ZEN.
CHARCOAL. 17 " x 28."

Available sizes:

8.5" x 11" open edition print
13" x 19" open edition print
17" x 28" signed and numbered, limited edition print (out of 250)

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About the Piece:

This is the ninth piece in my Gesture series, a series of works that use imagery of my own hands. I start with a basic concept, one that by definition is concise and easily understood. However, these concepts often are viewed differently by each of us, as our experiences and point of view greatly affect our interpretation and personal meaning of these ideas. From this simple concept, I use the images of hands to build upon the idea and make it my own.

This piece was a commission from a collector at GenCon. She is a masseuse and wanted to have an original Gesture drawing that was meaningful to both of us. To help inspire me, she offered to work on my shoulders at the show. Closing my eyes, I tried to block out all of the sounds around me at the convention. As I let me mind go, I pictured a still bath, steam rising up fogging the scene. Slowly a pair of hands, balled tightly together rise from the still waters. As they rise up, they unfold like flower petals. The hidden massage stones float from the palms, spinning around each other, forming the light and energy that fills the scene. Drops of water fall from the knuckles, striking the surface slowly spreading ripples among the still scene.

I immediately turned and explained my vision to her, and she was just as excited as I was. The title came to me right then, Zen. I do have to give credit though, going back I recognize the influences of Miyazaki's Spirited Away, partiularly the scene with the cleansing of the River Spirit.

The original is in the collection of Jayne Dobbs.

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Awards:

  People's Choice, Chattacon XXXVI, 2011.

  2nd Place Professional, Chattacon XXXVI, 2011.