Mountain Mama: Leo

48x24”
Acrylic on Canvas
2022
Available

Inspired by many different Appalachian/West Virginia landscapes and the emotions I feel when experiencing their beauty. As the state of the Mountain Mamas, you can look at many hills and mountains and see her stretched along the horizon. The flowers are typical for that time of the summer, with echinacea, yellow coneflower, mullein, milkweed, wild roses, cardinal flower, jewelweed, and goldenrod.

Caretaker at the Creek

48x36”
Acrylic on Canvas
2023
Available

He sat among the flowers and faeries
After a day of talking to trees
From darkness, he learned to see beauty
and is now a source of peace.

Energy grows in his bones
and a sound comes from his bow.
He draws it back
In time, on track
Like breathing, he plays in flow.

He plays his tunes that echo through the hollers
and the hollers always sing back.
The mist shines gold in the setting sun
Mountain’s glow can’t be matched

Though the creature was created through violence
The war has long been over
So now he wants to walk the mountains,
protecting the trees and waters.

You’ll hear him in these ancient hills
in the crickets and the frogs
you’ll hear it come from cracks in rocks
and under fallen logs.

The faeries dance in the day’s last light
and he plays his last little tune
the trees start to shine
like the stars in the sky
under the rising moon.

Painted from a view of Camp Creek State Park in southern West Virginia after a week of rain.

The Great Healing

16x20”
Mischtechnik on Canvas
2020
Available

This is one of the first paintings I started after lockdown. It calls for healing not just physically, but socially, emotionally, and culturally. To not simply put a bandaid over the wounds, but to bring the shadows to light and come to terms with ourselves and each other as perfectly flawed, squishy, yet resilient humans. I wanted this painting to call community together and use our collective power to manifest the best possible reality moving forward.

Om tara tuttara ture svaha

The White Tara Mantra was taught to me by Thangka painting master, Romio Shrestha. Upon integrating it into my practice, I felt compelled to paint this vision of healing I originally had during a meditation at one of Amanda Sage’s workshops. The White Tara is compassionate and heals wounds of the body and mind. While we still have a long way to go, I think we can leave this world a better place.

Creature At Cascade

8x10”
Acrylic on Canvas
2022
Available

Not quite of this world
There is wonder in this place
I feel, and I see

I have always been
Yet newly manifested
gently exploring

This place is the same
But I see it with new eyes
New soul, new body

Stretching in the sun
dancing slowly with the rays
This piece of peace sings

I’m not whom I thought
Reflected in the water
Stares something greater

Spriggan at Pipestem

14”x18”
Acrylic on Canvas
2022

Autumn leaves color the trees like fire
Mycelium fruits from spores.
Magical pyres
And thorny briars
Open ancient doors.
The water moves with gentle waves
Cold air blows from the North.
From distant plains
Here walks the Fae,
Watch as one comes forth.
The spirit consumes the offered fruit
and grounds itself to trees.
Its feet take root
as branches shoot
And now it is set free.