A Collective Consciousness

A Collective Consciousness 12x16 oil on canvas

Deconstructing the Puppeteer, 12x23 oil on board... We go through our lives viewing the world through our ego perceptions, perceptions that are nothing more than our preferred views, and we tend to believe that our view or perception is the correct one, so we feel empowered, and in control, we feel safe. In Buddhism we are encouraged to eliminate the power of the ego in our lives.  The concepts of me, I, and mine belong to ego, and are merely an illusion, as there is no me nor I, merely a group of opinions, or views which make up our personality. The personality is not who we are, but simply a display of our ego's needs, wants and desires. Without the influence of our egos, we are able to see the world as it truly is, free of our judgements, views, opinions, likes and dislikes. Without the ego, we are able to see everything in our lives in its ultimate reality, in its simple beauty, and accept it as such. This state of being brings about much happiness, dispels suffering, and is what is called enlightenment. This painting shows someone on the path to deconstructing that ego, and finding Nirvana. She is cutting the ego strings that have kept her imprisoned in a world of illusion.

The Emptiness of Words, 24x30 oil on linen. Words, our form of communication, which when we mindfully speak, we do believe that we are conveying what we intend to. However, words are subject to the perception of others, thereby often changing their intended meaning. Wars have begun over the mis-understanding of words. Friendships have ended, marriages failed... We believe that communication is a simple task, yet....it appears it is not simple at all.

The Three Seekers, 24x36 oil on linen. Inspired by Botticelli.  I actually wanted to name this the Three Realms, as when I completed the painting, what I saw in it, was the past, present and future. They are so interchangeable within the painting, that different sections of the painting would be identified with different time realms by different people. And, all would be correct, as time is nonexistent anyway. There is no time, merely a fabrication of human beings, to help sort out their day.

Gautama Buddha... 14x18 oil on linen

Becoming

Becoming... 12x12 oil on panel... She had washed off all of the dirt from childhood. She had moved forward, leaving everything behind, learning to answer to no one but herself. She found peace within her once battered spirit. She found she was becoming....

Denial

Denial, 24x36 oil on linen. Recently, I discovered something that I should have known. It was right in front of my face. Maybe, I just refused to see it.