WATER CONSERVATION
AND LITERACY PROJECT

WILD AND WONDERFUL
WATER CONSERVATION AND LITERACY PROJECT

Ever since I was a little girl I’ve been fascinated with creeks, rivers, and ponds, and with the creatures that lived in and around them. We were taught by our parents early on about the beauty of nature. We spent many of our summers running through the grass on bare feet, exploring the icy waters of Chalk Creek, and nearby brooks around Nathrop and Buena Vista, Colorado. My siblings and I loved watching water dippers bobbing up and down in the water in search of delicious “unseen” morsels. Our imaginations were ignited by the long-legged water skippers that had the ability to walk on water. We delighted at the occasional plop of a brook trout as it jumped from a quiet pool at mayflies or mosquitos overhead. I can almost hear the sound of the bright red screen door squeaking open, then shutting as we ran out the door and across the meadows in front of our cabin.

Every day was an adventure.

We felt the long grass between our toes, heard the sounds of grasshoppers and hummingbirds, and host of unseen birds up in the pine trees surrounding our cabin. We loved watching the chipmunks as they stuffed their cheeks with seeds, and sometimes breadcrumbs from our Creekside picnics. As young children we learned to “read” the living lines of a landscape, decipher the rhythms of a river or creek, and understand the non-verbal stories told by the creatures living within in these habitats.

It is in this spirit that I decided to create a series of paintings from my love of the Arkansas River of Colorado. Measuring 1,469 miles, the Arkansas River flows down from the high Rocky Mountains near Leadville, southeast through a diverse landscape. I admire at this prehistoric waterway and the various creatures and habitats, tributaries, marshes, and ponds that are part of the river. I marvel at the steep rocky cliffs on Highway 50 between Canon City and Salida, which were carved out over millions of years.

It was this passion for the river that helped me decide to create a series of paintings for children and those with visual impairments. I wanted children to be able to “read” a painting through visual stimulation and touch. Yes! Touch. I wanted children to have the opportunity to be part of the painting through gentle touch. In 2007 I began to sketch images from this vision. It would take nearly 19 years from the concept to the finished pieces—40 of them featuring the river, changing seasons, aquatic animals, mammals, birds, and insects. I loved the process of telling the story of river life through my unique art style and life experiences.

By early 2025 my pieces were complete and ready to display.

Once my paintings were done, it was time to put the story of the Arkansas River and Colorado’s waterways into a written history for young people. I wanted them to follow the exhibit through written words-- and of course visual cues and touch. I began the book project, Wild and Wonderful: A Child’s Guide to the Arkansas River and the Creatures that Live There in 2023 and completed it in early 2026. I wanted to share this important story with children and encourage them to learn about nature, conservation, and Colorado’s prehistoric timeline while evaluating their own connection to the world and to their role in protecting our natural habitats.

As a published author and illustrator of numerous children’s books, I have also had the privilege of speaking to students and teachers throughout Colorado and Utah. Of course, like many school visits, I sold and signed books for children fortunate enough to pay for them. There were many times when I gave away copies of my books to children and adults knowing there wasn’t much in their family budget. For this project, I wanted to create a book that could be given away to children and adults who came to my Sacred Waters exhibit [https://www.harmonyhousestudio.com/sacredwaters]. I believe that all children have a right to own a book and to participate in the arts regardless of their socioeconomic status. For me, literacy isn’t just about the ability to read and write, it’s about the ability to “read” the Earth, rivers, waterways, and the creatures that call these habitats home. It’s a child’s ability to draw and write about their own experiences in nature.

My exhibit, Sacred Rivers, is my way of giving back to the river that gave me my imagination. Through bold colors, layered textures, and the stories of the creatures along Highway 50; I want to bridge the gap between traditional literacy and environmental fluency. Every child deserves to see themselves as an explorer, an author, and an artist of the natural world—regardless of what their family budget looks like. By sharing these habitats through my art and books, I hope to inspire a new generation to step outside, look closely at the water, and write their own wild, beautiful stories. I hope to give children the gift of “reading” the Earth and all of its wonders, while gaining a lifelong language of conservation, curiosity, and belonging. I hope they can read the quiet text written in the mud by the tracks of a midnight raccoon, or the code of a dragonfly skimming across a still marsh. When we teach a child to observe the world with that level of intimacy, we are teaching them to belong to it. And through this process they become stewards of the Earth for future generations.

Here’s How You Can Participate!

Become an Individual sponsor-buy books for children at a discounted price:
You can buy 5, 10, or a classroom set of 30, and know that you are supporting a cause that will inspire young naturalists, artists, and conservationists. Sponsors will be listed on my website, and updates will appear on my special project Facebook Page.

Host an event:
If you know of an organization that would like to host the Sacred Waters Exhibit and give away copies of my book, Wild and Wonderful: A Child’s Guide to the Arkansas River and the Creatures that Live There, invite them to reach out to us so we can schedule a time for the exhibit.

Become a Corporate or Non-Profit Partner:
You can help put books into the hands of children by making a contribution towards printing costs. Being a small business owner, I could only print 500 copies. My goal is to print 10,000 copies and to distribute them to children throughout all kinds of special events, museums, nature centers, and schools. It’s time to rally our next generation of nature lovers and conservationists, while encouraging them to become life-long readers, as well!

If you are interested in booking an exhibit, a presentation, sponsor an event, or order a BULK quantity of books (100), please email Vickie at harmonyhouseartstudio@gmail.com