reactions or discrimination do you have to face?

Ranma: Basically everything that comes with being a woman, those discriminations (referencing that women have to go through, all women have to go through, being judged on their beauty and being seen as just sexual entities, etc.)- that type of stuff. And then there’s little stuff like my aunt still likes to mislabel me, misgender me, as you know he. And like someone did this to you! And it’s like, no, I did this to myself, and I’m happy. I made a choice. And it’s quite interesting. The landlord still calls me he ’cause he caught me at the entrance of my transition, and he’s old, he’s sweet, you know he just can’t open up that third eye and get down with me being a woman and him being able to still talk to me and chill and have a beer with me.

Natascha: Yeah, I’m sorry you have to deal with that. At the same time, I think you’re really blossoming into your true self, and you’re absolutely beautiful and stunning. I don’t think anyone is going to get you down, and if they do, you call me. Is there anything else you want to add?

Ranma: There are some of our old friends that just recently saw me and haven’t seen me in a bit, and I just went to the bar. I have this overall skirt. A beautiful overall skirt, and I think you know Kevin. You know, dreadlock, Kevin. He couldn’t say to my face that he found me attractive. He told Eddie, my housemate instead, and said, ‘Oh my god, who’s that? She’s got beautiful legs,’ and found out it was me. ‘That’s Ranma,’ ‘Oh, Ranma? Can I meet her?’ ‘Kevin, you already know Ranma. Ranma used to be Rasheed. That’s Ranma.’ ‘Oh, okay. She has beautiful legs.’

Natascha: Now you get to show them off.

Ranma: I love showing them off. Especially when an old friend hits on you. ‘You don’t recognize me?’, ‘Okay.’

Natascha: Well, you’re a new person now.

Ranma: Not even how I speak? I think I still speak the same.

Natascha: I think you do, but you know it’s a new you, and I am so proud of you. Is there anything else you wanted to add to help educate the community on transgenders or using pronouns?

Ranma: Well, all I want to offer is a little bit for everyone on this one. Loving yourself will allow you to love others. And that’s the basic thing if you’re cis, trans, or miscellaneous, you know it doesn’t matter. It all starts from loving yourself; once you love yourself, you can be yourself and learn to love everyone else.

Natascha: Thank you so much, Ranma, for coming on today. These are short ten-minute interviews. I appreciate you.

Ranma: No worries.

Thank you, everyone for reading, educating your community, and spreading the word that using the correct pronouns when someone is in transition is showing respect! I look forward to sharing more interviews early next week.

TLC Artisan Festival Manila, CA

/ N.Pearson / 1 Comment
@littlelostforestart

Teach Learn Create Join us at TLC artisan fair on Manila. We will be holding space for artist as a nonprofit monthly. DM me to vend. #humboldt #art #420 #manila #eureka #arcata #calpolyhumboldt #paintings #littlelostforest

♬ Dreams (2004 Remaster) – Fleetwood Mac

October 29, 2022- (Manila, CA) I am honored to share my latest volunteer assignment at TLC and our first Artisan’s fair that took place last Saturday. TLC showcased seven local artists, a band, and DJ at their new building on the Samoa peninsula. The TLC location includes a wood and artist studio space and a festival location open for the community to educate, create, and display in a safe and judgment-free environment.

TLC, “Teach, Learn, Create,” is a nonprofit funded by Jonas Kavanaugh and Patrick Murphy, two Humboldt County artists whose goal is to promote community interaction, share the knowledge of entrepreneurship, and showcase local artists. Jonas with Monument Settings builds benches for Arcata Skate Park, the Eureka waterfront, and other local sites. His partner, Patrick, owner of Redwood Humboldt, facilitated an art gallery in Arcata and is known for his picnic-styled wood benches. Patrick closed down his gallery due to multiple hospital trips and brain surgery. He is now on a mission to allow artists the freedom to showcase their art and get it out in the public’s eye.

TLC has set up booths at the Medival Festival of Courage in Blue Lake and the Zero Waste festival in Fortuna. Now they have put on TLC’s first festival at its home location. They plan to have a booth at Humboldt Cal Poly and other upcoming events and host TLC artisan fairs bi-monthly. You, too, can be a part of TLC, come to our meetings every Monday from 6-7pm at 2050 Peninsula Dr., Manila, CA to be a volunteer.

Photographer Matt Fahey is a supportive volunteer of TLC, offering his extensive knowledge in photography and videography to help artists with product photography, commercials, and documentation. He vends Hypertufa (concrete pots), suitable for succulents and concrete/ upcycled stepping stones.

Andrew Morin, an active TLC volunteer, is a metal welding artist who incorporates local tumbled rocks. Anything from metal key rings to stone door knobs, hangers, and much more. He has been getting back into metalworking since moving to the area last year. He enjoys reusing steel from the scrap yard or from the locals. He also enjoys incorporating other local resources, including reclaimed wood. He makes practical pieces with fun features such as enamel and beach stones.

