The Lone Tree has been the focus of many of my pieces over the years....what is about the tree that captivates the imagination and stirs a deep resonance within us? The tree of life has rich symbolism ....deep roots, majestic, all knowing, connection....history. The lone tree for me represents strength and wisdom. 

Deeply symbolic, the lotus flower has a beauty and radiance that is beyond description. Out of the depths of muddy waters arises a symbol of purity....overcoming all obstacles to be seen. We all have a lotus flower within us. 

Flowers have long been the muse of many an artist. My very first poem I wrote was about the flower and how it never compares its beauty to another...it just IS....its beauty is eternal though its lifespan is short...the flower doesn't worry about tomorrow or anguish over yesterday, or striving to outshine its competition. We should all be like a field of wildflowers....wild, beautiful and free.

The story of The Buddha intrigued me as a child.  I read about the story of Siddhartha when I was 15. Buddha means "one who is awake" as in one who has elevated to a higher level of consciousness, no longer living in a fog created by the ego's plight to win. Siddhartha was born approximately 2500 years ago to a royal family in Nepal. He had a privileged childhood and was suddenly "woken up" when he realized on a trip outside of the palace, that life was not all rosy and joyful on the other side..that people actually suffered from illness, old age, poverty and eventually death.  He began a journey away from luxury and went on a quest for the meaning of life. He spent years mastering the practice of deep meditation and believed that one could free their spirit by separating from the ego. Eventually known as The Buddha, he became a teacher and helped people on their own path towards enlightenment. 

I love bridges....I want to do more bridge paintings for this series. I think of a bridge as a portal to another world, or a journey to another stage of life....there is a great deal of  meaning you can attach to a bridge.  It conjures  so many emotions...I see it as a symbol of hope.......in a journey we see a bridge as a way to get to another side, perhaps a better side. I see new beginnings and new discoveries. 

People often ask me why I like birds in my paintings. It's fascinating to watch a flock of birds move and make patterns in the sky in unison. Latest research has shown that there is usually one leader in a flock that changes direction and the other birds follow in quick succession so that the flock seems to move as one. They are in unison....moving together in complete harmony. Whether there is a leader in the flock or not, it's amazing....intuition, unity, connection...these attributes are why I love birds so much.