As gravity-bound Earthlings we must endure many challenges. Let’s raise our arms (like wings!) up to the star-festooned heavens in a spirit of prayer and gratitude.

‘Transcend’ represents the ability that we humans have to rise up and move beyond trials and tribulations through cultivating hope. In this unprecedented time of climate emergency, hope married with positive action are key ingredients in helping us rise to the challenge of changing our ways to preserve life on Earth, rather than sinking into despondency and despair.

‘Transcend’ is the first of my coloured pencil drawings on watercolour paper in the series ‘Elementals’. These drawings are inspired by a stunning collection of tribal and sacred art that I had the good fortune to photograph for a private art collector recently. The forms and colours respond to the lovely natural materials used in many of the sculptural pieces: hand-carved wood, in-laid Mother of Pearl, feathers, ebony, natural ochre pigments and dried grasses.