Talisman T-Shirt

In my heart, I carry an image, like a talisman, of a dear friend, a high priestess and warrior of the indigenous world, crouching low to the ground in a native forest, arms held high like a hawk, chanting, chanting, chanting, as the skies above us begin to whirl. Fierce, loving, life affirming.

Raised at the sea and now living in the desert, Mateo doesn't live in a three-dimensional world but in a world of color, light, and movement. And in a world of sudden, unexpected shifts -- from lovely and tranquil to dangerously beautiful. Mateo begins his paintings by setting the mood, primarily through color, especially the foundation color. Brush stroke by brush stroke, by following the movement in the landscape, and by adding detail and texture, his canvases begin to breathe. Sometimes subtle and quiet, other times bold and even threatening, they seem to take on a life of their own. Always brimming with energy and feeling.