Slow Communication

Well this is going to be a challenge to write this post. My Internet connection will not allow me to load pages. Fortunately, I have recently acquired  a router and an iPod. So here I am feeling like I am typing with big paws. But I am determined to post, as I haven't had a use of my desk top since Wednesday, when we had our doozy of a Spring storm. This process of having to write on such a  small device is slow, and makes my thoughts the same. It is a disciplined, meditative exercise.

   Lately I've been hand writing many long letters. Besides being a rare thing few people do, in this technical age , where such a cacophony of devices are available to us; writing letters in cursive is a way to think about what it is we want to say. Our writing and our thoughts are more in tune. Much the what it is like when using an iPod to write a post! My typing sure as heck is not faster than my thoughts on an iPod!

Writing letters is slow communication, a gift that we can give to those we love , and a tangible gift we can give that demonstrates we care and value our friendships, and relationships. These relationships, in my opinion, are what gives our lives real meaning. But we have to slow down enough to take the time, to take time. I firmly believe slow communication will not only improve our relationship with ourselves, it will strengthen the relationship and bond we have with others. It also can help to fulfill our greatest human need, the sense of belonging. 

Here is an article about slow communication, by John Freeman, in the Wall Street Journal, entitled Not So Fast.  I haven't figured out all the cut , paste and link high lighting tools on this new gizmo yet , so please just copy and paste into your browser, the link below. As it has been said by Stuart McLean, and to paraphrase, I might not be big, but I'm small, oh and I'm slow!

Just a post script to this, after spending all morning on my iPod, online with my internet provider a wonderful technician finally got me reconnected so I am using my desk top again.

Carla Bonnell - Back To You - Search Light

 
My cousin Carla is a musician. She has practiced her craft, and honed her skills, not just through hard work, and dedication, but through life experience, and especially I think, because of her love and passion for music, and all things creative, which seems to come as natural as breathing for our family.

I haven't know Carla all my life, and a number of years back, I found out through her father's brother, also a musician, that she existed. We connected right away. I suppose blood is thicker than water, as the old adage goes and we immediately seemed to recognize one another as family, in so many ways.

I am so happy that she has made the decision to enter Search Light, which is a hunt of the next Canadian musical artist. I would also be so proud, and even happier if she did win, but what is most important, if not more important, is the fact that she had the real courage, and belief in herself to pursue her music and enter.

Creativity is a wonderful blessing everyone has been given at birth. Some choose to use this, others do not. If you choose to use it in whatever capacity, I guarantee, it can change your life and maybe even save your life.

Music tells a story and Carla sure has one to tell!

http://music.cbc.ca/#/artists/Carla-Bonnell Search Light - Voting begins tomorrow March 24th 2014!

John Haney - Photographer

'I don’t use them because they’re a novelty. I use them because they are the tool that helps me make the kind of images I want.'—John Haney

Here's a great article from CBC Hamilton news entitled, Why Hamilton Photog John Haney is the opposite of Instagram

John Haney is a friend and mentor. In 2009-2012 when I was at Mount Allison University, in Sackville, New Brunswick he was one of my photography teachers. He is lovely, good human being, a wonderful photographer, and for me, embodies everything about what I love ' old school ' photography.

 I learned a great deal from John and we both learned from Thaddeus Holownia who is the Head of the Fine Art Department at Mount Allison and an amazing mentor and talent.
 

Thaddeus Holownia

Mental Illness and Addiction

 This morning I listened to two riveting interviews, the first was with actress Glenn Close, and the other with the photographer, Graham MacIndoe
His photography project entitled All In is a glimpse into the world of his own addiction to heroin.

They both discussed topics, very close to my heart, mental illness and addiction. I have been touched and affected by both in my life. There is still a great deal of stigma toward each disease, compounded with misunderstanding, ignorance and judgement.

I hope this kind of open hearted discussion from people who have also been touched directly, or have loved ones who have been affected, will little by slowly change this messed up world of misconception and judgement. I hope you will visit the high lighted links I have posted.

I always remember that movie Panic in Needle Park with Al Pachino. It was powerful and disturbing but I think a real portrayal of addiction and was based on Bill Eppridge's photo essay for Life Magazine in 1965 about heroin addiction in for Life Magazine.

