Bertha showing me how she creates her art using only soot and a sharpened nail!...

Bertha creates all this shading only using soot mixed a clear oil base....

Bertha using a gourd for her canvas! All she needs is a sharpened nail....

This Bertha Merdina, a great artist that uses gourds as her canvas. ...

I've been making my own cajons since 1994. Before you could buy one in a music store...unless you were in Spain. I made this batch in 2013. My friend Nick Audino let me use his workshop at Superior Coach. These were...

Olatunji gave me this djembe in 1987. I only play it on special occasions. It was Baba's lead drum when I was in his band. He said the head wouldn't last much longer. That was over 20yrs ago!...

I always try and get a few photos of each session I do. Each set up is totally unique. This looks like one where I was tracking for at least 5 days. I was coming from NM with all this in a truck....