My nature's design collection started with a walk on a Nashville greenway with my dog, Copper. The route was well-known, scenic, and peaceful. I walked on that cold February morning in 2020 to ease my mind, seeking relief from the stress and anxiety that the global pandemic had brought. Feeling disconnected from my family and friends, I pushed myself out the door.

Walking has always been a great way for me to get exercise and enjoy some fresh air. It offers an additional benefit of time and space to work through ideas. On that day, my mind was in a fog as I struggled on the path. In a few minutes, my pace picked up, and I started to notice my surroundings. As the sun rose, its light spilled through the trees and danced on the Harpeth River beside me. The sound of the water moving and the brisk air made me pay attention to my surroundings. I started taking pictures of what I was witnessing, grateful for the opportunity to do something that felt positive and productive. It felt like my creative spirit was emerging from a deep well. I passed a bridge and large fields then went down to the river with Copper to explore the cold water. It all felt so good that I wanted to share the experience. So I sent my favorite shot to my family and some friends.

After months of texts full of fear or wishing this pandemic was over, friends could respond to something completely different: a picture taken from a walk in the woods. The reactions I got back lifted my spirits. Eager to keep this feeling going, I went out every morning with Copper to find another interesting image no matter the weather conditions. Every day, I would send a new photograph to my group, who were becoming more engaged with the walk.

I began getting lots of questions like "What type of plant is that?", "Where are you?", "Is that real?". These would make me scramble to learn the species of my subjects, share my favorite parks, and verify that, yes, that is what the sunrise looked like. But there were many deeper reactions to the daily images: "I needed this today," "This makes me happy," "I wanna be there right now," and "Today I was struggling and this picture came right when I needed it." were just a few. Even though my friends weren't on the trail with me, they were still getting the benefits of nature, making these walks more meaningful. I was also building a habit.

By taking a daily walk in nature and looking for subjects to photograph, I was expanding my awareness. This made my images better, decreased my anxieties, and made me feel more open as I moved through the seasons.

In 2023, I decided to sell these images as prints on my website. What followed was months of curating hundreds of images, testing printers and paper, and learning how to make a great online store. I am proud of the work and hope you consider bringing some of nature's designs into your home. I also encourage you to take a walk. It’s beautiful out there.