Hike and Watercolor Painting
Time: 9am - 12N CST
Pricing $62.50 per hiker
Art is WILD, Y’all.
Guided Mindfulness & Creativity
Watercolors with Hillary Johnson
Let the Great Outdoors inspire a masterpiece.
The Hike & Watercolor event was created to awaken your body through physical exploration of the trail, inspire your heart through creating your own watercolor art, and calm your spirit with nature’s embrace.
The end of October is special. It’s a time of celebration and transition; a liminal space in which we note the veil is thinner than usual. Our energies, our bodies, and our hearts ask for support and nourishment to sustain themselves during the long winter ahead.
This adventure offers a restorative preparation for what is to come; rest, and creative expression through guided meditation, hiking the land, and experiencing Mother Nature to help you connect with yourself and the beauty of your surroundings.
This 3-hour event includes hiking on low-impact trails with stops along the way to capture the flora and fauna of the season through watercolor painting. Our guest artist will share techniques and tips for translating your vision to paper with paint.
Renowned artist Hillary Johnson joins Back to Wild Adventures for this watercolor adventure. A self-taught watercolorist, Hillary believes in the carefree play of creating art and loves sharing that joyful approach with new and aspiring artists.
No experience (or talent!) is needed for this event. Whether your watercolor is frame-worthy or not, the real takeaway is the relaxed and refreshed balance you’ll gain from the experience. And you keep your masterpiece.
Gear and art supplies provided. You bring your adventurous spirit, and we’ll set her free.
Trail: Join us at Captain Daniel Wright Woods, Mettawa, IL. (Approximately 50 minutes from Chicago)
We strongly encourage carpooling. If you can give a ride or if you need a ride please contact us at info@backtowildadventures.com.
We do the planning and pick the trails, as well as, supply all the gear you will need.
For all of our hiking adventures we provide:
A daypack that you can use for your water, snacks, etc.
An adventure pack with lip hand sanitizer, lip balm, sunscreen, and bug wipes
Ponchos should it rain or change temperature
Water colors, brushes, and paper for the painting
Information and education about the trail as well as navigation and clothing tips to keep for future solo hikes
You bring the following for the hike:
Your adventurous spirit
Water – We recommend 2-2.5 liters for this adventure
Snacks and/or your lunch. We love a good trail mix, Kind bars, or a PB&J “hiking sammie”
Sturdy shoes and extra clothing for weather changes
Feeling like you want to…
- Regain your mental & emotional balance
- Activate a calm presence
- Really get into some creative play
- Feel relaxed and at ease
But you’re not sure where to begin?
We got you. In this guided adventure you’ll feel:
- A connection with your deep inner balance
- Calmed and refreshed
- Inspired, expansive, and creative
- Connected to your inner well of peace
Hillary Johnson is a self-taught watercolorist who believes that making art should be fun like it was when we were just three. While she appreciates trained painters very much, she is happy to share the joy of playing with watercolors without a care in the world.
She is a New England-born interdisciplinary artist living and working in Chicago. Johnson’s work and research investigate the tensions and challenges created when drastic upheavals transform or destroy delicate beauty.
She has a background in photojournalism and documentary photography and currently works with a wide array of media including photography, painting, installation, sound, and text.
She recently founded the School of the Beautiful where Hillary uses a combination of her personal coaching and artistic talent to empower people to face life’s inevitable up and downs by unleashing their inner resilience.
Hillary’s art has been displayed from Chicago to Shanghai.
To learn more and see some of Hillary’s art please visit her website.
