Zen Art: Origins in Abstract Expressionism and Art Therapy

ZEN ART explores the connections between abstract expressionistic modern art, Zen-art, philosophy, and poetry and ways in which Zen relates to the modern field of expressive art therapy. Showcased are mono prints, monotypes, etchings, watercolors, and handmade paper works by the author. Illustrated are the laws of sacred geometry, color, and contrast to create meaningful, nonfigurative compositions. The process of refining visual building blocks in abstract expressionism mimics the process of attaining enlightenment according to Tao teachings in which judgment needs to be suspended and any thought is to be questioned. While a representational image imitates a slice of life that has been frozen in time, abstract artmaking mimics the path of enlightenment taken by an aspirant from a process point of view. Art imitates life as the artist needs to first explore and discover the unique talent. After the emergence of a personal voice, transformation takes place. Epiphanies and accidental mistakes work synergistically with new explorations that lead to new discoveries and synchronicities. An individual set of visual tools can be likened to musical instruments that play an infinite amount of tunes consisting of space, shapes, textures, gestures, color fields, and movements coalescing in an interplay between light and dark to express the artist's emotions, struggles, discoveries, and aspirations. The resulting images become a doorway to the soul, and viewers bring their own associations to bear as these visual symphonies unfold. Images are accompanied by short Zen proverbs with messages of clarity, realization, lightness, bliss, and sense of connection. Among the famous authors are Rumi, Krishnamurti, Ram Dass, Buddha, Osho, Basho, and others. Nancy Margulies, Psychologist: "As an art therapist and lifelong artist I was delighted to gain new insight into the creative process. Zen Art: Origins in Abstract Expressionism and Art Therapy helped me understand and then SEE the relationship between self-understanding and the ebb-and-flow of image creation… Blending neuroscience, Jungian insight and a perfect pairing of abstract art and Zen philosophy, she paves the way for readers to explore their own inner realms through the process of creating art." Manual Ortega, ABD MA Psychology, f. Music Teacher: "The how and why expressive arts therapy works is brilliantly, succinctly and in an easily absorbed manner presented here. Zen Art… bridges the arc begun with the writings of Carl Jung (prior to advent of MRIs), extended through the work of Antonio Demasio's The Feeling of What Happens..., to our present understanding of our brain's plasticity."