Songs of the Right Whales

On December 5, there is a celebration at the Jacksonville Sea Pavilion; the North Atlantic Right Whales are returning! They are coming back to calve and enjoy the gentle North Florida coastline. These graceful creatures are intriguingly mysterious; looking into their eyes, as they appear on film, gives me the sense I am meeting them face to face, soul to soul. "Songs of the Right Whales," a block print, is my humble attempt to honor them.
So, if you are in the area, pop by in person! Or, if you are far away, check out www.rightwhalefestival.org
Have a great and festive week! ; )

Flying

Brown pelicans; hard to stop my heart soaring expansively when I see them (or even think about them!). This 6 by 9 inch linocut was carved outdoors yesterday at a local market, with pelicans flying over the ocean just a few hundred feet away. : )

Infinite

Infinite (what a great word!). I recently heard an interview with a prominent scientist, and I was intrigued by his dislike of the thought of existing endlessly. I find the opposite; contemplating infinite existence gives deep, intuitive peace. My mandala is a 7 inch circle linocut, carved to celebrate! Thanks for stopping by. : )

Modify Vision

This piece is inspired by a story I heard recently: a thoughtful teacher in an inner city environment gets her students to lie down for 20 minutes or so a day. They lie down outside and gaze up at the sky; its simple activity to nourish our inner core. My linocut is 12 by 12 inches. Thanks for stopping by!

Worn

I carved this 7 by 9 inch linocut outdoors yesterday. And still today, there are villages where every household parades beautiful, flowing washing lines. Here, where most of us have a choice (we have driers), perhaps beauty can be a trade off for the extra work. Have a great week! : )

Unfold

I have a penchant for folk portraits. This piece was painted in that spirit. It is also a meditation on unfolding processes; sometimes things are hidden even to ourselves and we have to dig deep to learn something. An 8 by 10 oil on canvas, painted in two sessions. Have a great week!

Blessings for the New One

Perhaps it is something about the unusual amount of rain we have been having recently, but today I went on a stamp-making marathon and I really couldn't stop. : ) Relative to linoleum and wood carving, using soft material like "Speedy-Cut" is, in the sense of speed, sketching. Have a great week!

Ratha Yatra Parade

The famous Ratha Yatra festival takes place annually in Jagannatha Puri, Orissa, India. On this day, the Deity of Jagannatha rides on a chariot, surrounded by flowers and devotional chants. The English word "juggernaut" ("relentless, irresistible force") comes directly from the Sanskrit word "Jagannatha." I remember my intrigue whenever my father referred to anything as a "juggernaut."
So here is the original Jagannatha, encompassed by flowers and festivity. This is a 4 by 6 linocut, splashed with *live* watercolor! : )