You and Me, A Wonderful Kind of Zen Painting

Artist Statement My work is based on traditional calligraphy letter forms that I began studying in 1979—ten years on an introduction to Zen brush painting opened the door (rather pushed me off a cliff) to explore oversized, gestural mark making and fragments of letter forms. Large brushes were replaced by creating my own mop tools to enable the physicality of full body movement as an extension of the brush. Throughout 35 years of studio work, I've developed a wet-on-wet, ink and acrylic application technique—a rich mat finish akin to textile and ink painting antiquities, devoid of contemporary gloss finishes. Often I paint with my non-dominant hand to capture nuances of imperfect circles, bent lines, and delightful misshaped forms—thus working between no-mind and analysis, aided by preparation, instinct, and vigor. As with traditional calligraphy studies, my studio practice also receives my reverence for discipline and exploration. I am a practicing artist. I create expressions of freedom. 2025 is my 36th year of painting, 20th of sculpture work—exciting, most days, grateful, every day. —BH