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Marcel Proust I have felt the damage that tumultuousness of modern life does on the self. I have searched for simplicity, but found chaos and noise everywhere. Instead, I have had to find that unnameable stillness within myself, and I try to create and share that stillness in my art work. In it, I strive to capture the sense of wonder or revelation that comes with truly seeing something for the first time -- without names and without judgment. This journey takes place in quietness, and occurs at moments when everything comes together spontaneously, without chatter and with no active thoughts. This is where I am when meditate, practice TaiChi or draw and paint. My drawings rooted in human figure with an emphasis on the impression of the mood or energy it gives me. I use spare, suggestive outlines and shades to emphasize the contrasts between dark and light forms -- or yin and yang energies -- to depict that mood. My paintings now are mainly Sumi-e in technique, based on classic oriental calligraphy strokes. In them I aspire to render the spirit or chi, rather than the semblance of the object. I continue to teach and learn from my students. My practice grows, revealing more and more parallels between TaiChi, Zen, my art work and my life. |