Los Cielos Series "Full Moon in Daylight" 5x7 feet, Oil on Canvas, 2000 Many viewers have seen the medallion in the center of this canvas as Coyolxauhqui reborn. The figure was actually taken from a Maillol drawing. I have studied the figure drawings of Picasso, Maillol, Titian, and many others to find images to use in the Los Cielos Series. I completed several 'skyscapes' without the figure to learn 'how to paint the sky' before including the figure in the paintings. In this particular painting the figure is perfectly balanced and at ease in a small round space. She is calm and thoughtful. The clouds appear unfocused as if floating. The medallion of the moon is static, thus calling on the viewer to 'stand still' for a moment in the ever changing world we live in. I always spend several weeks drawing the figure on the canvas before applying paint. The figure must be perfectly proportioned and beautiful. This is the way I see 'woman,' the way I hope to see myself and the way in which all women should see themselves. The viewer generally states something like, "She is so very beautiful, I wish I would love to see myself as beautiful as she." Men also respond to the painting by speaking of the feminine aspects of intuition and generosity. I have even experienced a male viewer who spoke of this figure while speaking of his love for his companion.