The Wind Whisperer

"The Wind Whisperer" - mixed media on 300 lb watercolor paper, 22" x 15".  Earmarked for an upcoming exhibit at the Coral Springs Museum of Art.   Inquiries.

A different path today in the studio.  Allowing primitive symbols and animal spirits to chant and dance through the creation process.  A powerful bird totem as we head toward October and Halloween.  A guardian, I think.  Soaring on the high thermals; watching warily from the rooftop.  

Inspired by the work of the incredible Rick Bartow, who managed to use vivid, bright colors with weighty topics and somehow tease out a visceral response to the art.  At once modern and primitive, Bartow was a free spirit in his creations.

This piece is a paint over.  The layers of paint and collage underneath create a deeply wrinkled, aged texture which speaks of ancients and ruins and jungle explorers.  It makes me want to randomly create paintings just to paint on top to this effect!

The bird, the bird...feathered spirit guides appear in many forms.  Hawk, eagle, sparrow...as many as their are birds.  But what about birds in general?  They appear in many of my paintings - what do they mean?

Often, the appearance of a bird sends the message of emotional control and weathering hardship.  A symbol that you can do it - whatever it is challenging you right now.  Bird also means endings and beginnings, but not rushing to complete one and start the other.  Patience, right timing, waiting.  (The dreaded "P" WORD is how it's known in our house!  Patience is my husband's thing.  Not so much mine, though I am learning.)

Bird can mean to use your voice to bring hope...something as artists we hope to do with each brushstroke.  As humans, sharing our stories, using our voices to encourage - all are powerful bird energy.

With the wings of your bird spirit you can rise above hardship and adversity, separate yourself from worldly problems and enjoy lightness of being.

​And now, enough birdsong to fill your day!