05/18/2026
MY 112th JOURNAL PUBLICATION.
Honored to share that my piece, "What Achilles Left Behind", has been accepted for publication in the 2026 issue of "The Listening Eye".
**The Story Behind the Art:**
This piece is inspired by a Roman fresco from the ruins of Pompeii depicting the *Judgment of Arms*. Following the death of Achilles, a bitter dispute arose between Ajax and Odysseus over who would inherit his god-forged shield. While the two heroes anchor the conflict, my composition captures the full chaos of the scene—including the essential third figure acting as a mediator or witness to the rivalry, trying to hold back the brewing violence.
**The Process:**
To capture the weathered, crumbling texture of an ancient fresco unearthed from the ashes, I built this composition using layered found papers, tissue, pencil, pen, cheese cloth and acrylic paint on paper. I then rubbed actual river clay into the surface to age the art and give it an authentic, earthy patina.
**About the Journal:**
*The Listening Eye* is a venerable creative arts journal that has been showcasing poetry, short fiction, and artwork through Kent State University’s Geauga Campus since 1970. Founded by English Professor Emerita Grace Butcher—who edited the journal for an incredible 52 years—its first half-century of print history is permanently archived in the Kent State Library’s Special Collections. Today, TLE continues its legacy in a vibrant, exclusively digital format.
Look out for the 2026 issue arriving this September.
*What Achilles Left Behind* — Mixed media collage with river clay patina on paper.
