It was an unexpected opportunity when my friend Marie reached out to me in January about the hike. She had been wanting to go for years but the timing did not work out for her until this year. She wanted a companion to join her and she thought “who would be up for such an adventure?”
Mooney Falls. My favorite.
Friendship
Marie and I have been friends for over 14 years. We met in Alabama when our husbands went through helicopter training with the military. We created an art show that was displayed in the local town we lived near.
She saw me in my difficult times going through my thyroid cancer diagnosis, surgeries, and treatment. She was a life raft in an ocean of uncertainty. Her presence in my life during that time was truly what I needed. Our paths have continued to cross over the years, which I am always grateful for.
She and her family also lived in Japan while we did too —Kyoto, we were in the Tokyo area—and we were able to visit each other a few times and travel together. She even came up to see my Cherry Blossom collection for the one night I had it on display.
Kindred spirits in making art and adventuring.
I was thrilled when she asked if I would be interested in hiking Havasupai Falls with her in May. It was an instant “yes” from me and only a matter of logistics with family life for both of us. We miraculously were able to get the highly coveted permits for the golden month of May.
Connection
Since childhood, my heart truly feels at home in two places: near the ocean and the western United States. I have core memories of roadtrips across California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah for vacations and to visit family. In third grade I learned about Georgia O’Keefe and knew then I wanted to be like her, an artist immersed in and painting the western landscape. Subconsciously, I have been following that path.
It was amazing to see the Grand Canyon on my flight into Las Vegas. I could not believe I was going to be down there in a few days, immersed in another world.
I have never prepared so thoroughly for a trip as I did this one, this was a backpacking trip. We would have to pack everything in and out, all our food, tents, and gear for over 9 miles into and out of the campground.
Every ounce mattered.
Standing at the Confluence, where the Colorado River and Havasu Creek meet. The Colorado was much colder!
Hike
We hiked over 40 miles in four days. We had one day to hike in and one to hike out, and two full days down there. We hiked to the Confluence which was a 16 mile roundtrip day, to see where the Havasupai waters met with the Colorado River and miles back and forth to the other waterfalls.
I was not fully prepared for how breathtaking it would be at Havasupai, Mooney, and Beaver Falls. The falls are on a reservation, and every second I was down there I was grateful to be there. And grateful that this slice of heaven has been protected and cared for over the many years it has been accessible to the public.
I have never been so in tune and in touch with nature as I was then. Completely off grid, no cell service, just myself and my friend and her friend. We were surrounded of course with many other people too but everyone was so friendly and happy to be there, they felt the magic of that place and it showed in every interaction with someone.
Painting the Falls
I knew I wanted to paint while I was down in the canyon and I did not want to add much weight to my pack.
Painting Set up:
-a clip board with heavy weighted papers, six to be exact
-a small paper palette with tear off pages
-a few blue shop towels
-a small foldable water cup
-half used acrylic colors, selecting a limited palette of seven colors
-a few small brushes
It all fit in a gallon sized ziplock minus the clip board. And it worked great! I was able to paint three days and made six paintings, making one more at Marie’s house on the day I flew out for a total of seven pieces.
People were so kind as they walked past me to get a look at what I was making. I would love to go back and paint a lot more. I am obsessed with the waterfalls and the greenery next to the red rocks and teal waters. It was incredible, other worldly.
I probably will never sell these paintings. It took a lot of strength and determination to experience and paint these scenes. The smaller piece of Mooney Falls is my favorite and extra special to me because I made it at the end of our long hike to the Confluence while sitting next to Marie as she sketched the scene in her sketchbook. These original paintings are the most important thing I have that documents my time at Havasupai Falls. I really do not think I could put a price on that.
Havasupai Falls. Acrylic on paper. May 2026.
This was the first painting I made after we hiked into and set up camp. I was sore and tired but loved that I made this even through the exhaustion.
Dusk in the Canyon. Acrylic on paper. May 2026.
Sitting on top of Mooney Falls this was our campsite view the last day and night we were there. The million dollar view and prime spot we got lucky to have it even for a short time.
Sunrise at Mooney Falls. Acrylic on paper. May 2026.
Havasu Creek just above Mooney Falls. Acrylic on paper. May 2026.
The roaring waters was incredibly loud.
Sunset on top of Mooney Falls. Acrylic on paper. May 2026.
My Favorite painting of the collection. Mooney Falls at Sunset. Acrylic on paper. May 2026.
Confluence at the Grand Canyon— Colorado River and Havasu Creek. Acrylic on paper. May 2026.
I painted this piece based on a photo I took. It’s a lot tighter because I had more time to work on it and working from a photograph is so much different than on site painting.
Since I was a teenager, I have dreamed of traveling and painting all over the world and these pieces are making that dream a reality.
I joke that I have never painted water so much as I have this year. Between this trip, one I took to Florida —I will share later— and the few beach paintings I have made here in NC, its been a lot for me.
And I really love the challenge of painting different parts of nature.
We were incredibly sore, no matter how hard we physically trained, but we did it through the stories, laughs, pains, and jump scares from lizards darting in front of us.
WE DID IT! We did something hard, one step at a time.
Thanks for reading this today. I hope you feel inspired to have a moment in nature this week. I hope you know you can do hard things, one step at a time. You are stronger and braver than you give yourself credit for.
Artfully,
P.S. If you are interested in prints of these pieces please let me know. If I know there is a demand for it I may make a limited edition print of these. Tell me which one is your favorite, email me at: HELLO@ANNASTASHA.COM
Painting at Havasupai Falls. May 2026.