Paintings
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African Fetish
This is a 4′ x 6′ acrylic painting of a gris-gris we brought back from Mali in the 1980’s. The gris-gris is composed of leather pouches sewn to a piece of homespun cotton, the pouches containing amulets and charms to ward off bad magic. I love this object. In the painting I was trying to capture something of its mystery and power.
Standing for Something
These two thuggy looking fellows captured my imagination right away. They represent the primal, unthought-out, inchoate urges we all feel from time to time. Best to keep an eye on them. 3′x5′ acrylic.
Linens and the Dreams of Starfish
I created this watercolor as an exercise in “backing off.” Because I generally use strong colors and sharp edges when I paint, I wanted to try a softer and less determinate mode of expression. 3′x2′.
Malian Hunter's Shirt
In the process of illustrating a hard cover book I bound for my husband, I made this watercolor of Seydou Camera’s hunter’s shirt. Seydou Camera was my husband “jatigi” (soul-keeper, host, protector) in Mali when he was doing research on African epic. The shirt is a power object, imbued with magic and mystery. 8″x10″ watercolor.
Gris-gris
This watercolor is also part of the book on Mali I made for my husband. 8″x10″ .