Ou-Ti Mother and Child

The Ou-Ti People of Yaawo-Ana

The jungle culture of Ou-Ti established in the massive, ancient stump of a tropical Yaawo (a plant related to the Banyan Tree). The breadth of the tree's trunk takes approximately an hour to cross on foot. Though the tree's branches have been missing for ages, the roots of the plant go so deep, as the Ou-Ti tell it, 'that the tree does not yet realize it is dead'. How exactly the tree lost all its branches is a mystery, but the Ou-Ti enjoy telling many tales about it. 

The location of the city of Yaawo-Ana is important from an Earthly perspective, being located on a pulse point, or energy center, of the planet. Tapping into this vein of release with its roots, the tree emits messages from its interior, and those who are trained Earthspeakers work to interpret the communications released from the tree and the surrounding soil. The plant is so interconnected to its surroundings that it receives and translates messages from neighboring rivers, and even from the active volcanic mount of Csarathakwa some 100 anahks (kilometers) away. 

Yaawo-Ana, City of Trees

Rising from Lanoran mists, as mountain from a womb of trees

what bluff of bark does soar, devoid of tropic spire in voice of breeze?

Where once was green is broad of stump, whose heights live in the house of rain

whose monolith of shadow fall across the Csarathakwan Plain

Tis foot of Yaawo-Ana, grand of tree so long be cleaved of bough

tis branch of ancient seed, who after Age still raise a regal brow

Tis foot of Yaawo-Ana, eye of earth which stares into the cloud

where Ou-Ti people shelter in the Ferrigfern and misted shroud

All travel through Lanoran bush, when come upon her be amazed

confusing cliff of Yaawo for a sheer of rock so sudden raised 

And though her canopy be shorn still hand of root holds fast to deeps

and fingerlets of wood do touch the face of Earth who never sleeps

Tis foot of Yaawo-Ana great in breadth as blot out much of sky

tis branch of ancient seed who mothered forest now surrounded by

Tis foot of Yaawo-Ana mouth of Earth which speaks to open Ear

where Ou-Ti people carve a home and all her words do strain to hear

And wonder all who look upon how taken were her boughs so high

and myth and tale be told to speak an answer to the How and Why

Amd unaware seems tree of old that absent are her branches all

and live devoid of canopy does foot of Yaawo-Ana tall

Yes foot of Yaawo-Ana grand of tree so long be cleaved of bough

tis branch of ancient seed who after Age still raise a regal brow

Tis foot of Yaawo-Ana mouth of Earth who speaks to Sea of Sky

where Ou-Ti people shelter in the shadow of her Wooden Eye

Original watercolor painting, 18x24, matted

$500

The Hummingbird

The Bird Folk of Ta'galan

An old Ta'galan legend told in the Lands of Mirico is that of Feathabee, the son of Glynmarra the Patchwork Bird. Feathabee befriended the sun and the moons even before they had learned to fly. In his own way, and with his own feathers, it is said that he gave the sun and the moon a way to stay and light the world. 

"In the age of giants, when fire walked freely upon the Earth, and the stones hurled themselves about in a dance of smoke, and before the Trees had taught their words to the wise, there was, among those who moved, a great bird, born, some say, of the Earth itself. As broad as mountains, with wisps of cloud in his wing and starlight in his eye. First Earth child of the First Cosmic Child, he was dreamwalker and smokespeaker - his footprints were lakes, his shoulders his fingers the creeks, his arms the rivers. And he rose up joyous, calling out in one of the first Voices." 

- Ta'galan Tales

As you travel from here to there in the Lands of Mirico you'll see depictions of the kind and gentle Feathabee on village flags, in simple wood etchings, on household pottery and in even in ancient cave carvings. In the spirit of Feathabee's giving and sympathetic nature, all creatures in Mirico try to live in the ways of peace and friendship. Being the ancestors of Feathabee, the Bird Ambassadors are flightless, and so they're often fascinated by anything that has retained the ability to flit about. 

This illustration is 18x24, matted to 22x28

$550

The Band : Atolli Party Birds

Done in a series that just kept growing exponentially, The Band consists of many members, but the core musicians are the fiddle player, guitarist, upright bassist and drummer. Though I can't recall who was first to appear, as a musician myself I kept thinking ahead to other band members as I drew - what instrument would be fun to illustrate, and how would I personify the character playing it?

Each of the original illustrations are 9x12 matted to 11x14

$275 each, $450 for a pair, $825 for all four as a group. 

Naku Islands : The Onepalipan Clan

The above watercolor, which does not appear in the Fernie Brae show, depicts a male and female member of the Nakurit region, an archipelago of islands in the remote tropics of Mirico. The Nakurit are among the most proficient Plantspeakers in the world, and often grow mobile gardens on their bodies as a form of veneration to the land.

The tribes believe the islands they call home are the former shells of ancient, giant turtles who swam into shallow water, hence became lodged, and died. The word 'Onepalipan', which is both their tribal name and the language they speak, means 'turtle child', which is also a reference to Chimaquatka the Universal Mother, who is often depicted as a cosmic turtle. 

