B. J. Posner, a reader and follower of Maria’s blog and art send her this print of a painting by Martha’s Vineyard Artist Omar Rayyan, who specializes in an old-world aesthetic toward painting.
It touched me right away.
According to Ryan’s beautiful website, he looks to the past for inspiration and guidance from the great oil painters of the Northern Renaissance and the Romantic and Symbolist painters of the 19th century.
The image made me think of Maria, who loved snails from the moment I brought some home. Her love and care for them touched me and taught me much about love and the love of nature, all things large and small.
I would never have imagined the notion of a snail shepherdess if not for Maria.
She visits her snails every day, talks to them, watches them, loves them.
The image is called “Snail Shepherdess” and is in Rayyan’s 2019 Calender.
Maria is a shepherdess for snails, plants, sheep, and cats. The painting captured her spirit and spirituality. I hope to have it framed and squeeze it somewhere into my study.
Thanks so much for sharing, Jon. I had never heard of this guy. His use of colours and techniques and his subjects are out of this world!
I absolutely LOVE this picture! It’s beautiful and captures the affection between this girl and her snails. I raised my snail babies for years before they met a tragic death. It still hurts my hurt when I think about them. I connect to this fantastical piece art and the adoration shared amongst it’s subjects. Thank you for creating this Omar R!!!