Pookah and the Maiden, 2021

9" x 12" Watercolor on Paper; unframed.

Pookah and the Maiden draws from folkloric tension, pairing an otherworldly, plant-like creature with a serene yet distant human figure. The maiden’s calm detachment contrasts with the creature’s gnarled, watchful presence, creating an atmosphere of uneasy intimacy. Rather than depicting threat or seduction outright, the painting lingers in ambiguity, suggesting a moment of encounter where innocence, curiosity, and ancient nature briefly intersect. It reflects the old folk understanding that the boundary between the human and the uncanny is thin—and often crossed without spectacle.

Daily Painting #77; March 23, 2021.