Land of Fire and Water

I painted this piece as part of my Travel Series after returning from my travels to the South Pacific.  Gauguin influenced this piece.  The central figure was inspired by a guide I had on Bora Bora as she spoke of the maraes and local traditions.  The lushness of the dense rain forests that covered the volcanic islands intrigued me.   The striking turquoise blue rings around each island of barrier coral reefs were breathtaking.  The island life of residents echoed the continued history of a thousand years of Polynesians that was influenced by the many colonizers.  Dance, music, and art still resonate.