The Onepalipans of the Naku are an integral group of characters in the Miriconian realm. Their islands teem with fertile earth and endemic species, and yet their island homes are among the most threatened in the world. Their land, in many places, is at or below sea level, and thus it is steadily disappearing due to sea level rise. 

Song of the Nakurit People

Moss and rock and shell and wave

and sand and we a'singing 

Sky and cloud and thunder loud

and rain fall down a'winging

Fish and crab and whale and snail

and weed of sea a'weaving

Tide and krill and coral frill

a'never from us leaving

Star and moon and sun come soon

now thanks to all we've sung to

Mount and fount and fruit and root

and Nakurit among you

Thank you cave and spring and reed

and shore upon we'standing

Thanks to Mother, blue at Heart 

Blue Father Sky expanding

Be yours we all of Nakurit 

as to you givers giving

Gift back our own, our feathered bone

to Ones who gave us living

Now same as blossom mist and bay

and sinew, flesh and feather

Same we all, as same we call

in thanks to you together

The Ta'me of the Vexed Mists

Expert bogmaw hunters and gifted trackers, these exceptionally strong frogmen grow to at least two meters in height. They can trace their lineage through the Nile Delta, where they interacted with the people of Kimet, now known in modern times as Egypt. During the reign of the Egyptian kings, the Ta'me were revered as gods, and were sought for natural remedy and spiritual  guidance.

Having since migrated to many bog cultures throughout the world, such as Kakadu in Australia, Karala in India, and the Okavango in Botswana, The Ta'me of the Pantanal (known as the Dillydell to Miriconians) are the guardians of a very reclusive species of Snail People known as the Shelkie. The Vexed Mists of the Dillydell are given this name because they are a truly confusing region to pass through. Many of the larger islands here are actually massive foraging hermit crabs, who slowly move along searching for food as small forests grow upon their backs. Thus, the landscape of the bog is constantly shifting, and it is almost impossible to keep your bearings. The best way to travel the Mists is to befriend a water beetle, who may agree to swim you across. Even with a reliable guide, the region is not without its dangers, as just beneath the surface there may lurk massive flesh-eating plants known as bogmaw, which are capable of swallowing a man or a small boat whole.

The Dillydell is an area of 140,000 to 195,000 square kilometers depending on the flood pulse, being the largest wetland in the world. Up to 12 sub-regional ecosystems are identified, each with distinct hydrological, geological and ecological characteristics. Within these systems there are 658 species of birds, 190 mammals, 50 reptiles, 270 fish and 1,132 types of butterfly. While the Golden Mussel, introduced by Man, has become a truly invasive species threatening the balance of many ecosystems here, the Ta'me do utilize these persistent invaders as an additional food source.

"During the rainy season, the water in the marsh basin rises between two and five meters. Just as the Nile delta is fertile, arable land, so too are the Dillydell plains. The dramatic increase of water during the rainy season nourishes the producers of the marsh, which in turn nourishes all the other species, as well. Humans have taken advantage of this so much that it has become a problem." 

- Iridian Anthropologist

Original illustration, 11x14

matted to 16x20

$300

Kalile B'Urendi and the Wart Tail

Kalile B'Urendi comes from a Deep Time ancestral line in the realms of Mirico, never having been to Iridian realms. There are actually a considerable number of humans in Mirico who have never been to Man's realm, and those who have no familiarity with Iridia usually prefer to remain unaware. However, the polluted air, soil and water of Iridia have had increasing impact on the distant realms of nature. Kalile's foremost concern as an Ambassador of his people in Mirico is to protect their pristine homelands, but he also works to represent human beings in a positive light, and hosts the Earth Summit as speaker for his kin.

His cape is a living organism, based on an air plant known as pepplemoss. The cape needs the same care as a common houseplant, but benefits from the warmth and moisture of the wearer as well. It is a heavy garment, but provides both camouflage and added protection from chilly nights. Capes like this are common in tropical and temperate climates, but will die off in sub-zero temperatures.

The Wart Tail lizard is among many Earth Ambassadors to engage with Kalile as they express their local and regional concerns. The Miriconian Council has worked together to establish peace and diplomacy, but tensions have been on the rise as humans in Iridia remain wasteful, thoughtless and greedy.


This painting has been a long-time favorite for visitors to my art displays - it comes from an earlier watercolor phase of my work.
Kalile is a prominent character in the narratives as I write them in the present, and his appearance, demeanor and voice have always been quite clear to me as I 'write' him. He seems a very real person indeed as he speaks and interacts in my imagination, and I hope one day to bring him to greater fruition by giving his realism to readers and viewers in narratives and tales.

"Each of us could call ourselves a world, really - a world of thoughts, memories and experiences. We interlace ourselves into a patchwork of worlds within worlds, and yet we forget... Somehow, we deny ourselves the oneness that we once were.

Our first mistake, whether we called ourselves Iridian or Miriconian, was to think of each other as such. Man may have become afraid of Nature, and Nature may have become afraid of Man, but it is this fear that will continue to divide and destroy us until we abolish it." - Kalile B'Urendi

Original watercolor painting, 11x14

matted to 16x20

$350

Soft Clay : Part of the Process

Katio and Ashta'ar's hands, in soft clay... After I get the initial shape right, I enjoy posing the 

fingers in many potential ways.