Gerber God and his Famous Mother

I painted this contemporary take on a 12th century Romanesque sculpture of the Virgin and Child for an Art History paper. Basically asking the question, "Who is behind the images we see today?"...you can draw your own conclusions.

Little Ruca Butt on the Trail

Ruca did the 12 mile hike!

light

The light passing through the trees. Perfect moment.

Banana Slug Love

Last weekend we went to Big Sur. We saw this in a small nook between the rocks. Who knew slugs could be so beautiful.

Pompeii Plasters

Pompeii was a Roman city that was lost for thousands of years under the volcanic ash of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. While uncovering the lost city they discovered pockets of space left by the decomposed bodies that were buried. Through a plastering process they were able to fill these air pockets and thus give form to these forgotten lives. How interesting is that?

What struck me was this plaster of a dog they uncovered. It's anguish is apparent and its detail is amazing. The dynamic positioning of its legs just make me feel the ash that is covering him. Sad,eerie, and beautiful all at once.

Baby Shirley

So my manager at work has this super cute baby named Shirley. He asked me to paint her and in my head I was doubting my abilities to do a human painting. Dogs seem easier. I decided to take on the challenge and it was not easy...but I think in the end this was a successful painting that taught me a lot.

Here is Shirley in her first Halloween outfit as a duck. I set her in the sky for both fun and contrast to the yellow outfit...

Today a thought

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home."

This was a quote that struck a chord with me today. In my moments of introverted hibernation (which have become more frequent lately), I find myself painting as a way to travel. Being I can not afford to roam the world aimlessnessly as I would LOVE I paint to find reprieve from life. To live inside my own creation, by the meditation of the paint going onto a blank canvas.