 No Mud, No Lotus. Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hahn (one of my favorite teacher & mentor) says that suffering and joy are intrinsically connected and one cannot exist without the other. The beauty of the lotus is found in its determination to rise out of the mud to meet the sun, transformed  In short, my father's death expedited my bucket list. I realized in a very personal, very intense sort of way that none of us know how much time we have left, and life could slip away quite unexpectedly at any moment. As a result, I decided to do some serious soul searching, make a list, and channel all of my energy into accomplishing my life's unique purpose with newfound vigor, focus and intensity. Creating a series of sculptural paintings is one of those goals. Peeling back the layers. Seeing deeper into ourselves. Sculptural paintings made with plaster, newspaper and repurposed paint. Each painting is imbued with a mantra for mindfulness.  A sense of place. Bringing the outride in. An homage to the environment in which they were created. The paintings in this series were made using: iron-rich Utah dirt, salt from The Great Salt Lake, metallic powders, plaster, repurposed paint, and local newspapers. All works available at 15th Street Gallery  Integrating Materials from Outside to Inside Capturing the light Calming the Chaos Dirty Zen Series 2021  Original acrylic & mixed media contemporary abstract painting on canvas. The paintings in this series were made using: iron-rich Utah dirt, salt from The Great Salt Lake, metallic powders, plaster, repurposed paint, and local newspapers.  A New Series of Paintings: Rooted in Zen Buddhist philosophy, inspired by the inexorable passage of time.  January marks 13 years since I quit my corporate job at a Vancouver law firm to create art full-time. It was one of the scariest and most necessary decisions I have ever made. It's been a rich, fascinating journey, ripe with opportunities to learn, and stretch into areas of myself I never thought possible. Painting continues to be my companion, my mirror, my teacher and my friend. I am so thankful for my family, friends, clients and students who have supported my journey. I am grateful for you & I celebrate you!  What we think about is a preview of what's to come. I honestly believe that the mind is that powerful. This is a feeling universe. We create not only what we think about - we create what we feel.  Sometimes I paint things that "don't make any sense". Meaning: they aren't representative of my usual style, and they look like they don't belong in any of my previous collections. I remind myself that to "indulge my creative urges" and "paint my feelings" is a good thing. Even if my painting looks like it might have been made by someone else. This is exactly how I feel today: Eager to jump "Into The Waves". To be enveloped, carried and cleansed. These are difficult, challenging times. How do we channel our fears and anxieties of an uncertain future in a way that is positive vs negative? Painting is a tool that helps me transmute my emotions. It's an anchor of sorts. |
