Zen (2020)

Medium: Acrylic paint, gold leaf, sand from Humber Bay Shores beach - Lakeshore Toronto, ON

Canvas/paper type: Cotton Canvas

Details:

• Gloss varnish finish to protect against UV rays

• Winsor & Newton acrylic paints

• GOLDEN acrylic paint

• Gallery wrapped, deep edged, heavy duty style canvas

• Signed certificate of authenticity

• Archival quality

Size: 36” x 36”

Description: “Zen” involved manifesting peace and calmness within myself throughout the entire creation process. I allowed my hands to flow in any which way; letting go and simply observing as the hues of ocean blue and gold paint glided onto the cotton canvas. This piece involved a fusion of calculated lines and shapes with emotional release through spontaneous brushstrokes.

The inner circles and lines are inspired by the ancient Chinese philosophy of dualism, which describes how opposing forces can be interconnected - how happiness is directly relate to the balance between the yin and the yang qualities within oneself.

Various scientific studies investigating the beach and its effects on mental health have shown being by the water can manifest a sense of balance, serenity, and peace within; allowing one to feel rejuvenated and grounded. I picked ocean themed colours of blue, white, and golden to emulate the sun-kissed ocean shores and I used sand collected from Lakeshore Toronto, ON to fill in the top inner circle - hoping to evoke a Zen state of mind.

Price: $830