by Mindy Lighthipe | Costa Rica, Costa Rica Through an Artist's Eyes, Field Sketching, Scientific Illustration
What Happens After the Trip? Meet Nature Journal Artist Karen Johnson One of the greatest joys of leading art and nature expeditions is seeing what participants create long after they return home. The memories may fade with time, but the sketches, color notes,...
by Mindy Lighthipe | Art & Travel, Costa Rica, Costa Rica Through an Artist's Eyes
“My trip to Costa Rica truly changed my life and sent me down a completely new creative path.” — Pamela Mielke One of the greatest rewards of leading art adventures isn’t simply introducing people to incredible wildlife—it’s watching people...
by Mindy Lighthipe | Art For Conservation, Butterfly Art, Costa Rica, Experimentation Sparks Creativity, Inspiration
Through an Artist’s Eyes — When people learn that I spent more than a decade as a professional handweaver before becoming a botanical and natural science illustrator, they often ask what inspired such a dramatic career change. The truth is, it wasn’t as...
by Mindy Lighthipe | Art For Conservation, Bird Art, Conservation, Costa Rica, Workshops
My art business is expanding in some exciting new ways! Last November, I traveled to Colombia to scout a potential destination for future art, culture, and photography adventures—and it completely exceeded my expectations. Colombia is a breathtaking country, rich in...
by Mindy Lighthipe | Butterfly Art, Conservation, Costa Rica, Gouache, Insect Art, Online Art Classes, Uncategorized, Workshops
There is something magical about stepping into the rainforest for the first time — the sound of distant birds, the humidity in the air, and the feeling that life is unfolding everywhere around you. As I prepare to return once again to Costa Rica for my annual art and...
by Mindy Lighthipe | Butterfly Art, Costa Rica, Insect Art, Scientific Illustration, Uncategorized, Workshops
An Electric Flash of Blue: Drawing the Magic of the Blue Morpho I still remember the very first time I saw a Blue Morpho butterfly in the Costa Rican rainforest. One moment the forest was deep green and shadowed—then zap!—an electric flash of blue zipped past me like...
