Virgin de Guadalupe

I am currently working on a December show of our Lady of the Guadalupe: This will be a group show and I am asked to provide 2-3 pieces. The definition for those who are not clear of the definition of the Virgin is from the Wikapedia :

Our Lady of Guadalupe (Spanish: Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe) is a celebrated 16th-century icon of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ. The image, also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe (Spanish: Virgen de Guadalupe) represents a famous Marian apparition. According to the traditional account, the image appeared miraculously on the front of a simple peasant's cloak. The image still exists; it is on display in the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City. It is perhaps Mexico's most popular religious and cultural image, and the focus of an extensive pilgrimage. The feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe is December 12. She is said to have appeared to Saint Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac near Mexico City between December 9 and December 12, 1531.

I am been fascinated by the Virgin since reading a book while living in Florence Italy. I don't remember much about it other than it was called "Cult of the Virgin Mary". The idea behind it was why is Jesus worhiped when he came from Mary ? Why not worship the tree kind of idea. Since then I have read as much as possible about the dark Virgin. This is a very important project to work on and the Virgin has come to me so many times in my dreams. I have painted her often on the back of an Elephant, the back of a dove of peace and this painting is " She Is Watching Over Us" as our guardian.. My next piece she will BE the rose and her face as the center. These paintings will be displayed at El Sol Studios Art Gallery in San Antonio first Friday in December...known as the "Artwalk" of San Antonio.