Pazhu is Tibetan for small child (little piglet) and is used as a term of endearment. The Tibetan people are very attuned to nature and their environment. The strong color of red on the distant mountain expresses the strength that is within life and the power of nature itself. Yu Xiadong--The Sisters of Jokul The elder sister is Gong Cuo which in Tibetan means lake. There is high respect for these words because they represent the name of God. The beauty of Gong Cuo radiates purity and the younger sister is overflowing with innocence.

The elder sister is Gong Cuo which in Tibetan means lake. There is high respect for these words because they represent the name of God. The beauty of Gong Cuo radiates purity and the younger sister is overflowing with innocence.

In Tibet in early spring, you cannot see the green grass. The high altitude and harsh climate prohibits any growth but this young girl is dressed in fresh green to honor the color of spring. Her shy face is the smile of early spring just beginning to blossom.

I was very anxious to express the intelligence and open mind of this young shaman. He is 9 years old, the elder brother of "The Sisters of Jokul." He is intelligent and very kind. The temple in the background is where he was inspired to become a Shaman.

This young man comes from Northern Tibet. In Buddhism, the morning sun actually is the light of God. I have tried to express the light of God within his heart.

Qu County Shi Qu County is in eastern Tibet. The people who live there are tall and strong. Zhuo Ma is the goddess of love in the Tibetan language. She looks like a man, strong and healthy. Absent is the soft beauty of a young maiden in her face.

DaZhao Temple is the oldest and most famous Temple in Tibet. It was built over 1300 years ago when the Buddhist migrated from India. The reason for its fame is because it holds, within its doors, a sculpture of the highest incarnation of Buddha in a life-size form when he was only 12 years old. This temple is a spiritual pilgrimage for the people of Tibet and the woman within the painting is on her journey to pay homage to Buddha. She is peaceful and quiet, full of spiritual awareness and contentment.

This mother and her son live in the Tibetan highland, a traditional grazing area for yak. Their bodies are strong, their inner energy tough as sinew. She is like a mountain and the strength of the land is within her heart and soul. Her very strong and powerful hand tenderly cradles her son.

Two women are working, using the traditional way of making cakes. I lived for two weeks in the home of these Tibetan women. They are devout Buddhist and are very kind. Only in Tibet is their hard work and the traditions of their culture honored. The people use their hands to work. I have honored them with the use of my own hands while creating this painting.

SangYe Temple is one of the oldest temples in Tibet and the first temple to be constructed using the sacred symbol of Buddha, the Lotus Throne. The word journey translates into Buddha in Chinese. It is a sacred word and spoken with reverence. SangYe Temple translates into the Tibetan word for heaven. These pilgrims are on a spiritual journey across the river where the Tibetan monks will help them to attain Nirvana.

Tibetan children have  a healthy body and happy mind naturelly. Within the painting these two sheepgirls are playing happily, the game is to hold another on the back then to see how far she can run?  It was deep fall season, full of golden color, the mountain and sheep were watching these two happy girls.

 The grandparent and grandchild in the picture are from YuShu ZangQu of QingHai province. I met them in the winter of 2002 in LaSa.They were come to LaSa to go on a pilgrimage,and they are richer than the others,they stayed in a Tibet  style hostel. The girl is beautiful and her grandma makes a pet of her. The grandma is genial, there are some content and happy on her face. Since more than 1300 years, Buddhism believed turned the Tibet common people's daily life way, a child birth, then was the natural Buddhist, The grandparent and grandchild two people compose the picture, the significance in the performance mercy, good Buddhism tradition generation of hands down, grows continually.In the picture on their back there is the "HaDa" hangs on the wall, the "HaDa" is the silk-weaving, general many is the white, the symbol is propitious.The Tibet common people live the activity which worships Buddha, makes sacrifices to a god, Salutes , Asks, Delivers and Marries all to have to offer the "HaDa". But in the picture yellow HaDa is only can specially give to the Buddha. The yellow HaDa also frequently hangs on the temporary residence wall, is symbolizing the letter audiences.

 This family comes from Shi-Qu County in the eastern part of Tibet. I met them at Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, and spent a month with them. Within this painting there are three generations, a total of 11 people, 4 of who I show in other individual portraits. They are "Zhuo Ma of Shi-Qu County", "Pazhu Sunset", "In Front of the DaZhao Temple", and " The Young Shaman ". In the winter in Lhasa, we can see people from everywhere in Tibet. There are families together; and sometimes along the way, a baby has just been born. All the Tibetans are Buddhist and don't have sad feeling about the harshness of life. In it, they only see the happiness of nature. This is a beautiful family, a strong man, a beautiful woman, and healthy, happy children. In the background, you can see the brightness of the Tibetan highlands. This painting took six months to finish. During this period I fell in love with them and with the soul of theTibetans. Through painting them, I sometimes felt that I was painting myself. I felt I was somehow doing work on my soul, just like a Buddha. I can almost feel their breath and hear their voice inside this painting!

is the name of women in Tibetan, it means "blessedness". Xiao Deji is a girl in a big family that has come to LaSa to go on a pilgrimage, they are from Jiang-Da County of the east of Tibet. Xiao Deji is very shy, she does not like smiling very much. I have seen solemn and quiet beauty in the look of this girl, and I have realized her people's dignity. I have gone through and revised repeatedly where the face is portrayed, that is a very arduous course, the tip of my paint brush is joined to my nerves,seeking to show her soul, catching her spiritual essence. The painting shows the atmosphere at dusk, I have chosen the reddish brown strong tones with the purpose of displaying the strength of this little girl.