Jocelyn Curry

Art & Joie de Vivre

Montana Prairie Journaling; More Beautiful Pages

November 23, 2025

Did I need a deep plunge into a new blog site, right when such a time-consuming challenge really didn’t fit into my crowded calendar? The answer, no surprise, is “no” but at least I was able to navigate the mind-befuddling process of transferring the data from my old platform to this new, AI-enhanced version of good ol’ WordPress. My previous experience of working on good ol’ WordPress wasn’t stellar, so I’m hoping to improve my relationship with it asap. So far I have been able to upload my seasonally appropriate squash painting! But now, HOW do I get rid of “Hello World!” which was placed there by Good Ol. I’m not sure about this, but I think Good Ol’s default tips will stay on this, my First Post until I figure out how to discretely remove them without being told “This is not a good idea.” At least I got my squash up on this new site for your viewing pleasure! Happy Thanksgiving :-).

SunriseBilliings
Above is a snapshot of the September 26, 2010 sunrise in Billings, Montana. My early morning walk readied me for an inspiring second workshop day with 22 students at the ACEC. Below are more luminous pages from the work they completed that day. Please click on the images for a larger view. To see more of this group’s work, please review my previous posts.

KateArt

 

Kate Stanko’s studies on the left included rocks, which was appropriate because the ACEC site is a former gravel quarry. The site is well represented by her nice collection of varied pages.

ElizabethArt

 

 

One student (write to me if you did this work, please!) was especially inspired by the flora collected from the grounds (on the right).

 

 

 

DianaArt1

 

On the left, Diana McDonough’s pages and case demonstrate how much a person can complete in two days’ time. She and her 21 classmates fully engaged with the exercises.

JeanArt

 

 

 

 

Jean Fleming-Mazur’s sketches on the right show expressive (and impressive) pen and ink skill while her use of color livened up her 3-square page.

 

DebArt Deb Parsons-Menke’s final collection of pages on the left show numerous layouts featuring beautiful sketches of the local flora, a quick sketch and a full-page landscape watercolor. Her reflective writing done on the small prairie was a favorite activity of the weekend.
  
JudyArt

 

Judy Swoboda’s softly painted case, on the right, was puncuated by the deep color of a sumac leaf rendered on the band.

 

To my students: I was able to photograph quite a few, but not all of your journal pages. If your work is not represented, it is only because my efforts were not fully systematic, not because your artwork wasn’t deserving of being represented. Also, please let me know if I have miscredited any artwork. Thank you.

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