Tiki Sculptures

The idea here was to create five clay heads, each one representing a different element; Ahi for fire, Kai, moana for blue ocean, Papa for green earth, La for yellow day, and Po for purple night.  I tried to give them the look of a Tiki head crossed with a small Aztec idol.  Starting with almost an entire pound of clay for each sculpture, I proceeded to carve and etch marks in the figure.  I also carved out the inside so that when firing them they would not crack.   With what was left, I made horns of four kinds and on both sides of one I put handles.  After painting them, they were left to dry and were later displayed at my art show in October.

Armadillo

The armadillo, which is Spanish for "little armored one," is most famous for its armored shell, which is made from cartilage and bone. These bones provide an impressive defense and represent protection and a guardian-like quality.  Armadillos love digging and burrowing with their sharp, little claws.  Using their heightened senses they are able to detect life underground. They are masters at "hide-and-seek" and excel at finding what is hidden.  Every day, the armadillo may sleep up to a good eighteen some hours,

They also like the water, are generally found near some water, and can even walk underwater. A unique quality of this creature rarely found in others is that they are able to inflate their intestines in order to float upon water for a time, basking in the sun as they laze about the surface of an ambling stream. Its ability to maneuver effectively in water is a very important trait for us to remember about this animal. Water talks to us about going with the flow of our emotions, and the armadillo carries the same message. Are your emotions dammed up? How can the armadillo help loosen up emotional tension? Even during emotional flooding, the armadillo is a reminder we have the power available to us to float through emotional trauma.  Sometimes the only way to endure emotional storms is to coast through them. 

You could say that an armadillo’s defensive stance is its way of telling us to take up a protective position from within ourselves. Just as an armadillo curls into a sphere, therefore protecting its vital organs from threat, we too can initiate our own defense system to protect our hearts when the occasion calls for it.  According to whats-your-sign.com symbolic armadillo meanings are: trust, peace, pacifism, reclusive, neutrality, complexity, sensitivity, inquiry/curiosity, emotional excavation, and protection/guardedness. This speaks to us symbolically about searching, discovering, and getting to the "root" of the matter. If the armadillo makes an appearance, it may be time to do some research on a project you've been working. Or, perhaps it's time to dig under the surface of some questions that have been nagging you.

Whether it's launching your own investigation or doing some digging in your family genealogy, the armadillo can help.  They also can serve as a "tour-guide" to our buried secrets. When we start on a journey of exploration/research/discovery with the armadillo as our spiritual guide, we may feel more inclined to receive illumination and answers. 

People who hold the armadillo as an animal totem have a natural defense system, and can be incredibly self-protective. People like this are extremely perceptive and acutely attuned to the happenings in their environment. If you find the armadillo is your animal kin, you tend to have a bright intellect, which is fueled by a natural curiosity. Although armadillo-people can be short sighted, and may not have long-reaching vision for themselves or their world, they have a lovely sense of contentment. In fact, they are some of the best folks to hang out with because of their self-contending nature. This kind of attitude is extremely comforting.  People such as this also have great memories.  Inquisitive, introspective, thoughtful, grounded and keen to defend that which is precious.... these terms best describe those with the armadillo as their totem.

Those who hold fast to the armadillo are natural treasure hunters and can find items for us - real items, or even intangible goodies like epiphanies and insights.  Imagine an armadillo waddling out ahead of you on a hiking journey through details or data you may be going through.  When the armadillo burrows its way into your awareness as a totem or a messenger, it might be a good time to get some rest.  Relax, recover, recuperate and consider withdrawing from social engagements for a time of renewal. If the armadillo is coming into your consciousness, consider big themes like this. Is it time to mother or nurture ourselves? Is it time to become reborn?  Is it time to retreat, withdraw and become more reclusive?  These are all questions the armadillo asks us on our life's journey. 

  
Symbolic meanings of the armadillo include: Trust, Peace, Pacifism, Reclusive, Neutrality, Complexity, Sensitivity, Inquiry/Curiosity, Emotional Excavation, and Protection/Guardedness.

Rage Necklaces

  

As for how I came up with these next two pieces of jewelry, it pretty much just evolved as most other ideas do. While working with polymer clay I wanted to experiment with layering in a couple of different ways. This is what happened. I rolled out three sheets of clay with a pasta roller and stacked them on top of each other. After cutting through all three layers with a razor knife, I cut away bits and pieces until I got two shapes. One looked like a faceted gem with the other appearing as a diamond. Next, the metal was cut, filed, sanded, and polished. The sanding and polishing were done progressively through different grits descending from course to fine. As for the polishing, I used a buffing wheel followed by a polishing cloth. Riveting held each clay piece in place as prongs cut from the middle layer fastened the clay pieces in the middle of each one.

