SOULSHINE

I had a couple (who happen to be near and dear friends Lisa and Jeremy) ask me to do this heart /tree combo.  Trees are one of my favorite things to draw, so I jumped at the chance.  This couple is full of energy and passion and they share those things with a large community around them.  This, as you imagine, takes heart. A heart that powers the way we grow, the way we shine, survive, learn, bloom, breath, and give to others.  It can create a pretty powerful life, that is strong and will stand the test of elements.  

It reminds me of the Yggdrisil (look it up) which has a great Viking legend behind tree (the species is debated on) but to sum it up - this tree is pertinent to our existence.  The Heavens above, mankind in the middle, and the earth below us.  It also reminds me of Gov't Mules song, Soulshine - which is where I got the name.  It serendipitously came on my shuffle of music the day I finished this.  

11"x17" 

SOLD

(prints available)  

NORITAKE DREAMS

The over year long effort here has ended.  I have woken up from my Noritake Dream...trying to remember all that happened with in its time.  I started this after a dream I had soon after my Aunt Mary passed away.  She was my Dad's oldest sister (image below, she is the red head on the left of the family pic) and was one of two sisters that virtually raised my Dad.  A sweetheart of a lady, with great taste in home decor and china (dishes), amongst many other wonderful traits she possessed.  Before she passed, she left to me a set of her china and some home decor - all with a Japanese art influence.  The China is "Legacy by Noritake," so after this dream, I got out a small saucer plate and a tea cup...and there you have it.  The four circles you see here.  I segmented these I think to represent phases in life.  Having spent over a year on this piece, I figure there are a couple versions of myself coming out here - but with my Aunt Mary having a consistent presence.    I drew the river to feed the dreams.  I drew the rain to feed the river.  I drew the trees to express a childhood love for a scene from my favorite childhood movie, Anne of Green Gables, where Anne was riding in a carriage with Matthew thru a field of Cherry Blossoms.  And those trees were fed by the river and the rain.  That was my outward intent.  My inward intent?  Who knows.  A friend 'analyzed' this the other night.  It was an amazing moment to hear his interpretation of it.  He saw a push and pull of two people trying to be together but remaining apart, separated by the obvious (river).  With the energies of both people pushing and pulling the other along during their days together.  Still separated by this body of water and empty on the inside.  I have a feeling that comes from where he is in life.  What do I think?  I think I left the 'dreams' empty because they are open for interpretation, so I wanted to leave that space for just that.  The red tones here are an energy that feeds.  Stronger some days than others and always supporting the bloom of each dream.  That is the interpretation today.  I should check back in with myself next year and see what I think!  ha!  What do YOU think or see here?

19" x 24"

EVERGREEN

I was passing time one day after work sitting on the porch at Zax in downtown Austin, with an empty page in front of me.  I remember what I was wearing, and strangely enough, I was wearing the same dress that I am wearing today.  It's a dress that has waves crashing all over it.  That coincidence would be like saying you know what you didn't know you knew, in that I didn't know I was drawing what I was knew I was wearing.  Follow me??  Back to the subject at hand.  EVERGREEN!!  The color and some lines were certainly inspired by a Marc Chagall stained glass I sat and stared at for a while in Zurich, Switzerland a couple of months ago.  There were sections of a certain wall where each panel window featured a color.  Green.  Blue.  Golden.  Red.  Sucked me right in and gave me a direction.  I was listening to some bumpin' and relaxing tunes by classical artist with a flare - Black Violin.  I'm set now - the music, the color, and an idea which leads way to GO time.  Someone came in and claimed this one pretty early on.  An old, dear friend of mine from childhood.  We used to walk to school together, walk to Wendy's and spend our allowance on the $0.99 menu, sing in choir together, and so on.  It's a blessing to be able to reconnect with someone from my childhood in such a way.  I can't wait to deliver this to her in The Woodlands.  As I was thinking about what to name this, I couldn't help but work my history with Ree Ann into the naming.  We grew up in Huntsville in the Avenues that are filled with huge looming trees that canopied over the blocks creating shelter and wonder for a curious kids eating their Wendy's on the curb or throwing pine cones at their siblings.  The trees were beautiful and EVERGREEN in my mind.  Much like our friendship that is evidently EVERGREEN, time and environment don't cause much change after all.  Our roots bring us back to this moment with an art exchange. Life ebs, flows, swells, with bursts of life and pockets of time that change who we are and where we go.  Collectively, a giving force to those around us.  I hope this is a giving source for Ree's home and her family.  Always there and EVERGREEN.

14"x17"
SOLD

Prints Available

BREEZEWAY

Leaving a little space for a big breeze.  Perhaps summer prompted me to leave a this space here.  Or perhaps it was the need for some air; to let the wind in to power a new possibility.  We are always in a space to grow, to learn, and to feel a little breeze.  Who likes to be all cooped up feeling no breeze - no nothing for that matter.  As much as I may have felt like I needed to fill the space, I decided it time to leave a little breezeway beautifully open and crisp.  The word breezeway makes me think of 1.) Rocking chairs and 2.) Old plantation homes that often had open walk ways left open in the middle of the home - for a purpose, not a pleasure.  For safety and function in order to help the home survive a crisis.  Yes - I just worded the purpose of architecture in a rather silly manner - but I'm really just trying to add a humanistic feature in order to better imagine something here.  So, YES - the obvious option is  southern home architecture.  Hey - I grew up two blocks from Sam Houston's home with this breezeway I speak of.
Back to the matter at hand.  Breeze.  Strong spine, gentle soul, taking in a little breeze time.  Allow yourself some space in your mind to be quiet, to observe and soak in, some things that are lingering in those empty spaces left neglected by the busy-ness we can often put upon ourselves.
Enjoy the moment(s)(s)(s)(s)(s).

11"x7"  Original

LEAF ON LEAF II

I drew this second set of leaves right after the first set sold. The second time around was interesting because I felt as though I have never allowed myself to 'repeat' an idea. It opened a good amount of space in my head - allowing myself to simply add to what has already been created. As similar as they may be, they are different and they come from a different place. I started with three leaves to connect to the spiritual side of the person who requested the leaves. I'm so happy to know that someone finds inspiration and joy in lines I have created, enough to request this addition!

11"x14"
SOLD

LEAF ON LEAF

I tried to combine a couple of my favorite things about nature with in these lines. The first thing is nature up close and how much how its function is like ours. The second thing is the layers of nature and the change in shades. Every vein of every green thing is full of life and here for our adoration. And for fun, have you ever listened to, "Have You Ever" by Brandi Carlile? Please do! I'm pretty sure it was played a time or two while working on my leaves.

11"x14" original
Sharpie and Le Plume II pen

SOLD (original) $425
Prints available