I posted "The Way" before but realized that I have this legend for the painting also. The painting is about the pantheon living in harmony amongst one another. There are 26 listed religions and philosophies represented though there are many more. The image for Islam is the archway over the path since Allah is not to be represented as an embodied form and is often shown in decorative patterns and geometric tiling. See the post of May 4th, 2007 below for more.
The Inner Path was done originally for PanGaia Magazine. The name of the issue was "Healing Paths" and was exploring different alternative cures and therapies. It seemed appropriate for the "infinite" theme this week and reminds me of the Thoreau poem:
On an earlier post I had mentioned that I would like to complete the set of Citrus Sisters by creating a Lime Sister. I had attempted to do one, yet I had never liked the other Sisters as much as I had liked the original Orange Sister. So with that I have decided to use the original as a template to adjust the colors in Photoshop and making the Lemon and Lime. Here are the Sisters reunited!
Professor Yunus (Bangladeshi banker and economist) is the 2006 Nobel Prize winner for his founding of the Grameen Bank, which started making microfinance possible. His belief that credit is a fundamental human right has helped many people escape poverty by teaching them sound financial principles and making microloans.
Here are the spot illustrations I'd created for the Nature's Path Foods Eco-Pacs a few years back. There hasn't been a theme as well suited as "adapt" for the chance to display them on the blog. Nature's Path did adapt to the idea of producing less packaging by using these biodegradable bags without the need of a cardboard box.
Happy Chinese New Year! The New Year animal order starts with the Rat, to the Ox, the Tiger, the Rabbit, Dragon, etc. (the way that they are facing). The Chinese Zodiac is by the year instead of the Western Zodiac which is by each month. The story of their order is that the Buddha called a meeting of all the animals and they arrived to the meeting in the order that they are placed. The story also says that there was suppose to be the Cat but it had missed the meeting by sleeping through it. 
I'm using this illustration of George W. for "vacant" since he will soon be gone! The idea of vacancy applies to him in more than that though. The time for his leaving office has finally arrived....his reign of eight years has been very long indeed. Corporate America may miss him but anyone with sense wont or anyone without the wealth to receive his tax cuts. Yes, some intelligent people supported him but that just proves that intelligence isn't wisdom. Good riddance Mr. Bush.
This illustration was created for a Children's Story about the value of not giving up and continued perseverance to attain your goals. A young bird is learning to fly and learns something new from each of his failed attempts. Eventually he is able to fly due to his stamina toward the lessons.
An illustration created for a Lemoncello label. The Citrus post below (May 2007) was also used for an Orangecello label. They are both intended to be as if Elizabethan era portraits. I still would like to create a Limecello illustration to complete the set.
The legendary and heuristic Morphologist, Herbalist and Entomologist; Dr. Elms Schmettelinger McMothkin. The deeply wise Dr. has long been forgotten by the world at large. Though he is an almost mythical cult hero in metaphysical and pagan theological sects (among Gnomes) in Holland and Denmark. He is depicted in this painting along his annual snail herding expedition.
These are some illustrations that were done for a Reproduction Clinic's brochure.
A boy has gone to the Council of the Wise to seek their guidance on what his occupation should be when he grows up. They are wisely instructing him to seek the answer for himself by exploring the things that give him the most satisfaction and pairing that with a way to serve others. Earn your wrinkles through smiling!
Here's a couple of friends who have gotten together to enjoy some extremely rare steaks. Tex (the one at the barbi) brought the meat and his friend brought some brews for the occasion. It may be primitive times but they are advanced predators.
Alice is supposed to play croquet with a flamingo and a hedgehog!? She's certain that this idea is going to fail. The Queen seems undaunted by the proposal though and has apparently done it before!?
Alice has just started to realize that the Tea Party guests are not quite right in their heads! She would dearly like a cup of tea and some cake, however it may be for the best that they are behaving as such inattentive hosts. Was the cat sitting there the whole time? (Click on the image for a closer look)
I completed another mural this week of this Mermaid on the outside of a shower. The photo was taken from outside through the window when I finished since there was very little room to get a shot otherwise. 
Replacing the Theory of Evolution in classrooms with "Intelligent Design" seems to me the equivalent to replacing a Biology course with a study of Mythology. While mythology can be an interesting and useful way to interpret the world (the collective unconscious as Jung had said) it isn't the same thing as understanding the world through science. The idea of Creationism in a homogenized Christian form is also an extremely narrow version of the story. There are a multitude of stories on Creationism beyond that. Teaching Theology is one thing and probably a comparative studies class is a fine idea considering the misunderstandings between cultures involving belief systems. It seems the problems arise when there is an insistence on one version being the only way. Theology is not a replacement to Science and vice versa.
This is a painting I've recently finished that can apply to the "Missing and Emergency" themes. There is a missing piece of the planet and I suspect the mass consumption which America is obsessed with seems to stem from the sense that something is "missing" from their lives (our advertising influences help this ongoing trend too)!? Since it is so applicable to "Emergency" also, I've submit it again this week!
A painting that was created for and donated to the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center's Annual Auction.
The Asia Tapestry that was done for The Morning Star Boy's Ranch has been chosen to represent this week's "Discovery" theme. The tapestries were done to give the boys exposure to different cultures around the globe and convey a sense of discovery. Asia and China in particular is responsible for many discoveries that have influenced the world at large (hydraulics, gunpowder, metallurgy, bifocals, etc.). Three more in the series of five tapestries can be seen below in an April 28th posting.