Post Script: I was able to post the interview on CBC Q this morning with Glenn Close and Graham MacIndoe, because it hadn't been posted yet on CBC Q. Here are the links to listen.

Glenn Close -   http://www.cbc.ca/q/popupaudio1.html?categoryid=1475592661

Graham MacIndoe -   http://www.cbc.ca/q/popupaudio.html?clipIds=2443500651

ReMoved

In my other life, as well as being still involved with art, I was a Youth Care Worker, and a  foster parent. I worked with, youth a risk, troubled kids, and young offenders for over twenty years. Granted, I could use my creative gifts at times with these kids, but generally, I was very busy and caught up with all of the demands and responsibilities of youth care work. This consisted of meetings, reports, being a liaison with the community, and with family members. First and foremost, I always saw my role as being an advocate for the youth I cared for throughout the years.

We live in a disposable society. This attitude tragically, and shamefully seems to have been applied to our children, as if they were throw away kids, and often are children without hope and love in a world that states and professes to believe that children are our so called greatest resource. Talk is cheap and empty.

The most frustrating thing for me, was not working with the youth directly. It was my vocation. In fact the most frustrating thing, was simply working within a broken system, that was mostly self-serving, and dysfunctional. I saw youth and families fall through the cracks, judges and social workers that didn't have a clue, and on too many occasions, I saw an appalling lack of support within the system. It was disheartening, disappointing and most of all heart breaking.

A good friend of mine posted this film that is disturbing, touching and very revealing. I hope it touches you.
I am now past the day of considering foster care again or working as a youth care worker again, and focus primarily on my art work. There are many people who could and can, and I hope they do consider being a Youth Care Worker and or fostering.
The system of course is in dyer need of change, and reform. In the meantime there are many children and youth that need safe, secure and loving stable homes.

As a volunteer in the prison system, I know how many of the prisoners I got to know, started off as foster kids. They came from abusive situations, and where shunted from home, to home, to home, often in abusive situations growing up. It is not difficult to figure out how, and why so many of these, at one time children, ended up in so called 'youth jails' that pose as therapeutic facilities, and eventually find themselves within the prison system as adults. Once inside, there is next to no help available, many have mental health issues that are left untreated, and they are basically warehoused. It is staggering to learn the high percentage of inmates that have be sexually abused as children, and how many are First Nations. Upon release there is even less support and the cycle continues.

We have have a very serious crisis with our youth in Canada, in North America and throughout the world. I remain hopeful but it is difficult, when there are not enough people who care in the world, enough to make a difference.

Photos, Perception, Memory and Jeff Wall

It seems timely as I write this post , that I am listening to a CBC Ideas radio program, The Crooked Path about the artist Jeff Wall. He had been one of my painting instructors and one of my Art History teachers, when I attended at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. At the time, I was not interested in his work, as then he was quite involved with conceptual art. Though I was attending an art school primarily involved in conceptual art, I wasn't much interested.  Jeff Wall struck me then, as very serious, rather aloof and highly intelligent.

Today I feel differently about Jeff Wall. I greatly respect his ideas and concepts, which I find very compelling. and the way he expresses how he views seeing and photography is, I believe, complex and deep. I so appreciate his direct affinity and connection with, and love of literature. He is a philosopher I think, and uses photography as his vehicle, to impart he's ideas to others in a powerful  and profound way.

 I absolutely love photography, especially old sepia, black and white photographs. There is really something magical and metaphysically powerful about it. The photograph lets us see out of a window, or into a window  to a world as we might perceive it to be, whether it is based on truth or imagination.

The other day I received a photograph from my cousin. It was of my grandmother, my father's mother, whom I'd never met, and sadly died the year I was born at the age of 59. I am her namesake,and never knew what she'd looked like, up until now. This was a result of family break-up and estrangement. It was a deeply moving, and emotional experience for me, seeing her photograph. I was mesmerized and entranced, finding myself starring at her face, and meticulously studying for familial facial features. I was longing to talk to her almost telepathically.

Photographs are a wonderful thing. Without them, we'd often have no trace of the past, very little, to no sense of our identity, and memory. Photography captures a moment in time, remembrances of past days, that sometimes can be paradoxically and simultaneously, feel both positive and negative. Photographs are in some ways to me, a regeneration of sorts. The photographs of the people we love, may be dead or alive. If they are dead, the photography somehow makes them come alive in our hearts, when we gaze into the photograph of them.

