Seasons of Influence; Spring is the first of four self portraits.  Each piece will bring together multiple influences and elements of my life.  This first completed piece includes my earliest icons. Top left, Petula Clark's song "Downtown" was one of my earliest favorite songs.  Top right, Clark is followed by Nancy Sinatra's song, "These Boots Are Made for Walkn".  Bottom left, an icon of the '60's, Twiggy was THE fashion model of the times.  Bottom right, from the live action show, Batman, that looked like a comic book come to life, Catwoman played by Julie Newmar was so mysterious and sexy.  

The Yoga Series, below, was originally inspired by my Goddess studies and interest in symbology. The Yoga series informs the Season of Influence series. Conceived in 2008, I combined pencil drawings of women in Yoga poses with healing flowers, my own digital landscape photography and the Stupa.  Each flower speaks to varying aspects of soul, healing, spirtiuality and sensuality. Each part of the Stupa represents different elements and stages of consciousness.

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Recommended Reading:
The Color Encyclopedia of Daylilies by Ted L. Petit & John P. Peat
Flower Essence Repertory by Patricia Kaminski & Richard Katz
Goddess -  A Celebration In Art and Literature Edited by Jalaja Bonheim
Power Mudras - Yoga Hand Postures For Women by Sabrina Mesko
Goddesses in World Mythology - A Biographical Dictionary by Martha Ann & Dorothy Myers Imel
Goddess - Myths of the Female Divine by David Leeming & Jake Page
The Crone - Women of Age, Wisdom and Power by Barbara G. Walker 
Goddesses in Every Woman by Jean Shinoda Bolen

Inspiring Works
The Vision and Art of Shinjo Ito www.shinjoito.com  Incredible exhibit was in Westwood CA in 2008, unforgettable works by Shinjo Ito. 

For my next series, I am pulling together ideas and themes I have been working with for years.  For "The Seasons of Influence", I am exploring my progress as an artist.  My concept for these paintings is to create a visual diary of my inner life.  Who am I?  Where do I come from?  Why do I see things the way I do?   These paintings will offer clues to my guiding influences and frame a dialog for continuing series.  

I have created four designs; working titles are "Spring", "Summer", "Autumn" and "Winter".  Elements include my collection of toys and other artifacts, a Goddess Cheesehead for each season, Artists, Musicians, animals and my own hands.  I am "standing behind" all these elements revealing my hands as part of the composition.  I am utilizing the calming motif of the mandala design to contain the imagery.  The resulting ordered chaos will be rendered in oils on canvases, each 20" x 20".  To be continued...

Below is a selection of my past works exploring a spiritual theme.

Sketchbook Drawings 2011