This painting features gorgeous organic textures and deep, deep hues.  It is a lush, hopeful vision that feels like a dream.  And it continues my interest in the merging of language and art with a single phrase painted in tiny camouflaged letters that read, "You are free to choose a new path."  This piece is a reminder that we are free to choose differently at any moment. 

The news and the self-help industry would have us believe that change is hard if not impossible and that we need all sorts of plans and tools and tricks in order to change our habits.  That is a bunch of hooey.  There is no profit in the truth so you rarely hear it, but change is always possible and can even be painless when you make changes because you want them and you are ready for them.  Rebirth is always an option!  Every morning you wake up and you are free to choose a new path.  I personally know people who have changed their health habits, their careers, their self-destructive patterns, their painful messed up relationships and their homes.  Just like that.  You think you have to do something just because you have been doing it for a while or because other people have expectations that you will continue, but you know what?  Your life is more important that that!  Live the life you were born to live.  Change whatever needs changing.  Renew whatever needs renewing. 

I am hopeful that this unusual painting will bring a fresh cool breeze and a spark of inspiration to your home or office.

How Bats was created.....   This piece evolved through many many layers.  If creating a work of art is anything like giving birth, then this one was a breach.  I worked SO HARD on this painting and it would not come together no matter what I did.  But I am persistent.  I don't give up.  Especially not on something this important.  After hours and hours spent layering colors and scraping textures and applying washes and rubbing paint on and rubbing paint off and squinting down at my teeny detail brush as my hand shook from too many hours of concentration, the right bats flew into the image and my heart lightened.  The work was worth it.  This richly textured, subtly colored painting of renewal is an uncommon treasure. 

(The image and textures continue around the sides of the board. This is a digital photo. The scans above are more accurate.)

This piece was painted on a wooden board created specifically for use by artists. It has a recessed slot in the back allowing you to hang it flush with the wall. The sides of the board have been painted as well so that this piece would look wonderful displayed unframed either directly on the wall or on a small, decorative table-top easel. It is also very stable standing on edge and can be displayed that way on a shelf or table.