Transcriptions
Transcriptions Series
The Transcriptions series combines the sacredness of books and scrolls with the Divine connection that people, cultures, and religions have been striving for throughout history. These paintings include the text of prayers and mantras in ancient languages along with their English transliteration.
18" x 18" x 1-1/2”
Original mixed media painting with acrylic, paper, pencil, threads, and cloth on canvas.
Book of Sappho began quite simply with the desire to create a background, split into 3 areas of color, texture, and text… And to place a layered cloth book on the surface. I became inspired by the words of the Ancient Greek poet, Sappho (630 - 570 BCE). In the process of creating this, I stepped into the world of her words and learned something of her life. It was disappointing to read that the majority of her written words were lost or destroyed, with mostly fragments surviving. In ancient days, she was known as one of the greatest lyric poets.
I have placed Sappho’s poem in Greek letters on the bottom right side of the painting and translated words in English on the pages of the cloth book.
The sides of this gallery wrapped canvas are painted to match the painting. It is signed and dated on the side of the canvas.
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12” x 12” x ¾”
Original mixed media painting on canvas
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu is a Sanskrit mantra. It acts as a reminder: to be aware of how interconnected we all are to one another and to all living beings. The message: we are all one and our actions impact the world.
The translation of the prayer is simple yet powerful:
"May all beings be happy.
May all my thoughts, words
and actions contribute in
some way to the happiness
of all beings."
The attached canvas cloth is cut to create an open window revealing the handmade book. The background canvas is textured and painted on the sides as well. The painting is signed and dated on the side.
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12" x 12" x 1-1/2”
Original mixed media painting acrylic, ink, papers, and cloth on canvas.
Book of Peace - My intention for this painting was to get back to creating books on canvas. I had been working on paper and longed for a return to canvas and constructing books with cloth. So I decided to play with an unfinished painting that didn’t have much more than a textured border with some text and a bit of color in the center.
I delighted in adding the tiny book you see, out of raw canvas, and sewing it onto the original canvas. I chose to use the Sanskrit words, Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti, which is a peace mantra. With the addition of more text, paper, texture, and color I completed my return to the element of the book in my paintings.
The sides of this gallery wrapped canvas are painted to match the painting. It is signed and dated on the side of the canvas.
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12" x 12" x 1-1/2”
Original mixed media painting with acrylic, papers, strings, threads, and cloth on canvas.
Book of Compassion is the second of two paintings that took shape upon an incomplete paintings I decided to play with. I was craving the element of the book during a period of working almost solely on paper. This canvas had a border of paper, strings, and some text, so I added paint and and played with ideas to bring it to completion. And with the use of raw canvas, I created this little book which is sewn onto the background canvas. The Sanskrit mantra that appears is: Lokah Samastah
The text next to the book reads: “May all beings be happy. May all my thoughts, words, and actions contribute in some way to the happiness of all beings.”
The text on the book reads: “May all be happy and free.”
See also Book of Peace.
The sides of this gallery wrapped canvas are painted to match the painting. It is signed and dated on the side of the canvas.
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8” x 8” x 1.5”
Acrylic, cloth, papers, and threads on canvas.
Genesis was designed around a tiny cloth scroll-like element that represents the Torah. It sits within the opening of a square cloth background. A window has been cut into this cloth creating an open flap on either side, as if they are the open doors to the Ark that holds the Torah. The Hebrew text on the scroll and the English is from the first book of Moses. The English translation of that passage is partially visible below.
The sides of the canvas painted to match the rest of the canvas background. The signature and date appear on the side.
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8” x 8” x 1-1/2”
Acrylic, cloth, papers, and threads on canvas.
The Shema painting was created with a couple of folds, like hills and valleys, to create more depth in the painting. There are two square cutouts in the cloth where Shema in Hebrew shows through. On the surface of the cloth, you’ll find the prayer in Hebrew, in it’s transliteration, and in the English translation.
The sides of the canvas are painted to match the rest of the background of the painting. The signature and date appear on the side.
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12” x 12” x 1-1/2”
Original acrylic and canvas cloth painting with thread on canvas
The original goal for Breath and Beyond was to create a thread filled environment in which to paint and then see where that would lead.
I began by sewing lines of stitches in something of a checkerboard pattern, leaving loose threads at the ends of each line. I had already cut five squares into the cloth beforehand.
I kept adding color, then some text, and then more color. The darkness of the background canvas peeks through the openings in the cloth.
The text in the painting is the mantra, So Hum, meaning: "I Am That." It is used in meditation as one focuses on their breath.
The painted cloth became a tapestry OR a tapestry of life. The mantra I chose represents the breath OR breath of life. And the cutouts became windows to the beyond.
