If you are a leo, you get the essence of this composition.

Large beastly roar with a loyal vulnerable core.

Mixed media artwork: Inks and acrylics.

40” x 54” Repurposed canvas.

This is a self-portrait. I am a Leo, who shares her birthday with

World Lion Day. I identify deeply with lions, their resilient regal

poise, their resonant roars that can be heard across the Serengeti

and felt in every cell, their fierce loyalty and affection for their

pride, and their communicative, expressive nature. I have had

many close encounters in the bush wild with lions, some vividly

frightening experiences but the two most magical moments were

1. locking eyes with a three year old male we had tagged, and

having him stare right back into the depths of my being. You see,

when you come upon a lion on foot during the day, you don’t run,

you stand your ground, lock eyes with the big cat and blink

consciously to establish that you are not a threat. 2. Being

surrounded by a pride on the prowl at night, and waking up in my

tent only to be inhaled in by a lioness through the tent fabric. I

spent that night breathing with the lion in order to reduce my fear

drenched pheromone output. Fortunately they ravenously

slaughtered two wildebeests right behind my tent, commotion

that I could not make sense of at 3 am, that were explained to me

when I woke up to the uplifting scent of herbivore carcasses.