Donna, the "military emblem" is my family coat of arms. The image of Mary draws my eye also, but the reality is even more attractive. Part of the aim in composition was to make that diagonal strong. The water in the painting and the waterfall makes a path between Mary and the book. Other lines lead the eye back around. The red didn't seem too strong to me, but that may be my focus on Mary.
Skunk, the book titles are, from left to right, "All Knowledge - for Know It Alls", "Some Poetry, A Little Beat", "How to Love" (the middle of the encyclopedia, H to L), "How to Speak Venusian - for Martians" and "Get Ye to a Punnery".
As for "spiritual" and "uncluttered", you all should see the view in the other direction. I'll have to do another one for balance. ~ PaulJSvBFCM
This really does tell a lot about you. --a spiritual man, lover of wife, love of nature etc. Of course, over the years- we here- have all learned to know you. Most interesting to me are the titles of the books you included. but I wish I could read the titles better, especially the one on "How to Speak------for Martians. great image.---skunk
very good composition of your feelings, I like the "solidness" of the tree with the military emblem embedded in the knot. only thing I would change is the "too bright red" around your wife's image, I can't help but keep drawing my eye to it,,,, OR tie the book title "How to Love" and her image together more so that both "go through" the image to meet ? don't know if that's how to say it, but hope your get my meaning,,,,, love the concept of it though
Amazing how you can fit a lifetime into one image, and still have it serene and uncluttered! I find I share a lot of your "self-elements". The over all feeling is one of acceptance and elemental integration. And it's good looking, too!
Almita the cybergranie
