Over Spring Break, with the help of some neighbor Artists, we planted Elephant Ear bulbs in our backyard. I grew up with this cheerful foliage and have been wanting to try it in my own home.

After a month of me looking daily for signs of life, the first bulb made herself known!

Becoming connected to the garden, through gardening, has become a life-giving hobby. It’s the place I can best pay attention, tune in, and tune out.

Since creating a custom canvas for my last work, Validation is for Parking, I’ve been curious to try my hand and saw at some non-linear shapes - this time - an Elephant Ear leaf. Their name clearly solidifying them as a symbol of listening.

The Elephant Ear leaves, now two months since we planted our bulbs.

I cut the wood to mimic the largest of our leaves.

I noticed how the lines in the Elephant Ears had both linear structure and fluidity. I chose to paint one side of the wood leaf with straight lines to symbolize our left brain, and the other with flowing lines to mimic our right brain. Choosing a creative life for me, is a continuous push to listen to and unite the left and right brains.

Next, the moment my soul leapt into the stratosphere! The playful joy-filled fun of tracing and cutting a banana out of wood.

I don’t think I’ve ever paid this much attention to a banana - picking out all its shades to paint on my wood-cut version. There’s something funny to me about the symbolism of a banana one day away from being ripe.* A lesson in patience. Sweetness on its way.

*I ate the actual banana the next day. It was perfect.

Next, crafting my assemblage to combine the three steps

#1: Pay Attention to Details (eye)
#2: Listen to your Curiosities (elephant ear)
#3: Play (banana)

Pouring resin… the delightfully complimentary contrast of wood and shine.

Similarly, the feminine-leaning representation of the eye, contrasted with the masculine-evoking nature of the banana - a key element of being an artist - uniting contrasting but complimentary identities, and sides of our brain.

Reflecting light from the windows, a joyfully-placed reminder while making my morning tea to pay attention, listen and play