Jaguar Spirit

In Mesoamerican and South American folklore, the jaguar lends its bearer the power to face their fears. On a recent trip to the Oakland Zoo, I encountered this majestic jaguar, body turned, ready to take a nap. This sleeping giant resembled my quiet calico and social Maine coon cats at nap time. I was inspired by the spirit of its form and their potential ferocity temporarily laid to rest.

Like the artisans of the caves at Lascaux and Altamira, I was inspired to paint this animal’s spirit to harness its powers. But rather than hunting the prey through painting, I hoped to tap into the power and and courage native to this creature.