I was struck by the beauty of the local landscapes on a recent trip to southern California in the spring of 2004. While dining in Palm Springs I was struck by another type of beauty, that of my straight waiter, Levi. Never dreaming he would agree, I asked him if he would consider modeling for me, as is evident Levi was willing to bare all in the California desert. The result is spiritual as well as natural, capturing the tension between these two realms, where the gentle curve of muscle contrasts with hard angular rock, yet the two are connected by flowing water, the universal symbol of rebirth. This painting also has a sense of the mythical fantasy, capturing the essence of lazy summer days, and skinny dipping in the headwaters of the fountain of youth where water flows but time stands still.