ESSAY 2D One Stroke Painting
<<BACKTAKE FLIGHT
—a one stroke ink painting
30" x 22" Sumi ink on watercolor paper
Robecca Quammen Private Collection
Zen brush painting . . . bold, immediate, without hesitation—this is the foundation of my 2D work.
Studying the Take Flight mark, I see a flying bird, as if my brush and ink captured its shadow as it swiftly flew by—it gives me an uplifting sense for flight, to take off, to launch, to set in motion.
As I write this I nod to the freedom I give myself to visit as often or as little, this Zen brush painting style without demanding inclusion into every work. This hasn’t always been the case, 30+ years ago frustrated beyond belief from a self-imposed creative dogma, I muttered something about to hell with that to which suddenly I experienced an emotional sense of freedom and clarity, a tearful a’ha moment, a right of passage, a life changing moment.
Essay revised August 1, 2021 | Originally published 2009
—a one stroke ink painting
30" x 22" Sumi ink on watercolor paper
Robecca Quammen Art Collection
Zen brush painting . . . bold, immediate, without hesitation—this is the foundation of my 2D work.
Studying the Take Flight mark, I see a flying bird, as if my brush and ink captured its shadow as it swiftly flew by—it gives me an uplifting sense for flight, to take off, to launch, to set in motion.
As I write this I nod to the freedom I give myself to visit as often or as little, this Zen brush painting style without demanding inclusion into every work. This hasn’t always been the case, 30+ years ago frustrated beyond belief from a self-imposed creative dogma, I muttered something about to hell with that to which suddenly I experienced an emotional sense of freedom and clarity, a tearful a’ha moment, a right of passage, a life changing moment.
Essay revised August 1, 2021 | Originally published 2009