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12" x 12" x 3/4”
Original mixed media painting on canvas
Om Namah Shivaya is one of the most popular Hindu mantras. It is a dedication to Lord Shiva, considered a benevolent, auspicious, and Supreme Deity in Hinduism.
Before I began this painting, I knew I wanted to do something different with the text. I chose to cut strips of the canvas cloth, folding the pieces back so the text would be on the raised folds and the back canvas would show through the cutouts. What better mantra to use but the one with which I have a long history. My daughter was raised with this one.
I created a seam by sewing two pieces of canvas cloth together. Then I began cutting strips with every other one placed on opposite sides of the seam so the folds would lay in both directions. I had painted both sides of the cloth, so at some point the piece was truly reversible… but I liked this way best.
The sides of the canvas are textured and painted to match the rest of the background. The signature and date appear on the side.
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12” x 12” x 1.5”
Acrylic, cloth, papers, and threads on canvas.
Kaddish 4 was designed around having a “split screen” of the prayer in Hebrew on one side and the transliteration on the other. With this one, I wanted to have the strips of Hebrew text mostly laying flat against the back canvas but with the ends somewhat raised from the surface of the painting. And the goal was to have lots of threads hanging from the cloth strips.
The sides of the canvas are textured and painted to match the rest of the background. The signature and date appear on the side.
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8” x 8” x 1.5”
Acrylic, cloth, papers, and threads on canvas.
If you are not familiar with the Modim prayer, it is filled with thankfulness and is a part of the Amidah. Modim #2 is filled with text. It has the prayer in Hebrew, in it’s transliteration, and in it’s English translation. The focus of the painting is the attached bookish piece, displaying the Hebrew on the outside and the translation lying within the fold. There’s a text strip across the bottom where the first line of the prayer shows up again on the painting.
The sides of the canvas are painted to match the rest of the background. The signature and date appear on the side.
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12” x 12” x ¾”
Original mixed media painting on canvas
Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha is a Tibetan Buddhist mantra and the focus of this painting. One of the inspirations for the Transcriptions Series was the beauty of the written alphabets of ancient languages. The Sanskrit letters for Om Tare Tuttare are exquisitely beautiful.
A piece of painted canvas cloth becomes a backdrop to the homemade book sewn onto the canvas. The book holds the general meaning behind each of the words of the mantra. In effect, the mantra refers to the three stages of spiritual fulfillment.
The stretched canvas is textured with mulberry bark paper and painted. The sides are painted to match the front of the canvas and it is signed and dated on the side.
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8” x 8” x 1.5”
Acrylic, cloth, papers, and threads on canvas.
Kaddish 3 was created because I wondered what the end result would be if I cut lines (for text) in the center of a square piece of cloth. The goal was to have the strips of text from the two sides come together near the middle, organically forming a pattern with one another. The dark background behind them helps to show off how the strips of text come out from the painting’s surface.
The sides of the canvas are painted to match the rest of the background of the painting. The signature and date appear on the side.
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8” x 8” x 1.5”
Acrylic, cloth, papers, and threads on canvas.
Hakarat Hatov is a Hebrew word for gratitude. It refers to “recognizing the good.” The painting has been created with layers of cloth and a window with an open flap, showing the words: Thankful Thankful Thankful. The text found on the painting includes: Hakarat Hatov in Hebrew and it’s transliteration, and the following two phrases in English…
recognizing the good in life
to be thankful for what you have
The canvas surface is covered with a textured and decorated art paper on the front and sides. The painting has been signed and dated on the left side.
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20” x 20” x 1.5”
Original acrylic mixed media painting on canvas
Love and Compassion is a mixed media painting in a series of “Text-tures.” I chose to feature Om Mani Padme Hum, a Tibetan mantra, in Sanskrit and the English transliteration. Although the mantra is rich with meaning, I have chosen to highlight its reference to love and compassion, which we could always use more of in our world.
Each of the 15 painted pieces of canvas cloth are sewn onto the background canvas along the top. Much of the text can be found on the thin strips of cloth woven in and out of those hanging squares. And the final element is the small “prayer pocket,” a folded and painted piece of, canvas.
The gallery wrapped canvas is painted on the sides as in the front. The painting is signed and dated on the side.
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12” x 12” x ¾”
Original mixed media painting on canvas
Om Sarvesham Swastir Bhavatu was inspired by a YouTube video I came across of Tina Turner chanting this Peace Mantra with a group of children. Their interpretation was so beautiful I immediately decided to create a painting featuring the mantra.
The attached book is sewn in place above three canvas cloth panels hanging from a twig. The following words are repeated on two of the hanging strips of canvas cloth (on the right and the left). They represent the mantra's meaning.
