Treasure

When we lived in Los Angeles, we went to the desert every chance we got.

I love the desert, I love the magic of it, the heat in the day and the cold at night, the stars, the ancient history, the vastness of it, the mystery. I love how, when you're driving through it late at night, it feels like you're driving through the ocean.

Considering the Mohave was once covered by water, it makes sense that the desert would have it's own myths and treasure stories, just like the sea. Stories about figures up in the desert rocks, when you walk to them, there's no one there, and that's a sign that treasure is close. It might even right under the ground you're standing on. Or, maybe, where your treasure really lies is inside the boots you're standing in.

Meaning, trust in yourself. That's what this painting is about.

The figure with the eternity symbol on it's heart both warns and beckons the viewer at the same time, with a challenge and an invitation.

The challenge the figure puts to the viewer is to survive the desert, meaning the ups and downs of life. This challenge comes with an invitation to use your own spirit as a guide to lead you to your treasure, to your personal bliss, to what brings you joy.

The light blue ribbon of oil crayon surrounding the spirit guide's head and heart symbolizes purity of soul and trustworthiness. The eternity symbol on the figure's heart symbolizes being true to yourself, forever.

This piece is painted on heavy gessoed canvas, the paint is thickly layered and the creases and folds in the canvas itself provide depth to the colors underneath. I used raw pigments and oils, oil crayons, latex, gesso, pencil.

It's signed "Marisi", which is my middle name that I share with my son.