Web of Life is an ongoing series in ink and acrylic that explores ecology and wildlife with a focus on the American Southwest. The stories of specific species and their relationships within ecosystems are brought onto toned tan paper. Through this series, I hope to inspire others to learn more about their surrounding environment. Select pieces have been shared at Thumbprint Gallery, Borrego Art Institute, Culture Brewing, Vervor Shop, BeFree Gallery, San Diego Public Library and Native West Nursery in San Diego as well as LUN + OJO Gallery in Taos, New Mexico.
Fox and the Owl - Depicted are the California spotted owl and Sierra Nevada red fox (recently listed as an endangered species), accompanied by native succulents and Datura flowers. The sacred Datura has been revered by cultures around the world for centuries for its toxic but hallucinogenic properties. The Chumash are among the American Indian tribes that use the plant for ceremonial and medicinal purposes, often using it to establish contact with dream helpers or spirits of the dead.
Tree of Life - Pictured are different kinds of fungi - turkey tails help decompose dead wood. Mycelium - supports immune system function and psilocybin mushroom can be an effective treatment for mental health issues and much more. Snails eat rotting vegetation & also fungi. Their shells provide essential calcium to predators, from lizards to birds. Also pictured are moths, hummingbirds & the scarab beetle - pollinators
Cholla Rattlesnake - The desert life forms depicted here are the diamondback rattlesnake, cholla cactus and creosote. Rattlesnakes shed their skin while growing; shown here with the skeleton of a cholla cactus. creosote, one of the most common plants in California’s deserts, has a variety of medicinal purposes including the treatment of rattlesnake bites. It possesses cytoprotective properties that suppress the toxicity of snake venom.
The Quail - The California state bird (quail), state flower (golden poppy), state insect (dogface butterfly), native flowers, and poison oak leaves. Poison oak serves as habitat for many birds including quail, as well as a source of food in winter.
Sea Circle - Different sea life intertwines in a circular shape alluding to the web of life - the interdependence of different plants and marine animals. If just one species in an ecosystem goes extinct, the entire life system is threatened.
The Jackrabbit - A jackrabbit stands among sacred Datura flowers, also known as devil’s trumpets. Datura is one of a handful of poisonous flowering plants within the nightshade family. California poppies, the official state flower, are depicted below.
