"Abyss" India ink and gold leaf pen on silk, 6'x3' 2011. This was a commissioned (bartered) for personal training at a gym in Manhattan Beach. My friend is also a surfer so when I asked her what inspired she said the ocean. This painting is symbolism of a necklace her grandmother, mother, and herself wear to unite three generations. So when I was looking through images of elephants, I came across beautiful images of elephants swimming in the ocean. I fell in love with the story of Rajan, the last living swimming elephant. He was born into captivity, trained to work very hard his whole life. It wasn't until a very wealthy person freed this elephant did he retire to paradise where he swims and plays. There's something so profound about an elephant that weighs tons to be light as a feather swimming in the ocean. The idea is that I could sink to bottom of the abyss in my mind yet feel light as feather coming up for air. I decided this would be a lil love piece for my friend. By using her sentimental elephant jewelry, I could use my imagination to help set these elephants free to swim in the abyss. This is one of a few pieces where I reject humanity for nature. I miss this painting but she's in her rightful home and hopefully well loved.