One in a series of paintings, “Spirit Animal I” captures the primal spirit of an animal, in this case the turtle. Here we experience the mystical interpretation of these primordial creatures, their vibrant, multi-hued bodies crowned by a fanciful and dramatic appendage atop the head. As they face the primeval waters before them, ready to plunge into the opaque depths, we see that they share the triumvirate universe of land, sea and air with a trio of flying fish. The fish ascend into the skies under the watchful eye of a veiled midnight moon, leaving behind the aquatic world that will soon envelope the turtles. In this imaginative painting we are witness to the cosmic rhythms of the planet, each element of the earth having its own distinctive spirit while at the same time forming an integral part of the whole.