The mascot of the University of Missouri in Columbia is a tiger. It intrigued me that the students do a lot to raise awareness about the endangered status of their beloved mascot and to raise funds to aid wild tiger populations. I decided to create a series of 8 paintings of tigers over a period of one year called Cry of the Tigers. I sincerely hope that with my paintings I can show the tenderness of these majestic big cats and the vulnerability of these beautiful endangered animals. A portion of the income from my paintings funds my continued support of wildlife conservation I painted "Mother's Nature" with short thick strokes. My purpose was to capture the essence of a mother's nature, her unconditional love and dedication, and the bond between a mother and a child. I lost my father when I was only 22 and my mother passed away 2 months ago on August 20, 2007. I will always remember his support. He encouraged me to study with artist Luigi Pinedo. My mother was the nurturer. She made me feel very loved and special these past years. Although I miss them both very much I feel blessed to have experienced those wonderful years in their company. Luigi Pinedo also passed away this year in April. He will be remembered for encouraging me to find my own style and medium. This series is a tribute to my parents Theo Kerger and Fanny Kerger and also to Luigi Pinedo, Mother’s nature is the first painting of this series.