Inward 4 Painting

I always loved the feeling of applying paint with a brush. The texture created when paint is combined with liquid oil, and the changes observed when colors are mixed with one another, provide a constant, intimate thrill. On a blank canvas, I start by applying a coat of primary color, then composing one line after another repeatedly, answering the call of intuition. What I create flows directly from embracing the experience of making art. It is impossible to predict each line’s trajectory on the canvas – but this state of ‘not knowing’ is what opens the door to an endless world of possibilities. My painting reflects a line-based language, defined by layers and color combinations. I try to be true of myself while I work. I believe directness of acting and being is the way to one’s true nature. This nature is not something we make; it is already there. Zen teaches that we spend years forgetting and abandoning this nature, but that we can always access it again. Mahayana, or ‘great vehicle’, captures this idea of finding wholeness through turning inward. The process of painting is not simply about my own journey but about connecting with others. My abstract works reflect something that is shared between all beings; therefore, painting, like life, is inherently a collective exercise. I consider the contents of each painting to reflect a captured moment - the record of a fleeting experience. I hope my work provides viewers with a window to the truth of their own being.