Paintings by Myrna Shoa

With all my creative projects I am interested in the stories we tell ourselves and how sharing stories with others can bring fresh insights.
In a time of our upside-down world I have been creating art with a renewed passion as my way of making sense of the world. Like a poem my paintings convey a range of concepts.

PAINTING, DRAWINGS MIXED MEDIA ART FROM LIFE AND IMAGINATION

Ishtar, Gilgamesh, Life, Death Transformation (C)

"I am more than ever in a story gathering time whether in painting , drawing or film," Myrna Shoa

Gilgamesh, Enkidu, Ishtar and Siguri, The Gilgamesh story described as an odyssey—the odyssey of a king who did not want to die. From his epic journey, Gilgamesh learns to accept the inevitability of death and finds meaning in his legacy and the appreciation of life's fleeting moments. He transforms from a tyrannical, impulsive king into a wiser ruler for his people. "It is a 4000-year-old epic poem which resonates with me as it speaks for all times. The imagery from this ancient tale provided me with the vehicle to tell a contemporary tale.
" Myrna Shoa. You can buy my stunning images as A4 prints mounted on 30X40 cm card.
All Ikea 30x40 cm frames fit them

Hazel Riley's Gift

Two days before my dear friend Hazel Riley passed she gave me a gift. This is a gift for all of us.
We were speaking about the Red Riding Hood story, which I couldn’t connect to. It had no meaning for me. We spoke about the wolf, in the story and what it means. In every version I’ve read the wolf is seen as bad, evil, male.Hazel surprised me, “I love the wolf in the story. I love wolves their wildness, their spirit Most people see the wolf as bad, the bad part of the story. I love the wolf”.
“You are like the wolf Hazel,” I replied. “ You have lived your life with wildness despite living with a major health condition since a young woman”. “I know that Myrna!”, she retorted. “Oops! sorry Hazel I needed reminding of it!”. Myrna

Hear the howl of the wolves, a life and death cry Let their wildness fuel your spirit, without fear. That is how we can all lead our lives.
The same day my friend Hazel Riley passed 2 other friends, partners for 50 years found out they both had life threatening illnesses at the same time.
I started these drawings the next day. I am a storyteller. The swirling blood red is the life force. Life pushes through the cracks as tiny plants grow in the spaces.

Hazel Riley November 26, 1953 - 19 September 2025, author, shamanic practitioner and teacher.

The Busy Man drawing is 'drawn from life' in that the image of the walled garden is based on the view from my window. The man is drawn from my life experience of this person. The walls close in on him.