I am so honored and pleased to again have my artwork appear on the cover of Presence, the journal of Spiritual Directors International. This quarterly magazine uses a very pleasing color scheme and subtle layout effect that attractively complement this piece. The Earth is Happy was a very early paste paper painting made in 2001, just after I had discovered the fun of puddling around with starch and pigments and lots of water and mark-making tools. An archway is an iconic image, where you pass through from one place to another. Looking back, I can see that this was happening to my art at the time. I was moving into an area of visual representation that only resembled my previously learned traditional manuscript illumination techniques in the voluptuous use of color. I did add the lettering using broad pens rather than sponges and brayers, and further decoration was meant to suggest the intense bits of color in stained glass church windows.
It is especially pleasing that the organization has begun printing their journal covers in color. My first artwork to appear on their cover was The Five Sacred Elements mandala, which was reproduced with a blue tint in June of 2010. No matter. I am so very pleased that my art is representing the earthwise spiritual path for this journal which explores many different spiritual manifestations. The articles are thought-provoking and timely to anyone who seeks a deeper understanding of their own spiritual life or how to best help others along their way. When I first made these artworks, earthwise spirituality was less well understood. It is gratifying to see that consciousness making its way into mainstream thought.
So glad you made the cover–indeed, pumpkin and pomegranate colors work together well.
Beautiful piece and a great place for your art. Congratulations!
Congratulations! Perfect choice. The shapes and colors really do evoke a stained glass window, with their jewel tones and curved intersections.