2019 - 36 x 48 original oil on canvas stretched on 1.5” deep stretchers (painted on the edges)

In 2003, Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, together with San Diego Zoo Global, airlifted 11 elephants from Swaziland, Africa, a small southern African country, where they faced being killed because “elephant overpopulation was destroying its habitat.” Four of those elephants arrived at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo and seven went to San Diego. Although three of the original four still reside in Tampa, the fourth, a bull named Msholo, relocated to San Diego Zoo Global on breeding loan in 2009. Originally born in South Africa (Kruger National Park), Msholo was recently sent to Zoo Atlanta (July 2019).

Msholo, a now 11,000 lb 30-year old male, served an important role within the Safari Park herd by providing a dominant male figure that helped teach and develop the male calves into well-behaved young bulls.

Illegal trafficking for ivory and human-wildlife conflict represent significant threats for African elephants. Tens of thousands of elephants are killed for the illegal ivory trade each year, and, appallingly, the U.S. remains one of the world’s largest importers of ivory.

2018 - 32 x 24 original oil on canvas stretched on 1.25” deep stretchers (painted on the edges)

Safari West in Santa Rosa houses several endangered species, two of which are 3 year old Nikki and her younger brother LaShawn. Giraffes are very protective of their young, even in safe protected spaces where there are no predators within several miles. Here LaShawn was very curious of our tour vehicle, but Nikki was clearly guiding him away from the human visitors.

12h 9w oil 2026

2017 - 68 x 68 original oil on canvas stretched on 1.25” deep stretchers (painted on the edges)

A juvenile humpback whale makes it's first breach and enjoys the sensation of a full-body splash after literally flying through the air.

2019 - 24 x 48 original oil on canvas stretched on 1.25” deep stretchers (painted on the edges)

Born around 1980 in Africa, Mara had a traumatic introduction to human conflict. At two years old she personally witnessed her mother and several of her siblings massacred in a cull. As a helpless baby without the necessary skills to care for herself, Mara was abducted, shipped to New York and sold to a private zoo in San Jose, CA. Violently trained by bullhook, she “entertained” visitors every day and was left in chains at night. The senseless abuse of such an intelligent animal turned enough heads to organize a “Friends of Mara” group who petitioned and fundraised her eventual release to a sanctuary in Florida. A suprising sale to a zoo was thwarted in 1990 by Performing Animal Wellfare Society co-founders Ed Stewart and the late Pat Derby, who purchased and transported Mara to their sanctuary in San Adreas, CA. Since that day, Mara has enjoyed the healthy lush hills of the PAWS sanctuary.

2019 - 32 x 24 original oil on canvas stretched on 1.25” deep stretchers (painted on the edges)

Gawa’s mother, Galana, is an ex-orphan rescued and raised by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya. The miracle that Gawa even exists is something of a testament to how well the elephant orphan herd are raised and reintegrated back in to the wild by Sheldrick’s team.

30” x 24” oil on canvas painting of white rhino from the animal sanctuary Safari West in Santa Rosa, CA

Wrig

48” x 24” oil on canvas painting of the Wrigley Builiding in Chicago

Digital photograph of a guitarist performing for the winged and beeked locals.

2019 - 36 x 24 digital photography.

The lines and harsh shadows on this marvel of industry tell the story of modernization juxtaposed on the pure natural cloud formation floating above it.