sacred buffalo

watercolor 22 x 15 8/20

Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads………. Henry David Thoreau

This is a commissioned painting which I created for a very gracious and spiritual Lakota woman. I felt privileged to be inside her heart and her history. The sacred white buffalo is her strongest spirit animal totem and therefore is the dominant image. The great horned owl was included because of her repeated encounters with it. On two separate occasions near her home she discovered two dead owls and consciously returned them to the earth. Because of the sum of all her experiences with the owls she felt a profound spirit connection to the powerful bird. The circle around the buffalo is my depiction of the sacred hoop. Everything is in circles within the Native American stories, life and worship. Never-ending is the creator. No beginning. No end. The sisters depict her 3 sisters and their mother. The ponies are my addition….just for fun and balance.

I added some progressions. It is always fun to see how it all comes together. Further along I forgot to take photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

the woods

watercolor 8 x 10 7/2020

Man is the most insane species. He worships an invisible God and destroys a visible Nature. Unaware that this Nature he’s destroying is this God he’s worshiping.

…….hubert reeves 

I number among the fortunate humans to have experienced the deep intimacy of the forests, lakes, streams and oceans. Is it any wonder that our species is blatantly destroying our beautiful gift of nature when they have not truly tasted that gift. How many spend time laying on their backs watching the vastness of the sky, listening to the birds calling, smell the richness of the soil. Too busy. Too busy following thoughts that lie to us telling us that whatever task or activity may be before us is more important than taking the moment to greet the day prayerfully or stop to assist one in need. Peace is already within us we have only to see.