We are born to fly 

Finding our wings is our journey

The winding paths of life can confuse one

Its purpose -

 to create more beauty in our wings

Once we discover the wisdom of life

We are not afraid of the towering heights

The richness of our life's experience 

helps us soar !

The Butterfly                                                                                 Oil on canvas

On a warm June day, I awoke to an orange sky full of smoke. The sun was blood orange red and I stood frozen looking out the window.

It looked like the end of the world. I turned on the news to discover that the Canadian forests were on fire and the smoke was moving into the United States. Living in New Jersey, I was astonished our sky would look so frightening. It made me pause thinking about the wildlife that was displaced . I went down into my studio and began to sketch what I was observing. My sketch turned into a watercolor. 

The reality of climate change was visceral. It is my hope that this painting will increase awareness of our emergency. Mother Nature is 

warning us all!

Helen Joy Ciraulo                                              Watercolor on Paper