A Matter of Beauty

A Shona Creation Myth:

When God created the world, the Baobab was one of the first plants upon the African continent. It was a beautiful tree, and beloved of God, and as such it became very vocal of its opinions, and naughty in its words. After the Baobab repeatedly insulted the Zebra, Hyena, Stork, and other creatures, the creator could not take it any longer. Losing his temper, he tore the Baobab from the ground and drove it top-first into the soil, upside-down. And so the Baobab stands to this day with its root-like branches spread to the sky, and its naughty mouth under the soil where it can no longer insult others.

Stephanie Law's work follows in the tradition of the mythic arts. She is based in Oakland, CA. Her paintings explores a surreal otherworld, and the manifestations of desire and archetype when seen with a shifted perception. Much of her inspiration stems from mythology and folklore, mingled with the movement of dance, and the chaos of Nature's wild growth. She has authored and illustrated 4 books ("Dreamscapes", through North Light Books), a series on watercolor technique within a fantastical framework, and she is also the author and illustrator of the Shadowscapes Tarot (2009, Llewellyn Worldwide).