Animal Shield: Horse Circle Painting

Horse for feeling free, horse for releasing binds that tie us, horse for being courageous, horse for traveling to new places, horse for reaching our goals, horse for strength & adventure, horse for standing tall, horse for taking us to the finish line. Reminiscent of an ancient shield or crest, this horse from the Animal Shield collection features textures, layers, and a luminescent quality produced by a faux encaustic technique. __________________________ Inspiration. I created this Animal Shield 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 as 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.