Forest Heart: A Painting in Gouache Explored

I have decided to paint and write about one painting a day and then blog it too! A tall task that I began yesterday on the Celtic New Year (Nov. 1). I feel happy about my decision and pumped!

My current series of work is the Spirit Animal Series painted in gouache on 6 x 6 inch Montreal-made watercolor paper.

In today's painting the woman is definitely indigenous; of the forest, the hemlocks, the rivers and the hot sun of California, as is the Marten, her Spirit Animal. It is peace she seeks; in nature and within. Yet she is a fierce fighter when called upon. The River sings her to sleep and the Sun, hot and unrelenting, sings her praises, but it is deep within the forest that she belongs; singing her heart song, silently, relentlessly, alive.