People often ask how I became a visionary artist and creator of complex portraits which are "Portraits of the Sacred Self".

One day, I met Bernadine Stockwell, a holistic healer and psychic. Bernadine said to me, "Carol, when people tell about their dreams, you see VISIONS don't you?" I was surprised that she knew this this. For me, whenever someone tells their story, I do indeed "see" vivid images.

Bernadine then gave me some advice. She said, "you're such a great artist, I think you should paint "soul" portraits". I had never heard of "soul" portraits before, and she told me that they were portrait which capture something of person's inner essence.

This was intriguing to me, I had done commissioned portraits, however found traditional portraiture boring. I gradually developed my own process, and found that each person has a "story". I could capture essence of person using meditative, lucid dream state or simply have a client tell me their own stories of important elements of their life. I take notes of the discussions and to create the composition using my own intuitive abilities. I let the images flow. Although I have some vague idea about the content of the portrait in the beginning, the finished content is always somewhat of a surprise to me.

Q. Do clients always "like" their portraits?

In most cases, people are delighted with their portraits. I've even had clients cry with joy when they've seen their completed pictures. However, I remember doing a portrait of a woman's meditation in which she woman saw her "block". It manifested in an ugly wall. I asked her if she could imagine going over it, under it or around it. She saw herself digging under it. After a few minutes, spontaneously a white furry animal appeared. It was her power animal. Later, when I drew the complex images of her meditation, I sensed that she might not like elements of it. She told me that she had been severely depressed when she started the meditation, and after seeing her power animal was in an ecstatic euphoric state for 24 hours.

Upon seeing her portrait, she didn't know what to make of it and asked me to interpret the symbolism for her. I told her that she had focused only on darkness of her portrait (and her life), and that her portrait represented the smaller inner aspect of the yin/yang symbol. For her to access her greater creative self, she had to embrace the two elements, light and darkness as well as her "block" which seemed so overwhelming and yet was overcome by the power of her animal (symbol for spiritual energy).

Portraits often reflect the inner working of the soul. In one meditative session, my client started to sob spontaneously. He told me that he saw himself flying around the earth, and felt the pain of his people. Later the imagery changed. He saw himself deep within the earth in a cave. There was a fire burning in the cave and a native American elder told him, "do not let the pain harden your heart". When I completed this portrait, the WORDS that came to me were, "I feel the pain of my people. They are of many colors and faiths. They are ONE."

I have had clients cry with sadness and also cry with ecstacy. Most of all, the images which come from the inner world are surprises. One of my clients had studied American Indian shamanic practices and was sure that her images would be about American Indians. However, in her meditation was a world of fairy tales and healing waters. She even "saw" her daughter come with her on a magic carpet and play in the jungle with her own lion. Her portrait is delightful, full of child-like awe and wonder.

People often ask, "what if I can't meditate?" First of all, I believe that we all "meditate" when we are quiet, reflective and look inside for a moment. Sometimes these times of deep contemplation occur after a crisis, however I believe we also go into the meditative state when we are relaxed. . . such as walking along the beach, smelling the salt air and hearing the crash of the waves.

For long distance portraiture, I colllect information from written stories, phone interviews and personal photographs.

Recently, I received a commission from my 85 year old father-in-law and he sent me his important photos and images with a brief biography of the highlights. I decided to make a collage of bits and pieces of photos and memorabilia. . . for these are his sacred images. And often I find that the memories of a lifetime are associated in treasured photographs. Recently, I completed a sacred portrait of a woman who wanted to honor her Jewish background. I created a collage drawing images based upon old photos setting them into the points of the Star of David. These images represent the past and hopes for a bright future.

For me, the most important thing is to focus on the process of creation. Each portrait is created in a style that is reflective of that person's inner life. I allow myself to be composer of the kaleidoscopic images that make up a person's life attempting to capture the complexities and beauty of each person's journey.

Each portrait is unique. .. and like a snowflake reflects the beauty of the source of all creation.