"I'll Be"
Batik on Silk

"The Darndest Thing"
Batik on Silk

13” X 17 3/4”

$475

13” X 17 3/4”

$475

This conversation diptich was my first attempt at creating a more complex, overlayed image accomplished with two separate wax and dye sequences. The imagery is cross-cultural with the couple (photographed at a music festival sitting in lawn chairs) distinctly American and the image from Chinese ancestor houses (actually from Penang, Malaysia) used as the "story" overlay.

"It's Snow Mountain"
Batik on Silk

I return to the subject of mountains with this piece, using a title with a pun reference to both the Zen koan that begins; "First there is a mountain..." as well as Magritte's, "This is not a pipe" (Ceci n'est pas une pipe). The sky pattern uses the Pali (Tibetan) script character for "OM" in repetitive pattern.

22” X 22”

$850

"Obeservatory"
Batik on Silk

The Festival on the patron saint of San Miguel de Allende (St. Michael) is celebrated with parades of giant wooden and tissue paper stars ("Estrellas"). I wanted to use a roof dog in the image since they are a characteristic feature of San Miguel rooftops. They are usually large fearsome dogs chosen for effect. I choose a Chihuahua.

23” X 33”

$1250

"Fabricantes"
Batik on Silk

A group of metal workers from the souk in Fez, Morocco. They carry on a conversation as they continue to work at their craft. The socializing and the labor interact and serve a mutual benefit. We usually assume them to be discrete functions.

As I worked on this piece, I realized that the patterns of metal design were becoming fabric patterns reminiscent of those that are the heart and tradition of batik.

The title is a pun on our English word "fabric". It is a Spanish word meaning "manufacturers".

24” X 32”

$2450

This piece was inspired by the spirit of fiesta in our town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The townspeople never tire of organizing and participating in celebrations to mark any occasion.

The girls in butterfly costume are from the springtime festival parade. The "Toro" is actually from another fiesta day where the town runs the bulls through the streets much like the famous event in Pamplona, Spain.

I have combined the two ideas with the purpose of providing an inquisitive image that starts out as simply amusing but may provide more to ponder as well.

Here images of pure innocence and raw natural strength get a chance to play off of one another. The rope lines really got the idea going for me when I saw they could function with the girls as a "Butterfly Corral".

"The Butterfly Corral"
Batik on Linen

30” X 23”

This is an image of pure, exuberant joy from a day spent in El Retiro park in central Madrid, Spain.

The lovely young dancer was accompanied by the flamenco rhythms of guitar as she performed along the banks of a lake.

The dancers dress provided a particular challenge to me as I worked to convey the flounce and luster of the fabric convincingly. Her fringed shawl needed special treatment as well because the very fine fringe took much work to render correctly.

I particularly love the park statuary in the background. It sets the mood of old world tradition but also provides a staid and formal contrast to a wilder, gypsy spirit.

"Dance of Spain"
Batik on Silk

27” X 17”

An early evening image of an old bell tower in San Miguel de Allende caught my attention for its play of light on the old stone edifice. The chipped, weathered and water-stained surface of warm brown stone presented an undeniably attractive subject for me.

I've always found old stone architecture fascinating and the batik process allows for an effective translation of the charms inherent to it. The characteristic crackle effect of batik can be used effectively here. The sky and stone were handled in separate stages because of their dramatic color difference. The sky was silhouetted first with wax before dyeing, then the wax was completely removed and the stone bell tower was outlined in order to complete the multiple dyeings in the bell and stonework.

I've talked with a long-time Mexican resident of San Miguel who is concerned that this structure is slated for reconditioning in order to preserve it. He has been taking pictures of it in case the work forever changes one of his, and my favorite sights in this town.

"San Miguel Evening Bell"
Batik

27” X 16”

"I Don't Do Flowers"
Batik on Wood

"Light Spray"
Batik on Wood)

12” X 6”

12” X 6”

"Las Escaleras"
Batik on Wood (unframed)

"Pig in the Posies"
Batik on Wood

12” X 12”

12” X 6”

"Looking In"
Batik on Handmade Paper

"Rue Lalla"
Batik on Silk

24” X 32”

19” X 29”

"Caballeros"
Batik on Wood (unframed)

"In the Wings"
Batik on Silk

"Streets of San Miguel"
Batik on Paper

12” X 6”

24” X 16”

21” X 14”

"Fortunate Son of Fez"
Batik on Silk

19” X 29”

"La Madre de Nosotros Todo"
Batik

30” X 27”

"BuddhaGator"
Batik

24” X 18” (unframed size)