“I used to think that I could never lose anyone if I photographed them enough. In fact, my pictures show me how much I’ve lost.” - Nan Goldin

“Stare. It is the way to educate your eye, and more. Stare, pry, listen, eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long.”   - Walker Evans

Looking at the photograph of my grandmother, was a bitter sweet experience. I think photography can help us to see, not just in a physical manner but in a metaphysical way. We wish we could recreate and hold on to these memories that the camera has captured in fleeting time. Photography or art is a reflection of ourselves, our lives, and what it means to be human.

 I have been over the years, always seeking and searching for members of my family that I never knew, including my own father. I have now concluded that what I have been doing is trying to grasp hold of something elusive, that I can never really hold on to or have. And so today, I was a little saddened to think I have been doing this, but at the same time, I am glad I now understand this about myself a little more. This is what art I believe, helps us to do, to understand ourselves, and maybe, one of it's primary purposes.

Today perhaps, I have come to terms, and to the realization, after finally seeing my grand mother's face that   I cannot, nor will I ever, really know my grandmother, and what I have is this physical photograph. I can conjecture, imagine and even relate to certain things about her that I do know. It is a combination, based on truth and partly on my imagination, none the less, still real to me, like her love and talent for fine crafted needle work, that she was a kind, and loving mother, who tragically left this earth too young. Her heart was broken, living a life full of hardship, difficulty and struggle. I am certain, in spite of her burdens, she lived her life with faith and grace.

 “The paradox is that some of the most artistically valuable contemporary photographs are content with being photographs, are not under the same compulsion to pass themselves off - or pimp themselves out - as art. The simple truth is that the best exponents of the art of contemporary photography continue to produce work that fits broadly within the tradition of what Evans termed 'documentary style'.”

― Geoff Dyer, Working the Room: Essays and Reviews: 1999-2010

 

Saint Patrick & Saint Gertrude

Saint Patrick and Saint Gertrude, are both celebrated on the same day, March 17th. I did not know this, and most people I suspect do not know either.

I have always been drawn to the Saints from a very young age, especially those who were Mystics.
 Saint Gertrude is someone I feel a great affinity towards because she is the Patron of Cats and because of her love for animals, and nature. As well, she had a great love of people, in particular for the travelers, always showing kindness and hospitality to them. Saint Gertrude is very well known in Belgium where she and my grandmother's were from.

In 2004 a childhood and life long friend, gave me the most beautiful Catholic Book of Days, Seasons of the Saints. It was beautifully illustrated with copied prints of Patricia Banker's sculptural reliefs of the Saints. Below is one of the many pictures in this book.

                                                            Saint Patrick's Binding Prayer

St. Patrick
Feast Day: March 17

Patron of
.Ireland .Nigeria
.Engineers
.Excluded People

Invoked against Fear of Snakes

Gertrude of Nivelles
Feast Day: March 17

Patron of
. Cats & those who love them
. Travelers in Search of Lodging
. Gardeners . Herbalists

Invoked Against
. Rodents . Fear of Rats & Mice
. Fever

Prayer For the Animals

Hear our humble prayer, O God,

for our friends the animals,

especially for animals who are suffering;

for animals that are overworked,

underfed and cruelly treated;

for all wistful creatures in captivity

that beat their wings against bars;

for any that are hunted or lost or deserted

or frightened or hungry;

for all that must be put to death.

We entreat for them all Thy mercy and pity,

and for those who deal with them

we ask a heart of compassion and gentle hands and kindly words.

Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to

animals, and so to share the blessings of the merciful. 

                                 
                                   - Author Unknown

Trailer for lost Johnny Cash album 'Out Among The Stars' unveiled – watch | News | NME.COM

I have been been a long time dedicated fan of the Carter family, and of Johnny Cash and so I was heartened and excited to hear about this soon to be released album  Out Among The Stars  that John Carter Cash is responsible for finding 12 unheard tracks in among his parents many items after they died.


Trailer for lost Johnny Cash album 'Out Among The Stars' unveiled – watch | News | NME.COM

Post script I overlooked linking Jian Gomeshi's interview with John Carter Cash so here it is!

