Art and Nature: Fresco

Fresco with Dolphins

One of the oldest known forms of painting in the world is the fresco.  Ancient Egyptians painted frescos on the walls of their tombs, while the Minoans of Crete had them in their palaces.  And later the Romans painted frescos depicting scenes of daily life in their homes.  During the Renaissance, fresco painting became regarded as the “Mother of All Arts”.  Continuing in the 20^th Century, various Mexican muralists painted frescos that commented on political and social issues in their country.

There are three different techniques for painting a fresco.  The traditional technique is buon fresco.  The paint is mixed with water that sinks into the layer of wet plaster.  No fixative is needed since the paint and plaster merges together as one surface.  

A secco is painting tempera or watercolor on dry plaster.  Since the paint lies on top of the plaster, a binding medium such egg, glue, or oil is necessary.  A secco is often used to paint over a fresco to either to make changes or to add blue paint.  (This color does not usually show up in frescos done by buon fresco.)  A secco is usually done on rough surfaces whilst buon fresco is done on smooth ones.

Mezzo-fresco is the third technique is used to paint a fresco.  In this method, the artist paints on nearly dry plaster.  The paint penetrates the plaster, but does not mix entirely with it.  In creating his frescos, Michelangelo used this method.

Painting a fresco had to be done quickly and carefully.  This meant that an artist needed strong organizational skills as well as a clear concept of the painting itself.  Since the wet plaster dries quickly, the artist has to finish within eight hours.  To correct any mistakes, the painter had to scrape off the plaster, and start over in the affected area.  A secco was a popular method to correct any minor problems.

One notable example of the enduring qualities of frescos is the “Fresco with Dolphins” (1500 – 1450 BCE) in the Queen’s Room at the Palace of Knossos; this fresco is typical of Minoan art.  It represents the Minoan aesthetics of beauty and art, which includes nature and sea life.  Bright blue and yellow, the fresco depicts dolphins frolicking amongst fish and sea urchins.  Even today, this fresco still delights people with its subject matter and brightness of colors.

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Anossov, iLia, “Fresco Techniques in Painting”, Fresco-techniques.com, http://www.fresco-techniques.com/index.html, 2005,

Boddy-Evans Marion, “All About Painting”, About.com, http://painting.about.com/,

Essak, Shelley, “All About Art History”, About.com, http://arthistory.about.com/,

---, “Guide to Art History”, ArtHistory.net, 2009, http://www.arthistory.net/,

Janson, H.W. and Dora Jane Janson, “The Story of Painting”, Harry N Abrams: New York, 1966.

Roberts, J.M., “Prehistory and the First Civilizations”, The Illustrated History of the World: Vol. 1, Time-Life Books: Alexandria (VA), 1998.

Dolphins and Crystals

A major part of receiving healing from nature is the Rock People. Ancient people knew of the power of rocks. At places of power, they created megaliths such as Stonehenge. Among the Animal People, Plant People, and Rock People, the strongest is the power of the Rock People. The spirits of the rocks will aid people. But they need to be asked first from those who respect them.

Brought forth from the center of Mother Earth, rocks reunite people with Her. Rocks do not tell lies. They strike at the heart of the matter, and lay open the truth. Rocks pierce the fog and reveal the hidden reality. Among the energies of the universe, rock energy is the strongest and hardest to use.



Dolphins know how to use this raw energy. To travel the seas, they use echolocation and sonar. Sending vibrations in the water, Dolphins can sense objects without ever seeing them. The budge on their heads is called the melon. This organ helps the dolphins to navigate in murky waters.

Dolphins are the intermediaries for the rocks. Dolphin energy is softer and easier to hold. Since people respond well to dolphins, they can connect people to the power of the rocks. Dolphins can translate and focus the rock’s power quite easily. Among the healing modalities, those who heal with rocks are few. With the dolphins’ intervention, more people can heal using the rocks.

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Copyright: Virginia Carper 2009

The Pink Dolphins of the Amazon

Amazon River Dolphin / Boto : Living As One

Shocking pink with small grey eyes, Boto both surprises and enchants people. Unlike his Ocean-going Cousins, He navigates the world of the Amazon River Basin. With grace and ease, Boto swims over submerged logs and flooded tree tops. So flexible is his body, that He can touch his nose to his tail. Like the mysterious and strange world of the Amazon, Boto Himself is an enigma. For example, He sleeps upside down like a dead Goldfish.

“Encantado” is what the local people call Him. Since they share the Amazon with Boto, the local people are mystically tied to Him. Below the murky waters lies an enchanted world ruled by Boto. Because of his magic, they tell strangers: “Be Care with those Pink Dolphins!” (“Cuidado como boto”) for Boto can steal you away to his world.