This sign has been created recently to represent my work at a market. Since the banner is twisting around the brush, I thought it was appropriate for this week's Illustration Friday theme "twist".
This week I went to Guemes Island to paint a tropical landscape mural in my client's living room. It incorporated all of the existing colors in her home. I'd aligned the horizon line with the ledge of the kitchen opening to keep the flow of viewing smooth. The foilage on the right side of the mural was kept monochromatic to be able to keep the flowers colors without the area feeling too busy.
The Cafe Louis mural has been posted before but just today I finished doing a window and ornate ledge with potted plants above the original mural. My clients have had the paving stones added to the patio surface now and the fountain is the next project. The installation of the iron gates that will lead to the patio will follow. Their own vacation to France by walking into the backyard!
After having done some brief research I found out that the playing card has evolved from the domino in China, changing to Money Cards. They then moved on to the Middle-East and had the suits of Coins, Cups, Swords and Polosticks (Tarot?). Southern Europe had the same suits except the Polosticks were Sticks since they didn't know of Polo. The suits we are all familiar with today (Club, Heart, Spade and Diamond) came from the French in the 1470's.
I received an e-mail this morning that said I've been a chosen Merit Winner for the Portfolios.com International Creative Awards! This is the illustration that I submit, which was created for Nature's Path Foods EnviroKidz. A club to inform children about endangered animals around the world and how they can effect change. Acrylics, Colored Pencil ,some Photoshop manipulation 9 x 12"
This painting is about the signs of the United States economic divisions, the signs of consumerism degrading the environment and the two party representation dividing the people for their own interests instead of the peoples. Please click on the image for a closer look.
I wasn't sure what to do for the theme this week (Citrus), then yesterday while looking at some portrait paintings of the mid 1500- 1600's this idea came to me. The ladies in English fashion (Elizabethan) had these laced and frilled collars which made me think of an orange slice instead. I've a few small things to finish but I'd thought it should be posted since it's already Thursday!
" Every religion is true in one way or another. It is true when understood metaphorically. But when it gets stuck in its own metaphors, interpreting them as facts, then you're in trouble."
Remember:
This mural was created for an inner-city playground (spielplatz) in Berlin, Germany. The playground also has an area for children to take care of animals, a wood shop and a bicycle repair shop. Many kids would make it their second home while their parents had to work late. The mural is painted on the office building for the staff which is also the restrooms for the children. The dragons head was painted twice so he could be looking in the office when the window was open, the lion and lioness are on the boys and girls restrooms.
This scene from Alice in Wonderland was painted in the bookstore Slightly Foxed in Oamaru, New Zealand. You can see at the bottom left that there is a small door with the scene of the book with the shrinking elixir on the table painted around it, for children to enter into their own shrunken reading room. The stairway leading up to the right has the Cheshire Cat perched in a tree on the top of a bookshelf. Acrylic paints
This decorative painting with the Art Nouveau filigree design was done for the restaurant Aux Quatre Coins (From Four Corners) in Gruisson, France. The owners Sanna and Jean-Marie specialized in fusion foods from around the World and were two of the kindest people I've ever met, not to mention fantastic Chefs.
This mural was painted for the Goddess Gallery on their door which welcomed people into the shop in Portland, Oregon. It shows two Goddesses holding the Mother Earth as they fade into the universe and stars. They've since relocated on Hawthorne St., but the owner said she was going to take the door with her! Acrylic paints 4' x 7.5' on metal door
The Space Room mural was done for an eight year old boy's room in Beaverton, Oregon. He's a fan of technology and space exploration, so he loved it! To the left and right of this main image the mural faded into the white walls to prevent the room from being too dark. Acrylic paint 8' x about 16.5'
This doorway mural was done in a Foster Home for kids from the ages of 8-16 in Berlin, Germany. It is the ruins of a lost ancient civilization that the jungles have started to encroach upon. The other side was done with Roman pillars. 9.5' high in Acrylic paint
Here are three in a series of five tapestries done for the Morning Star Boys Ranch in Spokane, Washington to celebrate cultural diversity and show the richness inherent in their differences. Each tapestry was done on an 8' x 5' loose canvas then sewn at the top and bottom to receive dowels which gave them a scroll effect. The paintings were done with a limited monochromatic palette to both give the feeling of an aged parchment as if they were old maps and to compliment the Murphy Hall's existing color scheme.
A residential Tropical Sunset mural done on Guemes Island, Washington. My clients whole house was decorated with this same palette, and this was in her bedroom. She wanted to wake up to a brightly colored beach scene in the morning since she loves the colors and I suppose it is therapeutic too, since the San Juan's and Western Washington in general can be gray for a good portion of the year. Indoor Latex paints 8' x 10'
(Click on images for a larger view)
The polarity of the sexes. Equal and opposing forces; Complimentary to one another and yet completely different, coming from opposite perspectives. No wonder the relationship can be so confusing and satisfying!?
Here's a guy who has had too much; office and world politics, marriage contention, financial troubles, the general pace of the modern world, a little too much coffee with the addition of a bit of rudeness on his cell and he's snapped! 
This painting has a dual meaning that applies to the Wired theme. It shows the peeling away from an era that was Nature based to one that is oriented toward Technology. It is also applicable to the hemispheres of the brain; the right being fluid and creative and the left side being linear and logical. 
A spot illustration created for an article about cultivating empathy.
Acrylics on Illustration board 8" x 3.5"
