Tai chi dragon....

I drew up this Chinese Dragon with calligraphy, that reads as Tai chi, for my teacher, who practices in the Yang style. Tai chi is an ancient 'internal' or 'soft' martial art, that has many movements sourced in observing nature, aswell as the more familiar kicks and punches. It is a very slow, graceful form, a kind of moving meditation. The different lineages, or styles, are usually named for the families who practiced, and passed them on.

Echidna tatu design...

ladyhawk....

Australian animals....

Lizard dreamings...

 I don't know what it is with me n reptiles at the moment, but this well camoflaged fellow was very cooperative when I came across him, sitting still for his portrait. Lizard is associated with being a messenger of dreams, day and night. Those moments when you find yourself gazing at a scene mind far away in potentials and possabilities your concious mind might ignore. Daydreams are a way to connect with spirit and see opportunities. At night as we sleep the mind again is free to roam and explore, working its way through material in a different manner to when we are awake. Lizard calls us to retrieve messages from these liminal times and awaken to paths that may well offer a new direction.

Snake visitations continue...

This mama was easily 3 metres long, seriously big. The neighbours called the local snake expert. He said just to leave her be, that she'll not only keep down rats n mice, but brown snakes aswell, which are far more aggressive and gnarly. So i looked her up in my snakey book and diamond pythons mostly live in trees, sometimes crossing the ground between. Its breeding season for these babies and this one could lay some 40 eggs to hatch. Looks like nomadcat and I will just have to get used to diamond pythons being around! They are definitely shy and avoid humans where possible. Except when in ones bedroom!! Reckon I'll be closing the doors at night from now on....

Im pretty sure these guys are living in the jungle that exists between our shed and the neighbours garage, its undisturbed territory and shall remain so.

They truley are amazing creatures, mesmerising motion and markings. Australia is known by some Tribal Elders as 'Snake island' in reference to the Rainbow serpent of Dreamtime creation stories. Because it sheds its skin the snake has long been a symbol of death and rebirth. Symbolised also by the ouroborus, an ancient image of a snake swallowing its own tail and in the double snakes on a sword used by medicine as a symbol for healing. Transfiguration and the shedding of the old for healing and to make space for the new are snakes calling card. Perfect for spring time cleaning out of cobwebs, refocusing intention on new tangents and recreating old projects in new ways....

Mr Toad....

This morning when I got up i was greeted by this fine gentleman, who'd hopped into  a bucket and couldnt un-hop out. He is a 'cane toad' ( Bufo marinus) so named because he was introduced into Queensland to get rid of the 'cane beetle'. The thing is hes quite the tadpole breeder, can live in any habitat ranging from suburbia to sand dunes, is highly venomous with few predators and lives for about twenty years, hence the cure has done more damage than the symptom. That'll teach us to mess with nature, again. 

The word amphibian comes from two word "amphi" meaning double and "bios" life. Amphibians divide their lives between land and water, beginning as tadpoles and then usually spending the second half of their lives more on land, a characteristic that reflects an ability to metamorphosise and shapeshift.

Toads have featured strongly in fairytales, mythology and are well known as a potential witches familiar. With their warty exteriors they speak of beauty beyond the surface, buried treasure even, and all it takes is a kiss. Yes i did think about it, for half a second, until i realised itd probably just result in a reeeaaally bad trip.

Many would say i should have squished Mr Toad, and I acknowledge that cane toads have devastating effects on places like Kakadu national park, but when it comes down to it, who's the most devastating creature of all?

The one holding the camera.....

Roo....

painted skulls.....

In the first picture from left to right, is fish, roo and wombat.

It felt like an honouring of the animals passing when I painted these. I used acrylic and did many layers to get the colour strong, turning and holding the skull as I worked, exploring its shape and structure. Nature truly is the greatest artist and she speaks to us through the forms of animals, plants and landscape, so that these things become our teachers of beauty, and wisdom..

spiritwolf....

one use for boxes....little red riding hoody..

tatu design...