I grow and photograph Irises, and recently joined the Historic Iris Preservation Society to help me in keeping a journal on my Tall Bearded Iris. When I chose an icon for the artist listing here on this site, I chose a digital work from my mother's Iris garden. But my final decision for an entry in this FOTM Iris Show is a representational abstract, 'Linked'. It was an emotionally charged decision.

While alive, my maternal grandmother, Iris, was the matriarch for my family. It was only natural for the Iris flower to stand in as the family matriarch for my abstract. Each circle represents a family member, each block represents a hurdle or family division, and the flower cuts through the division to bridge the gap.    

Playing in the studio the entire time I painted this was a Dire Straits pop hit, 'Tunnel of Love'. And yes, I sometimes aspire to paint to more classical or timeless music, but one day this song came on the radio and the words had me so steeped in nostalgia that I literally smelled the grease from carnival rides mixed with cotton candy and hay. A stab of memories of old club houses, and my sister, and an abrupt end to childhood make-believe games gripped me until I was grabbing a paint brush to save the memories.

Quotes from "Tunnel of Love" by Dire Straits

"...and the big wheel keeps on turning neon up above And Im high on the world.....

...and now Im searching through these carousels and the carnival arcades Searching everywhere from steeplechase to palisades ...... come on and rock away, rock away....

and girl it looks so pretty to me, just like it always did Like the spanish city to me, when we were kids..."