"Native American culture believes in animalism. This means everything in the universe possesses souls or spirits. As well as humans, this applies to plants, animals, and other natural phenomena.

So, to Native Americans, birds are very special. When a feather falls from a bird, for many tribes it’s seen as a vessel of all the energy carried by that bird in its life.
This energy is then gifted to the appropriate recipient that is deserving of such an honor. As a feather falls at any given time, it’s distinguished as a gift from the sky bearing spiritual purpose for the recipient."

Compromise & Consideration

I started this piece a month ago and when I felt it was not coming in clearly, I put it aside and changed my focus.

It seems like a good lesson in my life, since I am the fastest person I know and want reality right now! I even wrote the SLOW DOWN BOOK in hopes that I too would take a breath in my bones and relax in the saddle of life!

I picked the painting up this week and found a new truth in the vision.

I was driving back to the gallery and thinking about the piece. To my shock, a baby deer jumped in front of my car. I fortunately had time to slam on the breaks and then, as I was about to start up again, another baby jumped in front of my car.

I was so astonished and could barely drive on. When I did continue on Silverado Trail, I looked in my rear view mirror and one more baby jumped into the road behind me. I am happy to report that all of them made it to safety.

I knew it was a sign.... a sign for me to SLOW DOWN, to take a breath into the moment and also to think about how each experience impacts my life.

I knew then that Deer would be in this painting and so I embraced the fact that these precious creatures, like the American Indians I am painting these days, were here long before me. This was their land and I need to respect and devote time to represent them in my work.

I also realized that there are "2 sides to every story," which was the title of the painting before the Deer Woman arrived, and the only way to live peacefully in my life is with compromise and consideration.

Living in harmony with nature, animal and humankind seems to be the choice we are all faced with, both on this land and around the world.

THE DEER ARE A SIGN TO ME and I hope the painting inspires you to find

THE DEER IN YOUR LIFE
"Deer has many sides—deer is powerful and feisty, cautious, adventurous, and protective.
 But deer has great individuality, calling for people to trust their instincts and trust themselves."

Sometimes, in these days of unrest, I find my bliss in the simple movement of the palette knife filled with color and contrast. The swoosh of the arm and the exciting surprise as the end result is completely unexpected.

I wrote a couple of songs long ago that seem so current in my state of mind. the First was called:
American River
"I am floating on the American River
On a Sunday Afternoon
No electricity to be a part of Off and On
Rama, Rama, Rama, Ram"

And the second started like this:
Country's my Home
I'm heading for the country and I know just why
Going to take away the city from the look in my eye
Ah Ha, Country's My Home

I know we are all waking each day hoping the world was "back to normal" yet the new normal we are all experiencing is all we have and so I keep discovering new ways to express

I have been painting faces for 50 years, yet certain souls reach right into my heart and move me to tears as I paint. This young man did just that. The whole time I was working on his face, I felt as if he were speaking to me in soft, gentle words of prayer and love for humanity.

He is the Icon of Innocence. The loss of this spirit leaves me shaken and yet I believe his wish for the planet would be for PEACE.

Calm the unrest and find a place of compromise and quiet contentment.

I dedicate this painting to his memory. He is an example of GRACE and ELEGANCE.