Suzanne Heintz - Life Once Removed

 I am always looking for interesting women artists to post about on my blog. Well have I got one for you today. Suzanne Heintz I think is brilliant. Finding artists who are both talented, creative and use humour to get their message across I particularly admire and love. Suzanne Heintz is just that kind of artist.

I am so looking forward to learning more about her tomorrow on Q CBC Radio, when Jian Gomeshi will be interviewing her. I am certain when you see her work and view the Vimeo and You Tube videos and photography she has on her site, you will agree with me.

 There is no better way to relay a message than through the use of humour and Suzanne Heintz certainly does that. Be prepared to laugh out loud.

Suzanne Heintz states in the Huff Post...

 " I thought it was high time to call this nonsense out publicly, because this notion of insufficiency is not just about me, nor exclusively about women in regards to marriage. It's about anyone whose life doesn't look the way it "should." Rarely does anyone's life turn out the way it was expected, and if by some miracle it does, what they expected isn't what they thought it was. I'm simply trying to get people to open up their minds, and quit clinging to outdated assumptions of what a successful life looks like. I want people to lighten up on each other, and themselves, and embrace their lives for who it's made them, with or without the Mrs., PhD. or Esq. attached to their name. "

                                                                                       - Suzanne Heintz

Stinky Mapiguari

I found some thing that sparked my curiosity this morning from the site I subscribe to, Brain Pickings, about Monsters and Legends, a book by two very talented artists and illustrators, Davide Cali and  Gabriela Giandelli. This book is sure to stimulate the imagination young and the older person alike.

Most of us may not believe in monsters, but they certainly are often alive and well in our subconscious. I think we all have our own inner monsters, that we wrestle with in life. I've had many that's for sure, that were more like demons. However, I have sort of become old  friends with them now, in the way that I accept they exist and we co-exist together now. They have been a big part of my personality, once dictated my behaviour, and often preoccupied my thought, taking up space in my head. Thank God today they no longer control me, but I do understand and know how they could easily be unleashed again. So now I have learned how to temper them and keep them confined with the tools I have been so freely given in recovery. Some times what we most fear and think of as being a monster, actually turns out to be a friend and what we learn the most from. They can be blessings really, in disguise

I believe we can learn a lot from monsters and legends.

This is one of my paintings I did of a Baubo Belly Goddess. She looks kind of like a monster, but she is not, however I wouldn't really want to run into her, say in a dark alley. She definitely scare the begeezus out of me but once I realized who she was we'd do coffee I'm sure and have a grand chat..

Baubo Belly Goddess

 

International Women's Day - Bread and Roses

I have always greatly admired Annie Lennox as an incredible artist/singer/song writer.. Over the years, I have come to greatly respect her as a committed activist, especially n her involvement with HIV, violence against women and poverty.

We all can't be Annie Lennox. But today on International Women's Day I think and reflect on all of the women, artists or not, whom I know, have known or don't know, or will come to know. Each has made and will make affective and effective change. I admire them all so much. We are all in this together as human beings, male and female.
Happy International Women's Day, to all of my sisters, all over the world living and beyond this mortal coil.

As we come marching, marching in the beauty of the day,

A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray,

Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,

For the people hear us singing: "Bread and roses! Bread and roses!"

As we come marching, marching, we battle too for men,

For they are women's children, and we mother them again.

Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;

Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses!

As we come marching, marching, unnumbered women dead

Go crying through our singing their ancient cry for bread.

Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew.

Yes, it is bread we fight for -- but we fight for roses, too!

As we come marching, marching, we bring the greater days.

The rising of the women means the rising of the race.

No more the drudge and idler -- ten that toil where one reposes,

But a sharing of life's glories: Bread and roses! Bread and roses!

 

                                                                     -   James Oppenheim

Serenity and the Storm

I've been in a creative funk. I have needed to re-evaluate the art work I am doing. I have had to make a firm decision to change my focus on what I want to do. My heart isn't in what I had thought I was going to undertake for a series.

I did a Tarot reading the other day for a very wise elder. She said some poignant things to me. I don't remember now for the life of me what her exact words were, but I know I was listening very intently with my heart, and I know it was  very important wisdom she was sharing with me. It had to do with following your heart, and following your purpose in life in order to help others. I got the same message from another wise woman last week, who said the work I was doing was "soul work ".  I also got a confirmation of this message today in the daily reading I just finished.
Truth be known, this is the kind of work I want to do, soul work. It's not a good feeling when you are can't seem to make a decision and you are stuck in a kind of limbo and chaos.

