presents for her

Peru's Bruno Ccopa paints this original portrait in a style reminiscent of the pop art movement. He works in acrylics on canvas to paint a woman in a dramatic palette of greys and black but for her eyelids and lips, which are highlighted in yellow. Stylized rose petals partially obscure the figure.

A faceless woman meditates as she sits on an open book. Working with the linoleum block print technique, Marina Pallares explores her global vision for world peace. The artist explains that the butterfly alighting on the corner of the book symbolizes the transformation of a being who dragged herself along the ground, but transforms into a winged creature that will take flight. Gentle doves are released from her bowed head.

"This print arose from my vision of world peace," the Mexican artist comments. "It's very similar to my ideas about ecology. Everything begins with the individual person with a global vision. That is, when we find our own inner peace, it's inevitable that we'll project it to everyone around us.

"Meditation is one of the simplest ways to gain access to our inner being. It gives us a sense of union with everything and helps us remain in the present. Meditation and education make us more conscious.

"Peace begins in oneself, on the basis of self-knowledge, self-love and education, making ourselves one hundred percent responsible for our own lives."

Titled "La paz comienza por casa" in Spanish.

Printed on canvas, vibrant roots of red that fade to pink reach below the ground toward the water in this stunning surrealist composition by Mexico's Georg Rauch. The artist imagines a universe parallel to our own, where familiar objects may take strange colors and forms. Small dots of shining gold appear at the bottom of the roots, completing this unforgettable piece. Georg's wife, Phyllis Rauch, presents this giclee in honor of her husband's memory.

In this painting, Costa Rican artist Olga Saenz Carbonell presents a unique view of the heron. The normally white bird displays its beautiful plumage, glowing with organge and yellow hues by the light of the rising sun. Says the artist, "Herons always draw my attention. They are profoundly graceful, as if dancing between the mud and the roots. They have thin and smooth forms, and it is no coincidence that the dances of oriental cultures evoke these beautiful birds."

Titled Amanecer (garza) in Spanish.

Ganesha, often called Vinayak, is a Hindu god with the head of an elephant and the body of a man. God of knowledge, Vinayak is also known as the Remover of Obstacles, presented here in this fantastic painting by India's Sunil Jaiswal. The artist depicts the deity emerging from the bud of a flower, holding his favorite dessert in one hand.