watercolor 4/2020
There is a traditional Lakota story. It is told that a beautiful woman appeared and gave the tribes profound teachings. She gave them seven sacred ceremonies to protect Mother Earth and the ceremonial pipe. After imparting the wisdom she transformed into a white buffalo calf. To this day the white buffalo remains a symbol of that mystical appearance of ‘White Buffalo Calf Woman.’
watercolor 5 x 7 4/2020
Only when the last tree has died
and the last river been poisoned
and the last fish been caught
will we realise we cannot eat money
…….Cree Indian proverb
watercolor 5 x 7 4/2020
The Bear is the keeper of the dream time, and stores the teachings of dreams until the dreamer wakes up to them. Many Native American tribes have called this space of inner-knowing the Dream Lodge, where the death of the illusion of physical reality overlays the expansiveness of eternity.
watercolor 8 x 11 4/2020
This is a portrait of my Queensland Heeler ‘Maus.’ She passed from this world on October 13, 2019. She was 16 years old. Her passing came 2 months to the day of my other Queensland ‘Buddha.’ I paint these memorials for my pets who have traveled on and I can no longer hold in my arms. This one might have been the most painful…..the painting that is….so it has taken me a very long time to complete. Too many tears to bear and not able to let go of her form. They both gave me great love and I loved them the same in return. I drew a final sketch the morning before Maus died. I knew she was ill and would not be with me much longer. The vet said she was not in pain and that I would have her another few months. It was good news but I sensed that she would be gone quickly. When I draw I feel the soul alive in my fingers when I touch the body with my eyes so it was important to touch her that way in one last drawing. They were my beloved companions.
Maus being a frisbee addict
Both dogs spent most of their lives running in the mountain woods and swimming in the lake. Maus after a dip in the lake.
Maus and Buddha messing with the sheet changing process
A portrait of Maus
A last drawing of Maus
Gretchen Del Rio's Art Blog 