Michael Newberry, Palm Pod, 2009, pastel on black paper, 19 x 26 inches

Recently while on location finishing up a pastel landscape of a modernist apartment building in Santa Monica, I picked up this fallen palm pod and took it to my studio. The combination of the colors, and textures of the inner and outer parts impressed me. While setting up for the drawing it I couldn't help but think of Georgia O'Keeffe's erotic vaginal flowers. I discuss her and others' use of erotic symbolism here: http://newberryworkshop.com/Tutorial/erotic/erotic.html

Michael Newberry