Paintings, Drawings & Sculptures - Paintings on Silk

Jaguar Paddler God

Fri, 11 May 2007 09:02:34 UTC

Jaguar Paddler God
Serti Technique on Silk

One of three Mayan Gods known as the Palenque Triad.
The first stories of the Triad begin around 3000-4000 bc. and are found through the late classic period. This one - with the Jaguar headdress leads the canoe - the Maze Paddler God usually steers from the stern.
Symbols on the paddle, canoe and tattooed on his arms, show the hieroglyphs for heaven or supreme other world.
I’ve painted the Jaguar Paddler God with favorite glyphs in my own style. The glyphs are; sun, earth, fresh new earth, sunrise...

The original painting was created using the Serti Technique on Silk.

This painting is also available as a kiln-fired tile mural, in custom sizes. For more information on tile murals and original paintings visit www.savanna-art.com

Permit "the fish that got away"

Fri, 11 May 2007 09:02:34 UTC

Permit or the fish that got away
Serti technique on silk.

Created for my friends who love the sport of fly-fishing for Permit, or I should say hunting, because with all the current advantages of locating this timid fish, bouncing signals off the sea floor, off the satellites, “fish finders”, polarized sunglasses, and beautiful little hand crafted flies… the fish usually wins.

Beautiful and elusive, The fish that got away was created to brighten the rainy no-fish days.

Hand painted in a Serti technique on silk. 26" x 20".

Available in custom sizes as a kiln fired tile mural or a Giclee print or archival paper or canvas. Custom framing available.

Jaguar Shaman

Fri, 11 May 2007 09:02:34 UTC

Mayan Jaguar Shaman
Serti Technique on Silk

Jaguar, power, dance and transformation are symbolized and expressed in a painting. Here a Maya lord takes the shape of his animal self or “uay”, a Jaguar. His belt holds the symbol of heaven and jade beads.

The Jaguar was the most revered animal in Mesoamerica. They played a large roll in the Maya religion and were an important Shamanic creature. The Jaguar, with its power and grace, held the top position in the food chain and this supremacy was greatly admired and sought after.

In states of ritual transformation, humans changed themselves into jaguars from at least Olmec times onward. Kings, chiefs and shaman often wore the pelts, sandals, and headdresses made from the Jaguar. Necklaces of jade beads in the shape of jaguar teeth and stone thrones often took the form of the Jaguar.

A vase from the “Altar de Sacrificios” from the Maya Late Classic Period (600 – 900 AD) was the inspiration for my silk painting.
In my interpretation, I sought to create the feeling of a painting on the wall of a temple. My choice of greens and the technique I used in the background, was to create the sense of aged stone and moss, but also to represent jade. Jade (jadeite) is associated with life and renewal of life and is the most important stone in the Maya culture. Original painting on silk 24" x 30"

This painting is also available as a fine art Giclee print or as a kiln-fired tile mural, in custom sizes.

Dolphin's Sunrise

Fri, 11 May 2007 09:02:34 UTC

Dolphin's Sunrise
Serti technique on silk.

While living in Belize, I was around wild dolphins often; they filtered into my dreams and into my work. Several of my paintings and drawings during that time were created after one beautiful and magical evening of swimming with dolphins at play in a bioluminescent bay. A moment of awe, when life itself was more surreal than my artwork can ever convey.

This silk painting seems to glow as if it is lit from beneath. That’s the way that warm night felt.

Hand painted in a Serti technique on silk. 26" x 21".

Available in custom sizes as a kiln fired tile mural or a Giclee print or archival paper or canvas. Custom framing available.

Also as a 12" round Glass tile (can be used as a cutting board or installed with or without a light behind the painting).

Egyptian Boat "Soul Traveling"

Fri, 11 May 2007 09:02:34 UTC

Egyptian Barque, a soul's journey.
Serti Technique on Silk

I love the boats of ancient cultures, shown in their artwork. It's not only the style of the boats, that I find interesting, but also their purpose. They serve in daily life, and as a means of transportation for the soul through the afterlife.

