This series, inspired by Anthony S. Mercatante's book Zoo of the Gods, is a retelling of the myths, legends, and fables that exist around the world for different creatures. While the legends and myths are fascinating, I found it was important to not simply relay the stories, but to twist, morph, and play with them. The heavy use of symbolism in many fables has been translated into these paintings through the addition of surrealist elements. In Mercatante’s retelling of the traditional fables, cows tell riddles, cats fall in love, and coyotes play nasty tricks on each other. This series aims to fulfill the same discomfort and uncertainty that is achieved when any logical human brain is presented with the fantastical nature of unreserved fables: why should a lion listen to a statue? Who would give a key to a pelican? And what happens to a stag when a clock strikes twelve? With a surrealist tint and inspiration from fables from all over the world, this series represents an ode to all creatures, and the mysterious tales they carry with them.