The Collection
“The Journey” is a series of 600 miniature landscape paintings, released in subcollections, of my travels primarily to the United States National Parks, National Lakeshores, and National Seashores, in my 1976 Avion Travelcader.
As these paintings are done primarily en plein air, the surrounding elements (rain, sand, dirt) often find their way from the earth, to the paintbrush, to the paper. Evidence nature is truly a part of this big story.
Although the paintings are small, they are carefully crafted & released with poetry meant to inspire and cause reflection on human experiences we have with nature.
Experience the collection below
Up next: Subcollection IV
IV: Tenacious
From Joshua Tree National Park
Tenacity doesn’t make life easy but flourishes it through
Tenacious
In the midst of a land of waste
Arms outstretched to the purple casted skies
A plea to make this life easy
A bird perched on the shoulder
Dreamt lyrics by moon, humming in the sun
Gentle parts of his spirit being sung
A melodious reminder, soft and true
Tenacity doesn’t make life easy
But flourishes it through
-Laura Van Moorleghem poetry
subcollection 3
III: Before the After
Paintings 22-32 from Petrified Forest National Park
To know when others see the After, there was a Before, where only in darkness, beauty and strength were born
Before the After
time moves inexorably but somehow still stops
for the trees of yesterday suddenly dropped
uprooted and buried consigned to the grave
never to see the sunlight and slowly decay
but the particles of sand calmly moved by the wind
uncovered an earth untouched by mankind
the skin of the trees gently glistening
their ancient bodies simply unyielding
frozen in time yet more divine
reflecting the beauty of time passing by
When others see the After, know there was a Before
Where only in darkness, beauty and strength were born.
-Laura Van Moorleghem poetry
Subcollection 2
II: Significant
Paintings 11-21 from Great Sand Dunes National Park
Like grains of sand, we are small, but not insignificant
Significant
How sad the sky would be
Mundane and dull
If all the tiny stars
Decided not to shine at all
How stale the ocean would be
Lifeless and tame
If the droplets of water
Decided not to partake
How small the dunes would be
Still and shallow
If the grains-of-sand
Decided not to gather
If the stars have their place
The droplets and sand too
How significant you are
To make the earth beautiful too
-Laura Van Moorleghem Poetry
Subcollection i
i: In the Waiting
Paintings 1-10 from Nebraska
Longing for the future but living in the present. Giving space to grow in the in-between
In the waiting
It becomes numbing,
The unravel of the unplanned.
Weary overtakes the day-to-day.
But trust the timing of your existence.
Peace comes in the tiny things;
Sitting by a stream, with birds chiming in.
Big blue sky and slow mornings.
How could we wish it all away?
The moments in the in-between.
For much of life is in these moments,
The minutes in the waiting
-Laura Van Moorleghem Poetry
During my nursing career I developed a strong sense that storytelling is a necessary part of the human experience, and gives space for our lives to be fulfilled. Likewise, stories offer us a sense of connection and belonging among future generations.
Meanwhile, while renovating our camper, I had difficulties finding paintings that were both original and fit in our new tiny home. It also wasn’t feasible to bring large canvases into our small space.
Forgoing traditional painting, I started taking a sketchbook to some of our locations and fell in love with the simplicity but beauty found in the small paintings. I simply fell in love with miniatures.
Meanwhile, my husband and I traveled to my childhood beach in Pensacola, Florida. It was here I took out a mini canvas, paintbrushes, and a journal. With a paintbrush in hand, I created my first miniature painting. Then, a little while later, took out my pen and wrote a coinciding sentimental poem. I recognized the simplistic beauty and meaning they had together, each telling its own part in the same story.
In my want to create a space where I could share my stories and hear others, I decided to take on a massive project, The Journey. This series is filled with paintings, poetry, and stories meant to remember our past, value our present, preserve the future, and most importantly connect us all to one-another.