Purpose

As I begin creating a piece of art, I often pause to consider that I'm not just making a mark or representing a form but opening the door to a moment. In this initiatory act of creation, I enter into a dialogue with the world as it is, the timeless ground of now.

My art's purpose isn't just to be displayed and admired for its aesthetic value. It's to point directly to the nature of reality itself. In this way, my art becomes a dharma teaching, not with words but with colors, textures, and forms. Each piece suggests a way of seeing and a way of being, an unspoken language that asks, "What's it like to be fully human? What does it mean to be alive in this moment?"

When I create a piece, a certain state arises that mirrors the stillness of meditation; each line drawn or texture layered is a moment of attention. There is only the arising of what's here, a revelation of the truth as it appears in this fleeting instant.

In the studio, as in the zendo, I come face to face with myself. Sometimes, there's a desire to make something "good," in other words, to produce an impressive or meaningful piece. But I know I've lost the point when I get caught up in those thoughts. The art, like life, is not about achieving something. It's about being here, fully and completely. It's about allowing whatever arises -beauty, imperfection, or uncertainty- to be. 

I hope my art offers a mirror—a way to see yourself and your life with fresh eyes. The images I paint and the colors that fill the space are an invitation to see beyond the surface. They aren't meant to be representations of reality but pointers to the nature of reality. These images invite you to explore life's fleeting and imperfect nature right before you. 

My creative process is a practice of saying yes to whatever appears. There is no final piece (just a place where I've decided to stop), just as there is no final moment in life where everything is complete. 

So, if you look at one of my paintings, know that it invites you into the practice of seeing and of being and asks you to live within the beautiful impermanence of it all. Your interpretation, feelings, and reflections are not just appreciated, but they are an integral part of the art. You complete the dialogue that my art initiates.

And for that, I'm deeply grateful.