Animal Shield : Elephant Hexagon Painting

About This Piece. Elephants are steady, wise, gentle, and loyal companions. One of my wishes for us all is that we have people and animals like this in our life. Grounded at the base of her triangle, this elephant is also gently held by the magic of the new moon and the heavens above. If you look closely, you will discover areas of deep texture, shimmering ink, and collage embedded in layers of faux encaustic. This technique gives the piece an ethereal and luminescent quality. ______________________________________ Inspiration. I created this Animal Shield in 2020, as Covid-19 swept the world and we were asked to Shelter In Place for our collective health & safety. I had moved out of my shared studio and was working on a folding table in my living room. During this pandemic time, when humans were causing less immediate damage to our earth's climate (less travel, less pollution, etc), I wondered how animals around the world were reacting when we stepped back into our homes. Were they potentially feeling more relaxed, brave, safe, and free? Was the earth actually able to take a moment to rest & heal herself? This was the initial impetus behind creating my Animal Shields collection. The strong pull of Progress & Productivity is relentless in our modern world and it can remove us from quiet, grounding connections we feel in the presence of plants, animals, and the Natural world. There are lessons to be learned when we pay attention. Animal Shields are symbolic reminders to protect and connect with those that share this Earth with us.