Celebration

This series was completed in 2009 and was a result of a “returning home” physically, spiritually and emotionally. I used the image of the bird as a common thread throughout and experimented with life size paintings in addition to miniatures. I dyed my own canvas cloth with organic materials, including turmeric and red cabbage, to create the intricate pieces representing Persian rugs. There are 3D elements in many of these pieces using fabric, ribbon, pearls, and gold leaf.

As described above, these pieces have an array of mixed media elements but the base is oil paint for most of the paintings. The detailed smaller rug pieces are gouache, ink and gold leaf. The first two pieces, Bird Brides, are life size paintings as is the large peacock on the water fountain, Fountain of Youth, spanning 7ft x 5ft.