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Inspired by a trip to the island of Hawaii in 2008, where flowing lava can still be seen beneath the crust. Flowing water and tropical plants make Hawaii a 'paradise on earth.' The indigenous peoples revere their land and aspire to live in harmony with nature. Thus, in this painting, two Hawaiians are depicted inconspicuously, as part of the lush the foliage. What is not shown is the destructive impact on Hawaii's native species of plants and animals by modern real estate and commercial development. See photographer Sue Middleton's books "Remains of a Rainbow" and "Archipelago" that show the beauty of Hawaii and some of its rare and endangered species.

"My painting takes off from nature inspired by science, especially from cell biology and botany. While much art depicts the world at the human scale (landscapes, portraits, apples in a bowl) I often start with cell membranes, the inside of cells, the silk spigots of spiders, lichens — the world of the tiny. By depicting natural forms in an imagined, mythical world, my paintings reveal the human psyche and its capacity to go beneath the surface of things; to experience beauty and awe and even fear; to understand that we humans are connected to all the other creatures on earth and even to the cosmos. I enjoy observing and reading about nature, but I am not a scientific illustrator in the conventional sense. I do study my subject matter...