This painting was inspired by a section of a Nineteenth Dynasty painting from the tomb of Irynefer.

It shows a scared barque traveling on the celestial Nile of the afterlife. Irynefer is standing in a pose of respect toward the Gray Heron (a sacred bird that represents the ba or soul and the sun god Ra), the disk of the sun (over the heron and over the stern of the boat) are also symbols of Ra.
Like the sun, the heron rose from the primeval waters of the Nile and its name, Benu, was likely derived from the word weben: to “rise” or “shine”.
Other symbols; painted on the side of the boat is the eye of Udiet, a symbol of sanctity and diving grace. In addition, the protective eye of Horus, the wadjet, floats above the prow. There are many more symbols, like the winged scarab on the necklace worn by Irynefer, the feather of Matt on the staff - representing soul’s value or truth, and more that all add to the protection and divinity of the journey.

Later "Benu" the Gray Heron of Egypt, became the sacred bird of Heliopolis, which became the legendary phoenix of the Greeks. The association of the rising and setting sun, or rising from its own ashes, or resurrection.

I found this boat beautifully laced with symbolism and style. The original silk painting - 21" x 27" (may be trimmed to 20 x 26).

This painting is also available as a kiln-fired tile mural, in custom sizes.

Mayan Glyphs

Fri, 11 May 2007 09:02:34 UTC

Mayan Hieroglyphs
Serti technique on silk.

In this piece I sought to create the feeling of a Mayan Stelae, the colors of stone softened and washed by time.

I will translate one of my favorite glyphs in this painting. It is in the cartouche at the center bottom. I’ll go from left to right. The first circle with the bright white edge, with a C above it and below it - is the moon, represented in 3 phases. It is pushing on the next small circle - the sun (which includes the Mayan hieroglyph word for sun in the artwork so we can’t misunderstand it). The sun edges up against a horizontal Y of sorts. The top half of the Y is heaven and sky and the bottom half is the earth (again it shows the Mayan words in the pictograph images). The sun (being followed by the moon) is pushing between the heavens and the earth. Once you know this picture, you will know the word the next time you see it painted or carved on a temple or stelae. Sunrise.

Pictographs evolved into hieroglyphs, so there is always a blend of the two in the later Mayan writing, with some meanings simply lost to us. Imagine in 2000 or 3000 years someone coming across a sign we have posted everywhere – a black bar with a wavy line near one end, a red circle around it, and a bar diagonally across it. They may believe, because of the frequency of its use, it must have been a high point in our civilization, possibly even something we may have worshiped. Non-Smoking. You had to be there. With many Mayan glyphs you had to be there to understand the image.

This painting is also available as a kiln-fired tile mural, in custom sizes. For more information on tile murals and original paintings visit www.savanna-art.com

Xul - Maya God

Fri, 11 May 2007 09:02:22 UTC

Xul - Maya Jaguar God of Thunder and Lightning
Serti Technique on Silk

Xul (sool) the Maya God of Thunder and Lightning, is hanging from a ‘Sky Band’ that represents night. Xul is a powerful God - in the body of a Jaguar.

I love how the Maya viewed the world. I’ve studied their culture and their art, and sat for days high up on ruins above the treetops, watching the wildlife and clouds passing by, trying to imagine life as it once was. Their culture, their beliefs in many ways were 180 degrees different than our own, but at other moments in time – just the same, the sun rises, the rain falls and life goes on. It is our spirit, our beliefs, our superstitions and our take on events - that shapes us. I find the artwork they’ve left behind both beautiful and a puzzle to decipher - and that to me is inspiring.

