Mysterious Unfolding of Truth
"Mysterious Unfolding of Truth" is a 36"x24" oil painting on canvas. Due to the size, this painting will ship rolled. Once it arrives, you can take the painting to a professional framing shop to have it re-stretched. If you are within 250 miles of Green Bay, WI and would like to discuss drop off or pick up instead of shipping, please email chellethepainter@gmail.com.
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"Mysterious Unfolding of Truth" is part of the Off the Cushion collection.
In March of 2021 I attended my first meditation service at the Green Bay Zen Center - part of the Hollow Bones Zen organization. A Google search gone awry, a curious mind, and a long standing interest in Buddhism led me to that first meditation sit on the cushion. In my relatively short time practicing with GBZC, I have heard numerous Dharma Talks about the importance of taking our meditation practice “off the cushion” and into our daily lives. For me, the natural place to take my practice was onto the canvas.
The titles and inspiration for these paintings come from four of my favorite lines from various pieces of the sutra book. I wanted to transform my understanding of the poetry of the words into something visual. When I first imagined this collection, I thought the color palette was going to be more neutral tones and the paintings would have a more somber feel to them. But that isn’t how I experience Buddhism and meditation. Sure, we are silent and wear black clothing, but there is an aliveness to the experience that couldn’t be captured except with bright colors. I ended up with a color palette that feels like Spring, playfulness, and being awakened.
I grew up Catholic, and from a young age, I was more entranced by the beauty of the space than by the Word. I would find myself lost in the brick pattern of the floor or the entrancing colors in the stained glass. Even though I am no longer Catholic, whenever I travel, I search out Catholic places of worship because the stained glass calls to my heart. Stained glass is a source of inspiration for me, and it is visible in these four paintings inspired by the Hollow Bones Sutra book.