The other evening I was on the telephone with my daughter. She asked me if I knew my “spirit animal.”

I thought a moment and replied that Mermaid is my spirit animal.

In the painting Mermaid, I love the way blue azur and white play together in textures and shifting focus of light. Mermaid as ephemeral, feminine, strong independent, playful and beautiful.

There is so much joy in light.

On a more intimate level, Mermaid is a second chance. This piece is painted over another more somber painting, created during a period of personal darkness. Mermaid is hope resurrected.

An oceanic drive to ebb and flow.

Pain within joy.