" Family Portraits is a series of animal portraits done in the ancient and traditional style of Verre Églomisé dating back to the Roman Empire. This technique is achieved by gilding the reverse side of a piece of glass with gold or silver leaf and then etching a design into it and over painting it with a color (in this case - black). A vintage or highly decorated frame is used to enhance the importance of each animal. Animals, along with our human selves, are part of the family of earth. "The Earth is what we all have in common." _ Wendell Berry