Moroccan Man in Bath

Pastel, 10” x 12”, 1998 SOLD

This pastel was done on a faux suede matte board, to create a soft, dreamy, diffused quality. It is as much a study of anatomy as an expression of that mysterious, masculine element that I find especially strong in Middle Eastern culture and in the Mediterranean tradition of the bath.

I love to show the human figure in natural, relaxed, and dignified poses and atmosphere, so regular while bathing. I wanted to create an ambiance that was both natural and almost supernatural – some other worldly vapor and light that is an escape from the everyday. I also wished to use a dramatic lighting that highlighted the sculpted physique of the figure.

Medusa, Gorgon Goddess

Pastel, 16” x 20”, 2002 $2500

I was inspired to draw a picture of the Grecian goddess Medusa after seeing Caravaggio’s painting of Medusa’s severed head, and after reading the eco-feminist work “Gossips, Gorgons, and Crones: The Fates of the Earth” by Jane Caputi. I wished to create a pre-Hellenistic depiction of Medusa as protector of female sacred space and goddess of wisdom. In pre-Hellenistic Greece, the image of Medusa (or a gorgon in general) adorned women’s temples, as a sign that these spaces were reserved purely for the ladies, and celebrated female wisdom. Prior to patriarchal Hellenistic Greece, Medusa was considered one with Athena, Isis, Inana, and Ishtar, and was a representation of female wisdom and strength.

I was also inspired by the study of Kundalini meditation and the chakras. Kundalini energy is often described as the serpent coiling within the spine. The serpents in this painting and their coloration correspond to the chakras, particularly the lilac-burgundy colored serpent that is at the crown of the head, as the crown chakra is sometimes portrayed as purple. I was also influenced by the science-fiction movie “The Matrix” with the idea of the electric tube like cords plugged into the spine and skull – here transformed to represent the cosmic “plugging in” to the chakras and universal consciousness/wisdom.

Edith Piaf

Edith Piaf, Pastel on Paper, 12” x 12” $250

This dramatic rendering of the great French chanteuse Edith Piaf is in an expressionist style. I wished to convey Piaf’s emotionality and intensity – her longing, ennui, melancholy, and passion. The pose and the colors reflect the feelings of the subject. The layers of pastel echo the layers of melody and emotion in her music, the warmth and the coolness mingling in a provocative entanglement of instability. Her songs vibrated with intimacy and aloofness; Edith Piaf was an emotional powerhouse that yet seemed fragile and vulnerable. I hope that through this piece, the viewer gets a closer glimpse into the complex psyche of this great lady.

Mermaid

Pastel, 5 ft x 7 ft, 2007

This portrayal of a mermaid lounging seaside was created for the Italian Street Painting Festival in San Rafael, CA. This work was created in collaboration with artist Vonnell Osmidoff. The image was inspired by John William Waterhouse’s painting of a mermaid.

Keykeeper

Pastel, 11″ x 14″, 2005

This pastel was inspired from reading The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors by Dr. Frances Cress Welsing. From the toe of the keykeeper, dangles a palm with the sign to ward off the evil eye, while pondering the mysteries of the cosmos, and the secrets of sacred geometry.