“Cactus Flower” is part of a wedding keepsake that was created for the bride and groom’s family members and their significant others. After all, marriage is about combining families and celebrating what each person brings to the family.

Since the wedding took place in the Pacific Northwest, I decided to create a Totem for each person in the form of a painting, and like a totem pole all the Totem paintings worked together to tell a story about the family. Each person got to take their Totem as a gift, because each Totem was also created to be a separate work of art.

This cactus flower totem represents unique beauty, warmth and blooming where you’re planted even if the climate is harsh.

8×8 birch cradle panel