  

Alien Incubation: An Unexpected Delivery

Though not one of my favorite or best paintings in my opinion, its concept IS pretty neat.  It came to me one night in a dream, you see.  A large semi went past me, which later inspired this painting.   It was supposed to be made with straight lines developed on canvas by putting tape on it. Then I was going to paint where the tape wasn’t.  The tape kept paint away from the areas I didn’t wish for it to go. Afterward I would proceed to remove the tape to reveal a straight edge.  Clever, huh?  It wasn’t my idea though.  On the back is a yellow glass casing with a green gel-filled alien egg.  It has metal tentacles on all sides of it.  The top of the painting has gold, silver, and copper rays of light.  The rays of light cross over each other as though they where woven together by some heavenly power above.  I hope you have enjoyed this post, and don’t forget, I’ll have more for you as soon as possible or ASAP for you texters.

Bear

Native American Bear Meaning

When we walk the path of the bear, we are told of its long history with the first people of North America.  As a Native American symbol, the bear is as free in spirit as the great wind (according to one source as a "god" in the Native American world), and grander than its mass. To match its magnitude is the quality of unpredictability in the bear. When provoked in certain situations, the first thing that comes to our mind is a ferocity expressed by the bear that could cause even the strongest men of today to run in terror or at least shudder in great fear. 

Because of this potentially furious storm brewing just under the surface of a bears spirit, our Native American ancestors were extremely cautious and fearful of this animal. Even tribes inclined to peace honored the spirit of a warrior. Witnessing this sort of blind, raw energy imbues the characteristics of courage and strength that anyone would want to utilize.

Bear meanings were enhanced by observations made by tribal sages. These vital tribal figures were inclined to be considerate and deeply understanding of how nature communicated its intent in all her forms. These Native American figures found connections between human and beast.  From these associations we too can interpret significant meanings propelling our own lives in terms of direction, action, and wisdom.  Symbolic characteristics of the bear include the following: power, courage, freedom, protection, motherhood, discernment, childbearing, resourcefulness, and unpredictability. 

One such connection to the meaning of the bear comes from a Shoshone sage who set about bringing worlds together by manner of trance walking. The Shoshone have instigated a Sun Dance where the bear is a central figure of the ritual.  It was symbolic of protection, strength and the continuation of the tribe’s bloodline.

We see a lot of connections with bear and man in the Native mind. We can intuit these bear meanings to come from the human-like appearance of the bear when it's posed on hind legs. From this union of man and bear, taken from the Aleut and Haida minds, we see the bear as defining the characteristics of motherhood and child protection. 

As a Sioux symbol, the bear also has healing symbolism. Above all, bear meaning holds incredible influence and magnitude to the North American tribes. Although the bear is a profound Native American symbol of majesty, freedom and power it is far more. As a brother, the bear imparts this advice to both our ancestors and us today. 

Because the bear is cautious, it encourages discernment to human kind. Its fierce spirit signals bravery to those who require it. The bears mass and physical power stand for confidence and victory. Finally, a bears preference for peace and tranquility, (despite its size), tells us to harmonize and find balance.

Symbolic meanings of the bear include: Peace, Duality, Bravery, Powerful, Motherhood, Benevolence, Sovereignty, and Resurrection.

Beaver

Beaver Meaning

Beavers are ingenious builders, orchestrating megalith dams that can change the flowing course of entire rivers. This impressive aspect along with its aquatic nature makes the beaver an example for building up our own dreams.

In essence, the beaver tells us to believe in our dreams as if they were real. Build on them as if the dream itself is your reality. Change the direction of your life by structuring it with a goal. This can help you coax your dreams into a physical form. As a water creature, symbolic characteristics of the beaver include: Dreams, Psyche, Motion, Emotion, Intuition, & Subconscious.

The beaver symbolizes working diligently. The dams beavers build are sometimes eight feet tall and span across entire bodies of water. That kind of accomplishment doesn't happen overnight, nor does it happen by just wishing of completion. The beaver says: "yeah, it’s great to have dreams, but you have to work at them to make them real!"

Working to fulfill life-long dreams is admirable. The beaver cautions us to uphold an adequate balance between play and work, while encouraging priorities to be set properly. But it's not all work and no play in the life of a beaver. Fun and games are also a part of the beavers’ nature. This is an excellent reminder of the importance of taking time off for ourselves and for our family.

Symbolic meanings of the beaver include: Dreams, Psyche, Motion, Emotion, Intuition, and Subconscious.