I took an inventory of myself today, and admitted I had been doing somethings that are not good for my over all well being, or perhaps I was not doing the things that I know I need to do, in order to keep my mind clear, and not muddled. Not much wonder I have been feeling stuck and frustrated. I turned it over today, to the God of my understanding, and tried to do God's will.

Today I felt hopeful, I felt Spring in my bones for some reason. In spite of the past week being really cold and my pipes freezing upstairs and downstairs even in the kitchen yesterday morning. I was not impressed. Actually I was mad as hell and was feeling like the Ice Queen had put some sort of curse on us.

So when my pipes finally thawed upstairs this afternoon, I sat down in my rocker, and I began to journal. I thought I'd feel better perhaps, as it had been almost a month of not journaling, less one day. This is unusual for me, as I never go longer than a seven days without journaling. I also do daily readings that I had gotten away from over the past month, and I was really becoming derailed so to speak.

I decided I needed to get back on track, and began writing in my journal. After a couple of pages, I suddenly I heard an unusual noise, and thought, that doesn't sound like the water pump downstairs and did not recognize the sound. Then I thought it must be one of the taps in the downstairs bathroom that I must have left open. The temperature warmed up today and so along with upstairs taps thawing, I figured the downstairs bathroom taps did as well. When I walked into the bathroom the tap had blown clear off and a gusher of water was going straight into the air, almost hitting the ceiling, all over me, onto the floor and into the basement. Woooohoooo! I went into a panic. I've been doing that lately.

Fortunately, I had a moment of clarity some how, and thought to turn off water with the shut off valve on the PV pipe under the sink. Problem solved. So I need to replace the washer, that was stretched from being frozen and if that doesn't do it, I'll replace the taps.

When I sat back down I finished my writing, and then did my daily readings. It was a confirmation that I need to keep faith and turn my will over to the God of my understanding. I can't expect to ask God for help and then proceed to take my problems back with worry and confusion, and thinking I don't have to maintain my conscious contact with the God of my understanding to keep on the right track, doing what I want to do. It  never worked before, and why would I think it would work now.

" The willingness to give up my pride and self-will to a Power greater than myself has proved to be the only ingredient absolutely necessary to solve all my problems today. "

" My level of comfort is in direct relation to the degree of willingness I possess at any given moment to give up self-will, and allow God's will to be manifested in my life. " - Daily Reflections

 I think I started to do this today. My worry and fear has been transformed into serenity.

I saw the Beaver today that I share my land with. He had a message for me I'm sure. Here is a Poem I found that sums it up.

Busy, busy, as the beaver,                
Busy, busy, as the beaver,
Persistent in my work and fun,
I plan and labor toward my goals
Until appointed tasks are done.
Beaver, show me how to use
The things at hand to reach my goal,
Balancing my work and pleasure,
My mind and body, and my soul. 

What Are You Reading?

One of my advisers in University while I was working toward obtaining my Bachelor of Fine Art degree, said she thought it was essential that artists read and that it influences your art. This was one of the best lessons I've learned going to University and has certainly been my experience throughout my life. The decisions I made in choosing my creative path, the vocations I have had and the subject matter of most of my artwork, is a result of books I have read.. When I think of some of the books that have influenced me, my head is often full of ideas that swim and swirl around in my brain. It can be a little overwhelming. I am not what you call a really well read person and I am not an intellect, and wasn't a very good reader during school. I had some difficulties concentrating and focusing due to a combination of factors. Regardless I have a thirst for knowledge and life long learning and am a much better reader now. There have been several books that have been life changing and have been integrated into my personality, the way I make my art and what I create.

Last Summer I read On Writing by Stephen King, a kind on memoir and ' how to ' book about the process of writing. I am not exactly a reader of most of Stephen Kings books, as I don't really care for fictional thrillers. I do certainly appreciate his talent and his extremely salt of the earth personality. I am very drawn to those kinds of writers.
I also identify with him and his personal demons and difficulties he has struggled with in his life.

