The Dirt Curse, as featured in the book, is a pen and ink illustration that represents rumored tale of the Grand Valley’s most enduring pieces of folklore. A local legend whispered for more than a century. According to the story, early settlers bargained with the land itself when they diverted the rivers and reshaped the desert into farmland. The Ute people, who had lived with the land rather than against it, warned that taking too much would come with a cost.
The curse emerged as a way to explain the uncanny pull the valley seems to have on people. Some say once you get Grand Valley dirt on your shoes, you’ll never truly leave. Others say if you do leave, life will tug you back—through opportunity, nostalgia, or strange coincidence. It’s not a curse meant to harm; it’s more of a binding charm, a reminder that the valley keeps its own kind of magic and memory.
The Jar of Dirt contains four sacred sites that people collect soil from:
Confluence of the Colorado and Gunnison River
The Grand Mesa
The National Monument
The Bookclifs
Over generations, the Dirt Curse has blended humor, superstition, and truth. Locals joke about it when friends move away and suddenly return. Families share it as a nod to how deeply rooted people become here. And many believe the land itself has a personality—one that doesn’t let go lightly.
In Mermaids and the Cursed Valley, the Dirt Curse becomes a symbolic thread connecting the mermaids to the land: a reminder that water, soil, and story all hold power. It speaks to belonging, return, and the way this landscape claims those who love it.
This is 8×10 on Hamamule German paper 300 lb. Pen and ink. Original Drawing.
Every print is a high-quality reproduction of my original watercolor painting—crafted to bring a touch of Colorado magic into your home.
The Dirt Curse, as featured in the book, is a pen and ink illustration that represents rumored tale of the Grand Valley’s most enduring pieces of folklore. A local legend whispered for more than a century. According to the story, early settlers bargained with the land itself when they diverted the rivers and reshaped the desert into farmland. The Ute people, who had lived with the land rather than against it, warned that taking too much would come with a cost.
The curse emerged as a way to explain the uncanny pull the valley seems to have on people. Some say once you get Grand Valley dirt on your shoes, you’ll never truly leave. Others say if you do leave, life will tug you back—through opportunity, nostalgia, or strange coincidence. It’s not a curse meant to harm; it’s more of a binding charm, a reminder that the valley keeps its own kind of magic and memory.
The Jar of Dirt contains four sacred sites that people collect soil from:
Confluence of the Colorado and Gunnison River
The Grand Mesa
The National Monument
The Bookclifs
Over generations, the Dirt Curse has blended humor, superstition, and truth. Locals joke about it when friends move away and suddenly return. Families share it as a nod to how deeply rooted people become here. And many believe the land itself has a personality—one that doesn’t let go lightly.
In Mermaids and the Cursed Valley, the Dirt Curse becomes a symbolic thread connecting the mermaids to the land: a reminder that water, soil, and story all hold power. It speaks to belonging, return, and the way this landscape claims those who love it.
This is 8×10 on Hamamule German paper 300 lb. Pen and ink. Original Drawing.
Every print is a high-quality reproduction of my original watercolor painting—crafted to bring a touch of Colorado magic into your home.
