Posts Tagged ‘Totem’
Friday, May 13th, 2011
 The word for this week at Illustration Friday‘s website, is “safari“. Unfortunately, my current safari adventures with exotic wild animals are at the zoo! One day, I will go to Africa, the Amazon, China and India to see exotic wild life. Hopefully, they will not be extinct!
During my safari to the Philadelphia Zoo (click on the zoo link to find out more about Maya and friends) in March 2011, I visited the snow leopards and polar bears!
As I watched, Maya, the snow leopard, I was mesmerized by her spirit! So after sketching and taking photos, I came back to my Studio Nookery and created this piece, entitled, “Maya’s Spirit” (14″x 12″- Mixed Media/Paper) She is a part of my “Animal Totem” Series.
There are many cultures that have myths and legends where animals are the main characters or play an important role in teaching important life lessons. Animal Totem characteristics for Snow Leopard are: Sensitivity, Agility, Strength and Mystery.
Life, itself is a journey, as we travel through it, we gain the knowledge and tools to make it our own unique safari! Peace to you and yours.
Tags: (, acrylic, adventure, Africa, Agility, Amazon, Animal, Asia, big cats, carnivore, China, color pencil, culture, Exotic, Graphite, Guides, hidden images, http://indigeneart.com, Illustration Friday, India, Indigene, life, Maya, mixed media, mystery, Paper, Philadelphia Zoo, Safari, Sensitivity, Snow Leopard, spiritual, Strength, Totem, watercolor, white, Winter
Posted in Art, General, Illustration Friday, Studio Time | 16 Comments »
Saturday, March 5th, 2011
 Warning: Get your sunglasses! Warning: Blinding vivid color!
Exploring, the concept of animal totems and nature-based stories, there is a lot to be learn through nature, especially the animal kingdom. I adore bears and not just the cuddly plush toys. It’s the real bears that I have an affinity for. The quiet, swift, adaptable, solitary, very protective of their young, independent, wild and ferocious bears. These traits are human traits, too! Many we can identify with.
Many indigenous cultures, have myths and legends where animals are the main characters. The stories play an important role in teaching and continuing native traditions through important life lessons. I am fascinated by all myths, legends, history, fairy tales; stories of fantasy and imagination involving nature and the power of female archetypes. These stories still have the power to teach, influence and empower you. Researching these traditions have led me to many resources, numerous experiences and dreams! Just simply put, “good stuff”.
So as the bears are slowing turning over from their deep sleep winter hibernation, because there is a little spring wind hanging about. I decided to honor these magnificent creatures. So here you are, a new painting to delight in, “Bear in Mind”.
Hibernation is almost over, let’s take our heads and bodies out and enjoy the hints that nature is dropping us; letting us know Spring is coming, slowly, but surely. Get out and explore nature, it’s time for us to add to the stories of old.
Peace.
Tags: acrylic, adaptability, adaptable, alert, animal kingdom, animals, Bear, concept, cuddly, exploration, Fantasy, ferocious, Graphite, http://indigeneart.com, human traits, identity, imagination, independent, Indigene, indigenous, legend, mixed media, myth, painting, plush, protective, Quiet, Series, solitary, swift, Totem, toys, vivd color, warning, watercolor, wild, young
Posted in Art, General, Illustration Friday, Studio Time | 16 Comments »
Wednesday, January 19th, 2011
 Walrus Totem My intent for this year is to live in abundance, it is what I will be aware of in my life, the abundance that I have in mind, body and spirit.
The word came to me during my quiet time in the morning where I do my sitting in silence prayer, my “Morning Pages” (journaling), then I listen to tribal music, in my nook with a candle burning, living in that special moment. It has become a ritual that gives sanity to a day that may have anything in store for me.
It doesn’t mean that I will not have bad days or days of frustration, but that I will remember, I have abundance of everything, “creativity, love, family, patience, will, friendship, ambition, money, etc.” in those moments and throughout the day.
Peace to you.
Tags: Abundance, Abundant, blue, Cosmos, creativity, green, Indigene, Indigene Art Forms, Indigeneart, Meditation, Morning Pages, Peace, pink, purple, Soul Portraits, Totem, Universe, Walrus
Posted in Art, General, Studio Time | 2 Comments »
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
Some of the details of my Work-In-Progress contain various symbols and snakes are one of them.
Some cultures hold snakes in high esteem while other cultures despised them. There are cultures that associated snakes with medicinal powers or rebirth, such as the modern medical symbol of two snakes wrapped around a staff.
The Judeo-Christian culture does not hold snakes or serpent in a kind light. The biblical tales of the Garden of Eden and the serpent’s role in “tempting woman to trick man into the fall from God’s grace” have contributed to the negative images of snakes in western culture. This deep rooted cultural biases accounts in part for the widespread of fear and disdain of snakes. Myths, legends, and folk tales contribute to the misinformation and add to the snake’s negative imagery.
Cultures are as valid as the people who come from them and as with all living entities, there are positive and negative aspects, snakes are no different.
The imagery of the snakes in the details of this portrait embrace the concept of healer, rebirth and revitalization.
I’m sure that this spiritual portrait will be serve as a conversation piece, dependent upon the view or viewers!
Tags: "O", 22x30 inches, acrylic, Arches paper, culture, divine, enamel, energy, fear, forbidden, gold, Graphite, green, health, hidden, Illustration Friday, Indigene, Indigeneart.com, Judeo-Christian, medical symbol, medicinal, mixed media, mythology, Orange, pen/ink, purple, rebirth, red, religious, Snakes, spiritual, Symbol, Totem, turquoise, watercolor, Work-In-Progress
Posted in Art, Family, Featured Artist, Friends, Illustration Friday, Studio Time, Work | 8 Comments »
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010
 Usually, I do not show my work in progress, (it is often a muddy or murky process);
But, since I do photograph the progress for my own records, I’m merging my inner work with my outer practice more in 2010. So in trusting my own process, I believe it has to be a sharing process, albeit a scary one!
Currently, I’m working on a portrait of someone, who is so full of love and compassion, “to be of service to others,” her own words, is her soul’s ministry. I’m doing this portrait based on poetry of hers, dreams and symbols that correlates with this individual. I want this portrait to be an expression of her inner self, a snapshot of her inner world and indicator of her spirit. I’ve combined her offerings of self with my vision, feelings and personal expression to create an overall sense of this person.
Whether it is a portrait or not, it is always a process of self discovery. I’ll be doing this over several posts…
Tags: "O", Arches paper, dreamscape, empathic, expression, feelings, Graphite, hypersensitive, Illustration Friday, Indigene, Indigeneart.com, intuitive, journey, muddy, murky, poetry, portrait, sensitive, spirit, Totem, vision
Posted in Art, Friends, General, Studio Time, Work | 7 Comments »
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