Flowering Consciousness - Oil Pastel on Paper - 22"x30" unframed

"Enter" - Old Wooden Door, Acrylic and Conte Pencil on Unprimed Canvas, 80"x30"  I often feel moved to place my hands over my heart, close my eyes and just breathe it in - thus the stance.  The figure is floating just off the earth.  The idea of entering into  gratitude, love and bliss are expressed and written on the door cross bar.  I believe this is who we all are in ultimate reality so I added" I am" in reference to the great I AM at the end.

Close up of "Enter" showing flowering of consciousness and connection to nature via vines and flowers.

3/4 view "Enter" - closeup lower portion

Acrylic on Masonite - 48"x32" This is a painting my father began (he passed away 2 years ago) and I finished. I am sure it is not how he would have done it but more a combination of us both. I had to release any attachment to doing it exactly like him or it would not work at all. I do know he was mostly concerned with light and texture. It is his composition and drawing. He had painted quite a lot (on this piece) to begin with, what remains as mostly his now is the right wall. I used pallet knife primarily, as he did. I refined the images with tape and added the flower box and roses (Dad wanted a rose on the table). I am happy to have something that we both worked on. Dad was a mentor and huge supporter of my creative process....... Thanks Dad - Love, me

Untitled - Acrylic on unprimed canvas - 48"x60"  This painting will be shown and for sale at the 2010 "Our Town Art Show and Sale".  Location : The Community house, 380 South Bates Street Birmingham, MI.  Dates: October 14-16, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.  For more information ourtown@community house.com

Spring in waiting - Acrylic on canvas - 12"x48"

Untitled - oil pastel - 11"x14"

Small, mostly oil pastel - some chalk pastel - Fire Series

Small Oil Pastel - Fire Series

Small Oil Pastel - Fire series

Contemplating the grass is greener - Acrylic on canvas - W 73" x H 36" x D1.5 - Diptych - see details below

This is the first canvas of a diptych entitled " Contemplating - The Grass is Greener"  In this canvas definately on one side the grass is greener.  A grass like texture was created and many layers of color and glazing were applied.  There is a horizon line and a metalic gold strip at the top that represents reaching for the gold or the highest and best in any situation.  This applies more to the physical plane and the fact that there are some realities that are "greener" than others. It also refers to situations that may be different but not necessarly better.  36"x36" Acrylic on canvas.

This is the second part of the diptych "Contemplating - The Grass is Greener".  In this canvas both sides of the grass are equally green.  Sometimes we may think the grass is greener/better when in truth it is not.  It also refers to the perfection of the soul where there is no seperation and no greener.  In doing these pieces so many different thoughts went through my mind regarding this topic.  Each person comes to their own discoveries on any topic so I leave it up to the viewer to explore.  36"x36" - Acrylic on canvas

Open or Closed - Acrylic on the back of glass - 15.5"x28   This is a painting on the back of glass in a plain aluminum frame.  I have a number of these windows and plan to do a series.  I love the moth image.  Many times they are soft and irrridesent or very earthy and feathery or fuzzy.  I like the fact that they come out at night and look very wonderful on a window or flying about a lamp in the dark.  I will explore the moth image more as I go.   The moth wings are irridesent.  I put a thin layer of silver on the glass and then painted the color behind so that it shows through.  Some areas are scraped away and painted behind.  Other areas are painted thin so that the color behind comes through and the brush stroke shows.  I think/paint in reverse which is fun.   Charity donation - NFS

This is my painting for "The Lady Liberty Project" to benefit the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).  It will be up for auction - see calendar events and details for more information.  size -48"x60" - Acrylic on canvas.  The idea behind the painting is that in order for liberation to manifest outwardly we need to raise our consciousness to a certain level.  By exploring and connecting to our inner self this process begins to unfold.  This idea crosses religious boundries and ultimately unites us all as brothers and sisters to a place where we treat each other with love and respect. The figure seated in meditation represents inner and outer peace.  The hands are open in a receptive postition.  One palm is open to recieving illumination (on all levels) represented in the torch and the other palm opens to the tablet representing the great ideals of freedom and liberation that this country is founded on.  Hopefully we discover this within and manifest it outwardly.   Charity Donation - NFS

Bigger in Life - Acrylic on canvas - 48"x60" - The scale in this painting is off.  The bird and the flower should be smaller than the human hand, instead they are much larger.  The hand is smaller and a resting place for the bird.  This symbolizes having a humble and protective attitude towards the magnitutude and beauty of nature - stepping up recognizing that we are a part of nature not lord over.     SOLD

