In the midst of chaos, how do we see beauty? Surrounded by turbulence, how do we discover simplicity? Living together on one planet, how do we simultaneously celebrate our collective humanity and the unique resonance of our individual voices? Given the power of analytic understanding—driven as it is to claim life as knowable—how do we re-recognize the unknown and unknowable? How do we surrender to the humility it takes to stand in awe of life’s mysteries?  Where do we stand when we stand in awe?

 

Allowing a painting to be born is to stand in awe of one of life’s most beautiful mysteries. Invited by the blank paper, the best of my intentions and experience enter into a dance with uncontrollable coincidence. Neither the process nor the resulting art are ever completely defined. Which way will the colors run? What surprises will the ink reveal as it, ever so gently, touches the paint? I purposely use primarily water-based media that do not stay where I place them on the paper. There’s never any illusion that I control the process. I only enter the dance; paintings emerge out of the dance. For me, being an artist is about giving birth to the possibilities inherent in mystery. Creation—whether on a canvas of words or visual images—is, in fact, about relearning to dance with God.