Elemental Pia

During a yoga-pilates class, Pia struck this pose. I had her reproduce it in my studio, and painted her stretching meditatively. Next to her, I placed the Chinese characters for, from the top down, shui (water), Tu (earth), Huo (fire), and Mu (wood). I couldn’t help myself, I added a little yellow to the traditional blue and red to honor Pia’s Swedish heritage. The circles above the banner and behind her head represent eternity and the cycles of life and death. We are made from the simple elements and we will eventually return to them. Pia has come face to face with eternity several times. I hope this portrait celebrates the fact that she is still here with us.