This ancient River Whale uses his bendy body to swim over and under submerged trees. Through the murky depths, He steers with his long flippers . During the dry season, Boto walks on land with them from one water hole to another. Within the gristle of his flippers, you can still see the “fingers” of his former legs.

As the Amazon changes, so does Boto. His life is tied to this great river which in turn is tied to humanity. We live as a whole - Boto, the Amazon, and Humans. When the rainforest disappears, so will Boto and a piece of ourselves. We will lose the ability to be enchanted and surprised. We all live as one entity.

Amazon River Dolphin / Boto’s Teaching Include:

“The people here have a belief about the bufeo Colorado. They live in our world, but they also live beneath the water in a more beautiful world. We call it the Encante. The bufeo is boss of this magical world. And the bufeo has many magical powers.” - Juan Huanakiri of the Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Community

Amazon River Dolphin / Boto’s Wisdom Includes:

Being enchanted
How to be Shocking and Endearing
At One with Nature

Science Notes: Boto is also called: Pink Dolphin, Bufeo Colorado, and Boutu Vermelho
Boto (Inia geoffrensis) is not the same as Tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatlis), the Grey Dolphin which also inhabits the river basin and the coast.

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Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2008

From Universal Class, fun self-paced classes taught by me:

Finding Your Animal Teachers

Animals For Everyone: Mammals

Dolphin Statue at Shell Station in Springfield, VA (3)

This is the third installment in the saga on the Dolphin Statue at the gas station.

This dolphin was purchased as part of "A Dolphin's Promise" Project sponsored by Virginia Beach (VA, USA), "Our dolphins, our city, our promise" for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and for the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program. As the city officials state, "Every time a Dolphin is spotted in Virginia Beach it will be a symbol of our commitment to help find a cure and our promise to help those battling with cancer."

As their website states:

"A Dolphin’s Promise is a non-profit organization working in partnership with the city of Virginia Beach. Our goal is to bring hundreds of life size sculptures of dolphins to the shores and neighborhoods of our beautiful city. This is a project with a very important purpose; to raise one million dollars for cancer research and to help save and protect marine life. "

Visit them at A DOLPHIN'S PROMISE: http://www.adolphinspromise.com/index.htm

Dolphin and people

Recently a local gas station put up a beautiful statue of a leaping dolphin in from of their building. The dolphin sits next to a busy intersection. Imagine a gas station thinking that dolphins will make people feel good about them! Well, everytime I pass by the Shell station, I feel a smile coming on.

Here is a writing on dolphins.

Dolphin’s qualities are life force energy, manna, inner child and Universal Consciousness.

(Copyright: unknown)

Dolphin medicine people have a strong life force energy within them. They have a loving and tender nature. Within their soul is a young, vibrant and alive child. They love to live near, and connect to the seas and oceans. Other animals connect with these people. They treat all life forms with love, gentleness and compassion. All life is sacred in their eyes. These people are connected to the universal awareness. They have strong psychic gifts and an ability to communicate love and compassion through their eyes. They breathe in the energy of air, and allow this energy to flow through their being. They are people who believe that love can cure all. They are attracted to the ancient arts of yoga and meditation. They understand the workings of our spiritual energy centers. They live their lives through their feeling centers. When a Dolphin medicine person walks into a room, you are filled with love and compassion. As you breathe in their presence you are filled with compassion, hope and gentleness of spirit.

When reversed, Dolphin people have become quite hurt and fearful. They have held their breath and as such, have closed down their ability to love and express themselves. They are denying their inner child access to their outer life. They have become old and set in their ways. They have become stressed out and are causing themselves sickness and emotional trauma. They are refusing to listen to the signals that Mother Earth is sending to them. They have forgotten how to play and enjoy the wonders of life.

Release your breath and remove the fear that is invading you today. Use your breath to remove the negative emotions that are eating away at you. Connect to your inner child.

When Dolphin is your protector and guide, he is calling to you to awaken your love of life. He is telling you to heal your childhood traumas and become playful. Dolphin teaches you the art of release. By breathing in his energy, you release sickness, stress and fear. Become open to your connection to Mother Earth and Great Spirit. Use your qualities of love and compassion to help others heal.

Call on Dolphin to aid you in your healing. His love and compassion will guide you to happiness and fulfilment. Dolphin will teach you the sacred ways of breath. He will show you how to release the old and bring new life force energy into your being.

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For those who want a deeper connection with the dolphins, check out my Gifts From the Dolphins! http://funkman.org/animal/services/dolphingifts.html