"May there be happiness in all
May there be peace in all
May there be completeness in all
May there be success in all"
The center panel displays the text in Sanskrit. Both the Sanskrit and the English transliteration can be found on the open book. The background canvas is textured and painted. The sides are painted to match the rest of the canvas and the signature and date can be found on the side.
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12” x 12” x 1.5”
Acrylic, cloth, papers, and threads on canvas.
Schehecheyanu is a prayer of thanksgiving… one that is recited at new and special occasions, at the beginning of holidays and when experiencing firsts… first time events or firsts of this year. The Hebrew text appears on the layers of cloth found above. There are three books down below sewn onto the canvas surface, each one is created with 3 layers of cloth and simple words of appreciation on each: Gratitude for new experiences, Thanks for special occasions, Appreciate the moment.
The sides of the canvas painted to match the rest of the canvas background. The signature and date appear on the side.
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8” x 8” x 1.5”
Acrylic, cloth, papers, and threads on canvas.
Modim is one of the prayers in the Amidah and is a prayer of thanks. Modim #1 is a simply designed painting with 5 strips of cloth displaying words of the prayer in Hebrew. The top half of each strip is attached with stitching to the background. Leaving the bottom half able to hang free and raise slightly out from the surface of the painting. Behind the strips is a square piece of cloth that’s been decorated with textured paper and paint.
And the canvas surface is covered with a textured and fiber filled paper on the front and sides. The painting has been signed and dated on the left side.
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18” x 18” x ¾”
Original mixed media painting on canvas with a simple wooden frame.
Pater Noster (Our Father) is the third completed painting in the “Transcriptions Series.” I was awakened in the middle of the night with images of two paintings begging to be created. This was one of them. I chose the Lord’s Prayer as the focus after coming across a site sharing hundreds of translations for that prayer. With printouts of 20 of those languages in hand, I began to choose the layout for the painting. I ended up using 8. Pater Noster is "our father" in Latin and Avinu is the translation in Hebrew.
The background is textured and the handmade book is sewn onto the stretched canvas. The sides are painted to match the painting and it is signed and dated on the side of the canvas.
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This series straddles the past and the present... with one foot in our collective history. The paintings become a vehicle for carrying the past forward into the present.
18” x 24” x ¾”
Original mixed media painting on canvas
Phoenician Shalom features two prayers for peace but with a twist. I translated the prayers into the written language of the ancient Phoenicians.
The painting was inspired by an image of The Copper Scroll which was found along with the Dead Sea Scrolls. When the scroll was unearthed, it could not be unraveled without being destroyed. So instead, they sliced the sides, cutting strips that could be laid out and read. The painting’s 5 canvas cloth strips represent an ancient deconstructed scroll, painted to resemble tarnished copper.
The strips are sewn onto a textured and painted stretched canvas with the sides painted to match the overall painting. It is signed and dated on the side of the canvas.
I really got a kick out of working with a language that is no longer used and rarely ever seen. Did you know that most of our modern alphabets have their roots in the ancient Phoenician language? The alphabet developed widespread use because of the extensive maritime trade of the times.
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30" x 40" x 3/4”
Original mixed media painting on canvas
Om Sarvesham Swastir Bhavatu is the largest canvas I have painted in a number of years. I had fallen in love with this mantra after seeing a YouTube video of Tina Turner performing this chant. It is referred to as the Peace Mantra.
The two large panels of canvas cloth were painted and attached to the textured and painted stretched canvas. Then the book was sewn in place. The mantra appears across the back canvas in Sanskrit and the English translation is hand written across the painted cloth panels as follows:
"May there be happiness in all
May there be peace in all
May there be completeness in all
May there be success in all"
The sides are painted to match the rest of the canvas and the signature and date can be found on the side.
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24" x 24" x 1.5”
Original mixed media painting on canvas
Prayer Book: Although this is number 24 in the series, it actually was the first painting and the inspiration for what has become the Transcriptions Series. Several years before I began the Transcriptions, I had an idea for a new series which would include books on canvas.
I painted a first layer of color on this 24" x 24" canvas and got as far as sewing the painted book onto the painting. It hung incomplete in the studio for years, waiting for me to return to it.
Finally, after completing 23 Transcriptions, I was able to continue developing this canvas. I ended up placing pieces of each of the prayers and mantras used in all the prior paintings within the book and around the canvas. I also scattered the letters of the Ancient Phoenician alphabet throughout the surface, in pencil.
After adding many layers of paint, it was finally complete. The gallery wrapped sides are painted to match the rest of the canvas and it is signed and dated on the side.