Micah Edgar is a music producer, musician, and sound engineer. He is an active TLC build crew volunteer. He has been producing music with a friend for a year and a half. He started working on custom instruments by repurposing old electronics about six months ago. Since then, they have changed the invention of sound and look forward to putting out their first album. Patrick and Micah collaborated on a tape loop sampling synth. Micah’s collaborative electronic music reminds me of an early-day Radiohead. You can find his music here.

Natascha Pearson (that’s me!) is also a frequent volunteer. I am an acrylic painter with themes of surrealism, the female body, mythology, and spirituality. I am also a practicing pagan supplying my community with altarpieces, salves, bath salts, and tarot readings under the name Little Lost Forest. I help connect artists and collectors to our TLC community. I also vend my husband, Jeremy Pearson’s paintings. He paints landscapes and space.

The Tea Fairy brought a child-friendly, fantasy shell-building station with moss, mushrooms, and natural goods to decorate in a shell! She also displayed degradable glitter, Dream Sachets, and needling art.

Mihael Kavanaugh preformed on stage. He is a singer song writer, and poet. His business is Fairwind Botanicals with lavender sprays and balms.

Primitive Roots with Fortuna farm owner Sarah (info@primitiveroots.art and FB at Primitive Roots 707) displayed resin and wood bowls, cutting boards, some with transformer-burned wood designs with a resin coating, unique cribbage boards, and much more. You can find a video of Sarah’s partner Loren woodburning with a neon sign transformer here and his IG.

Steadfast Creations offered knitted and crotched goods and cute octopus plushies!

Violinist, Uncle Steve, an Arcata local, played with band members Erick on drums, Joe playing keyboards, and Frank on the flute.

@littlelostforestart

TLC Artisan Fair. Manila, CA Uncle Steve rockin the violin with this local band. #humboldt #artfair #tlc #littlelostforest

♬ original sound – Taschy

I look forward to more TLC artisan fairs, and I encourage you to spread the word to any upcoming artists still getting their feet on the ground to contact Patrick on the TLC Facebook page or come to a Monday night meeting to participate!

Medieval Festival of Courage

/ N.Pearson / 2 Comments

October 1, 2022- The Medieval Festival of Courage was hosted by Coastal Grove Charter (K-8th) in Blue Lake, CA. With 50 vendors, two stages, and three unique arenas, the festival attracted a large crowd dressed throughout the ages. I had the privilege of vending with TLC. My children, their friends, our friends, and school and work peers all came to indulge in the festivities. This two-day event spanned from Saturday to Sunday and was a very special showcasing of central Humboldt’s hidden gems.


At $10 a ticket, knights, wizards, queens, and kings entered the gates! Greeted by a sword-fighting arena for children and a few rowdy fathers, took on foam-covered sticks and fought to the death! The sword fighting arena was one of the most popular activities full of children’s rampage. The front stage was bedecked with belly dancers, clog dancers, poetry, and bagpipes. The days were full of thespians and musicians belching out their hearts in a medieval dialect. Surrounding the arena were vendors of jewelry, clothing, food, and wine. The cherry wine flushed the lady’s cheeks and beer overfilled grizzly bearded men’s mugs. Carmel dripped off green apples like witches’ muck, and meats and corn were cooked on open grills.


Over by the paddock was a tent for the kings and queens, dressed in authentic 500-1500 ce costumes excluded from the common folk. A large crowd lined the fences as men on horses jostled, flinging one another from the horse’s back. Between shows, men in armored suits and beautiful women dressed as royalty paraded the horses for the audience to touch. Within this arena were a petting zoo, a miniature pony ride, and even axe throwing! The animals warmed the children’s hearts while leaving their turds along the pathway.


Even though there was a metal fence on the high-top areas, I combined this arena as one. The front entrance welcomed the crowd to a beautiful children’s area and homely vendors. One tent offered toys for the children, blocks to make castles, animals to dress, and playsets decorated with dangling tassels and velvet flooring. A majestically dressed woman read stories from a book and welcomed groups on a story quest with the legend of the Sword in the Stone. Also displayed were gem vendors, free pin-making stations, and a gnome dome, the safe haven for the tired-out child to live in a fairyland.

Then there was “TLC” a non-profit showcasing local artists, including me! I represented Little Lost Forest displaying wands, resin trays, acrylic art, and ruins! I had the pleasure of live painting and reading tarot. My friend Savana showed her unique electroplating copper jewelry, and Patrick his locally made wood tables, mushrooms, and swords. We advertised for our upcoming festival in Manila next month! Behind the metal fence were aerial silk performers with young girls climbing the ropes! Musicians played at a small stage in the back, serenading us with the violin. A jump house, jewelry vendor, and archery station fit with plenty of room along the basketball court. Men, women, and children pulled back their bows and shot toward haystack targets. A few performers free-flowed with staff, poi, and Hoola hoops.

The Medieval Festival of Courage was a well put on event that brought the community together, offered affordable vending spaces, and showcased some top performers. The children ran the show, and Coastal Grove Charter did a good job relating its artistic and out-of-the-box curriculum. More adults (then I think would like to admit) dressed in their favorite garb and transported back in time. At the end of the day, the playful and innocent collaboration of our communities youth shinned through, and I can’t wait to return next year.