Elemental 143 emerges as a mesmerizing aquatic meditation from the Elemental Series—a luminous square exploration of water's elemental essence where a naturally formed heart-shaped selenite crystal creates a profound focal point for contemplating the emotional dimensions of this most fluid and reflective element. This perfectly balanced composition invites viewers to dive into the oceanic depths of feeling, where clarity and mystery exist in perfect balance. [MORE]
12 × 12 × 1 in, Mixed Media, Weight: 3 pounds (1.36 kg), February 2025.
~PRIVATE COLLECTION
The foundation of this captivating piece begins with a meticulously prepared 12-inch square panel—its pristine surface creating a perfect window into an underwater world of emotion and movement. The square format creates a sense of stability and grounding that contrasts beautifully with the fluid, dynamic elements within the composition, suggesting how water’s flowing nature exists within the defined boundaries of shorelines, vessels, and even the human heart.
Against this foundation emerges a vibrant seascape of luminous Caribbean blue and turquoise mica inks that flow and blend with remarkable fluidity. These oceanic hues create a sense of depth and movement throughout the composition—lighter areas suggesting sun-dappled surface waters while deeper blues evoke the mysterious abyss where light gradually diminishes. The metallic quality of these mica inks catches illumination with subtle brilliance, creating a dynamic surface that shifts and changes as viewing angles transform, much like the surface of water itself.
At the heart of this aquatic environment rises the piece’s remarkable focal point—a naturally occurring heart-shaped selenite crystal that emerges like a crystallized manifestation of water’s emotional essence. This exceptional mineral formation was not carved or shaped by human hands but discovered in its natural heart form—a rare find that speaks to the universal language of the heart embedded within Earth’s own creations. The translucent selenite catches and transforms light, creating internal refractions that seem to glow from within like sunlight penetrating clear waters.
The innovative use of liquid chrome creates the piece’s most dynamic and transformative element—areas that dramatically shift their appearance with changing light conditions. In subdued lighting, these regions appear as mysterious dark areas reminiscent of deep ocean trenches or underwater caves, creating dramatic contrast against the vibrant blues. When light strikes at the right angle, these same areas transform instantly, shimmering with metallic brilliance like sunlight dancing across water’s surface. This remarkable light-responsive quality creates an artwork that never appears exactly the same twice—a living piece that responds to environmental conditions much like water itself.
This interplay between materials and light ingeniously evokes the way sunlight penetrates ocean waters, creating ever-changing patterns of illumination and shadow as it refracts through depths and currents. The piece captures the essential duality of water—how it can be both transparent and reflective, revealing and concealing, depending on how light interacts with its surface and depths. This quality creates a visual meditation on the nature of perception itself—how what we see depends greatly on how we look and the conditions surrounding our observation.
The heart-shaped selenite serves as both physical centerpiece and symbolic core—representing the emotional heart of water’s elemental power and the way love reflects and refracts through our experiences like light through crystal and water. Selenite—often called “liquid light” for its translucent quality—has historically been associated with clarity, purity, and the moon’s connection to tides and emotional currents. In this heart formation, these properties create a powerful symbol of emotional clarity amidst the swirling currents of feeling.
At a substantial 12 × 12 inches with a 1-inch depth that creates commanding presence without excessive weight, this piece creates a perfect focal point for contemplative spaces, coastal homes, healing environments, or anywhere you seek to connect with water’s emotional resonance and transformative power. The 3-pound weight lends physical substance that mirrors the piece’s substantial visual impact.
Elemental 143 stands as a testament to the profound wisdom contained within water’s flowing nature and our eternal connection to this most essential element. It serves as both mirror and window—reflecting our own emotional depths while providing a glimpse into the sacred alchemy that transforms feeling into form, much as water shifts between solid, liquid, and vapor states. As light plays across its dynamic surface, discover new dimensions of this meditation on water’s elemental essence, finding within its depths a reminder of how our own emotional nature flows, reflects, and transforms in response to life’s ever-changing light.