Of  course I am interested in the process of writing, being a blogger, who writes everyday, long hand in journals. I have kept journals for many years and have found them to be useful tools that enable my creative process as an artist. It is a great therapeutic tool, particularly when going through the highs and lows of life.

I concur with what many writers say time and time again that in order to improve your writing you need to read. I have made a conscious decision to do this, more so lately, now I have the time to read what ever I like. I also have come to believe, that in order to improve your art making or creativity in general, reading is an essential and powerful tool that will foster, nurture, inspire and transform.

Currently I am reading  I think one of my favourite writers, Anne Lamott's new book STITCHES. Next I will tackle Mavis Gallant's, In Transit, a collection of her short stories.
I just finished Walker Evans and James Agee's book Let Us Now Praise Famous Men which was a rather depressing and hard to get through read. The reason being the subject matter was pretty depressing and the way it was written left me a little frustrated. The photography of course was riveting, and I am so happy and grateful  I actually got to see many of these Walker Evans photos when I had the opportunity to visit the Museum of Modern Art. The experience of seeing these black and white photographs took my breath away.

Here's a great list I found today to feed your hungry book brain  http://yougottareadthis.tumblr.com/
I will never be an e-book reader because I love how a book can engage all of my senses. So what are you reading?

The Wild Woman - Singing Over The Bones

Today I received a very exciting email from a woman who lives in Cwnbran South Wales, by the name of Mandy Squires. She had contacted me some time ago about using one of my paintings  The Wild Woman- Singing over the Bones for this poster advertising a workshop she was involved with in 2013. I did two versions of this painting, and she used both. These paintings are based on  Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes' book Women Who Run With The Wolves.
Mandy and her and her husband are SCUBA divers, and they have an amazing site, remarkable and beautiful underwater photography from all over the world. I wanted to share and these photos can be seen at this link below.

http://www.pixelreef.co.uk

Who Was Molly Bobak?

CINERARIA
watercolour
25 x 19 in.
framed dimension: 31 x 25 in.

I lived in Fredericton New Brunswick in the early mid eighties. I was aware of the artist Bruno Bobak. I was not terribly interested in his art for a number of reasons, but mostly because of not being very involved in the art scene, as I was working full time as an apprentice welder, and then as a youth care worker and had just returned to the Maritimes from the North West Territories. Regardless, I think I can say I had a a bit of the attitude many Canadians have regarding "local " Canadian artists. If they don't appear to be in the mainstream well then they are under recognized, and unappreciated. So although Bruno was on my radar I  unfortunately was completely unaware of artist Molly Bobak.
Gallery 78 gives a great overview of the of Molly Bobak's volume of work.

They certainly were a lovely couple who offered a remarkable and an extraordinary talent They both were a gift to Canada, as significant and important part of our Canadian art history.

I now very much regret, not having been more engaged with the art community in Fredericton, while I was there, as I would have been very grateful to have met such talented artists and special couple like Bruno and Molly Bobak. I couldn't help but be reminded of another loving and talented couple, Alex and Rhoda Colville.

Manjari Sharma

A few years back I had the privilege and opportunity to travel to New York City and saw lots of art. Going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art was definitely one of the major highlights of the trip as was visiting the Museum of Modern Art.

 My interest in world religions was somewhat satisfied visiting the Met. At MoMA my passion for photography and being able to see such great photographers like Walker Evans, Diane Arbus and Alfred Stieglitz collection left me breathless.
 In the Met I went to a part of the museum, where I saw statues of Hindu Gods and Goddesses , which was an amazing experience. It was like entering a sacred temple. One of the statues that fascinated me was Lord Ganesha. Below is what I saw. I took a photo and made sure to leave Lord Ganesha some cash because I was a poor student of art about to graduate and definitely seeking education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth!

God of Education, Knowledge, Wisdom and Wealth

I've been thinking a lot about Goddesses and God's lately. Mostly because I have been involved in doing Tarot readings and studying the cards which more often than not have symbolic meanings based on Goddesses and Gods.

Today I learned about a wonderful photographer http://manjarisharma.com/darshan
She embodied Hindu Gods and Goddesses through her photographs, by using real models, and going to painstaking heights and great lengths in making handmade costumes. All of the props and materials used to create these final photographs resulted in such realistic detail and inspiring beauty.

 

Lord Shiva

 

Lord Shiva - Father of Ganesha