Palm Pod, 2009, pastel on black paper, 19 x 26 inches

Recently while on location finishing up a pastel landscape of a modernist apartment building in Santa Monica, I saw this fallen palm pod on the sidewalk. I promptly picked it up and took it to my studio. The combination of the colors, and textures of the inner and outer parts impressed me. While setting up for the drawing it I couldn't help but think of Georgia O'Keeffe's erotic vaginal flowers. I discuss her and others' use of erotic symbolism here: http://newberryworkshop.com/Tutorial/erotic/erotic.html  

From the start I was excited by the beautiful gray, sliver, peach, and purple color of the flesh of the outer pod, it had an effect of being subtlety being dusted with a very fine powder. I also found the little tuffs strands fascinating. What was amazing was the stunning contrast of the outer shell with the glistening coral-colored inner skin, and how light played on the rhythmic folds.

I composed the pod on the diagonal, to intensify the drama. Though in a way it seems like a very simple piece there are quite a few layers and depths to it.