This painting is my interpretation of a Mayan hieroglyph of the Xul. He is one of my favorite and also appeared on my pen and ink mainland map of Belize. Here I sought to create the feeling of a painting on stone - on a temple wall.
When I interpret a glyph or any ancient artwork; often the pictograph or hieroglyphic meanings are completely lost to us or part of it is often missing or chipped away by time or vandals. I fill in the gaps using my imagination and full artistic license. While trying to maintain the essence and strength intended by the Maya people. In the end the image and artwork becomes a part of me, my style, a fusion of sorts spanning 3000 years.
Original Painting 20"x26" Serti Technique on Silk
Available in custom sizes as a kiln fired tile mural or a Giclee print or archival paper or canvas. Custom framing available.

Mayan Jaguar Glyph

Fri, 11 May 2007 09:02:06 UTC

Mayan Jaguar Glyph
Serti Technique on Silk

I love how the Maya viewed the world. I’ve studied their culture and their art and sat for days on temple ruins above the treetops, watching the wildlife and clouds passing by, sketching and trying to imagine life as it once was. Their culture, their beliefs, in many ways were 180 degrees different from our own, but at other moments in time – just the same, the sun rises, the rain falls and life goes on. It is our spirit, our beliefs, our superstitions and our take on events - that shapes us. I find the artwork they’ve left behind both beautiful and a puzzle to decipher - and that to me is inspiring.

This painting is my interpretation of a Mayan hieroglyph of the Jaguar. I sought to create the feeling of a painting on a stone temple wall. When I interpret a glyph or any ancient artwork (part of it is often missing or chipped away by time or vandals) I fill in the gaps using my imagination and full artistic license, while trying to maintain the essence and strength intended by the Maya people. In the end the image and artwork becomes a part of me, my style, a fusion of sorts spanning 3000 years. The glyphs here are a few of my favorites, simply banded together and not to be taken literally. It would probably read; Sun Monkey Rain Jaguar at Night on Earth;) Which I kinda like.
Original Painting 20"x26" Serti Technique on Silk

Also available in custom sizes as a kiln fired tile mural or a Giclee print or archival paper or canvas. Custom framing available.

Greek Merchant Boat and Dolphins

Sun, 26 Nov 2006 06:38:39 UTC

Greek Merchantship and Dolphins
Serti Technique on Silk

My interpretation of one of my favorite frescos, created over 3500 years ago, in Santorini, Greece.

Hand painted in a serti technique on silk. 26" x 20".

This painting is available as a fine art Giclee print or as a kiln-fired tile mural, in custom sizes.

Dionysus sailing with Dolphins

Sun, 26 Nov 2006 06:38:38 UTC

Dionysus Sailing with Dolphins
Serti Technique on Silk

It’s hard to love the sea and not love mythology.

Dionysus, The God of Wine (later named Bacchus by the Romans) was the son of Zeus and Semele.

There are many stories involving Dionysus, but this one is is a favorite.
The God Dionysus was disguised as a mortal while traveling on a ship The sailors on board decided to make a little extra money by selling this lone passenger into slavery at the next port of call.
Dionysus, discovered their devious plot and became enraged. With vengeance he filled the wind with the sound of flutes and caused the timbers of the ship to sprout and rapidly grow into grapevines. Then (as an extra special touch) he turned the oars of the ship into snakes - that so terrified the crew, they promptly jumped overboard. Unfortunately most of the crew couldn’t swim.
Dionysus was known to be a generous and joyful God - though he tended to be a bit excessive at times. When he heard their pleading and begging, he had a change of heart, and saved them from drowning by turning them into Dolphins.

The Greeks have known for centuries that Dolphins (as previous sailors themselves) often guided ships and helped their crew. Rescuing drowning men, women and especially children, by guiding and lifting them gently to safety.
Sailors treat them with kindness and a shared kinship. Welcoming them on their voyage. Having a dolphin visit during a journey has long been viewed as a good omen from the gods.

In another story: Dionysus turned himself into a dolphin - to ferry the faithful to the temple of Delphi.

Hand painted in a serti technique on silk. 26" x 20".
This painting is also available as a kiln-fired tile mural, in custom sizes. For more information on tile murals and original paintings visit www.savanna-art.com