Kali-Prakriti

14x20: Graphite: 1996
Original: In the collection of Todd and Rita Lockwood ©Todd Lockwood

When I first drew this image, I considered that I had taken Kali back to her kinder, gentler roots, making more of a traditional Earth Goddess image in the end. After correspondence with scholars of Hinduism, I realize that there is a better name for this universal goddess, who gives rise to creation, and of whom Kali is but one aspect. That name is Prakriti. I was told that Kali wouldn't mind being associated with that from whom she was drawn--and that was my original intention, after all--so the title of this painting has changed from Kali to Kali-Prakriti.