Om Namah - This is a piece I created for my altar area.  Each of the seasons are represented in a quarter of the painting and refer to the seasons of life and pays homage to the nature devas.  The upper sphere is a sun/moon representing male/female energies.  There is a lotus flower/bud rising through the center - representing rising energies and spiritual growth.  The moon phases at the bottom represent the passing of time and a reminder to me that we are infinate.  On Namah Bhagavate Vasudevaya  is a chant that pays homage to the qualities of divinity. - Acrylic on canvas - 36"x48"   SOLD

Spirited Tree - Acrylic on Canvas - 48" x 36" - This piece will be in the "Our Town" exhibit - see calendar info. NFS - was gifted

Light Flight - Acrylic on Canvas - Size 36"x36"  - This work was in the "Michigan Fine Arts Competition" - 2006 - see calendar events

Awareness - Acrylic on Canvas - This piece will be showing in the "Our Town" exhibit - see calendar events.  Charity Donation - NFS

Watch The Signs - Acrylic on Canvas - 36"x48" - This work is in the "10th Annual" all Michigan Competition - 2006 - see calendar events - click on event for details

Urban Sprawl - Acrylic on Canvas - This is a very strange painting.  If I am feeling sad, looking at this painting makes me really sad.  I keep thinking that I should paint over the dead animal and make it a reflection or shadow or something, but I like the painting and something stops me from doing that.  The other thing is that art is just a form of communication and dosen't have to always be "pretty".  So for now I am leaving it.  - 36"x36" This work is in the "10th Annual" all Michigan Competition 2006 - see calendar events

Heart Strings - Acrylic on Canvas - This painting is a bit strange - something you would not want to hang in your dining room.  Thinking back this heart could have a million strings, I feel like our hearts are tied in so many ways to life.   36"x36"

Window - Acrylic on Canvas - 36"x36" - Sold

Jamaica - Acrylic on Canvas

Expectations - Acrylic on Canvas

This painting Orchid and the following, Hybiscus were commissions - reference for the flowers were from photos of my trip to Hawaii.  Both paintings are acrylic on canvas. size 24"x24"    SOLD

Hybiscus - Acrylic on Canvas - SOLD - 24"x24"

Conflict- Part of Diptych - Acrylic on canvas - 36"x36" - see calendar events

Resolution - part of diptych - acrylic on canvas - 36" x 36" - see calendar events

Conflict and Resolution, Choices - Acrylic on canvas - This piece will be showing at "Scene Metrospace" in Lansing.  The show is titled "Anger: The Best Medicine"  See calendar events - Sold

Woman with an Open Heart - Mixed Media

Life X Nine - On old window - glass(upper) and screen(lower), wood frame - This work is in the "Bits and Pieces" show - see calendar events

Which Way - painted(acrylic) on the back of an old window, watercolor and pencil background. Previous award winner - Michigan Fine Arts competition.

Waiting in the Wings - Acrylic on Canvas with Collaged Lithograph - SOLD

Self Portrait  -  Watercolor on paper

This is a lithograph of my daughter Stephanie when she was a baby - she is 24 years old now.  I painted it with watercolors.  Size is 9"x12".

Stephanie and the Dress - This is a painting I did many years ago of my daughter Stephanie.  Acrylic on Canvas - 48"x60"  NFS

Below the Surface - This painting was done by creating a textured surface and horizon line.  I then did layers and layers of glazing to create a feeling of depth. There is an island represented on the left side of the painting - most of it under the water.  Water being very symbolic of purification, healing and spirituality. Below the surface refers to the fact that we are more than our body or the external definitions or projections of ourself.  From another aspect - everything is water, sea, sky, island.  According to science - quantum physics and spirituality we are all one energy manifesting in millions of different ways.  I often think we are all swimming in a sea of God.  Acrylic on canvas - 36"x60"  NFS

Homage to Matisse - This painting was actually an assignment in college(many years ago).  The assignment was to copy a painting in the upper left corner and abstract it more and more in the other three sections.  This was really fun and I love the way it turned out, probably because I love the work of Matisse.  Acrylic on canvas - 36"x60"   NFS

Going Within - This painting has been hanging at Namaste Yoga Studio for the past 6 years.  They are remodeling and now it has come back to me.  It is acrylic on canvas 36"x108"  The figures were inspired by Diego Riveria and the rich colors and black lines were inspired by Tiffany.