Quan Yin

This painting is 18"x24" acrylic on canvas. Completed October, 2008. Modeled by Shawyuh Karen Wang. The painting does not look much like Karen. Karen is much thinner. For this I apologize to the model. I was going after a stylized, jolly, round, female Buddha look. Karen also posed for The Source, which is more flattering to her figure.

Karen was such a good sport and adventurous. She drove all the way from New Orleans to Silver Creek for the session. I took photos and we did some nude shots in my private woods. Delighted, Karen said, "I'm naked in the woods." If you have never been naked in the woods or skinny dipped, I suggest that you try it. It makes you feel free to occasionally break through boundaries. It expands your view of self.

Quan Yin is a Goddess of Compassion. The eastern equivalent of Mary Madonna. She is sitting on a lotus, which I painted with impasto gold petals. The impasto contrasts with the flat paint of the figure and background.

The overhead arch is also impasto gold and set with "jewels". I have worked, trying to make jewels out of paint for years. I use Golden interference paints, Golden mica flake paint and a little glitter. Layers of gloss medium give the faux jewel depth.