Being an explorer takes more than courage and determination. An explorer is the surveyor of lands not yet depicted on a map.

We search near and far for things that are open to see for all yet obscure to the less attentive eyes.

My quest to become an explorer of the world began after reading Keri Smith's book How to Be an Explorer of the World (2008).

The book is more about finding your passions than exploring per se, but it lets the reader look at the world from a new perspective. As a collector, maker, and artist, I almost felt that each new place became a vast "unknown," a new territory to document and explore daily.

In any given situation and environment, you can explore the world around you by collecting physical items and tidbits and making art that captures the place and the moment. The book teaches you how to get into exploring by merely looking at the world around you with new, curious eyes.