New Yoga Painting: Down to Earth

I’d like to share with you my new painting, “Down to Earth”.  It’s painted on a wood panel measuring 18 x 40 x 2.5 inches  (45.7 x 101.6 cm). The underpainting was done with multiple layers of acrylic paints with over a dozen layers of oil glazes and opaque highlights lying above the acrylics. The transparent glazes allow light to come in and bounce off the under-layers giving it a vibrant glow and depth while allowing the wood grain to show through in certain areas.

While painting this piece, I listened to Eckert Tolle’s  audiobooks “Power of Now” and “A New Earth” on repeat, mixed in with some classic rock, jazz, hip-hop and reggae. When I started feeling like I was slipping out of the zone, I would take breaks to do yoga and meditate. It was a goal of mine to re-create that zen-like ego-free bliss that I get from Yoga during the entire painting process. Connecting with the energy around me kept me into the present moment and in essence, this piece painted itself.

The Sun, water and air beautifully and perfectly transmute source energy into life. I chose to have the female figure in Downward Dog, because it’s a core basic pose in Yoga which much of Vinyasa flow is based around. It serves as a pose for endurance, stillness and strength. From the time I first  started Yoga until now, I am starting to grasp the idea of how much even the simplest poses can be pushed to the limits.

Since this is my first piece of Yoga art, I would like to share a little bit about how this came about. I was first introduced to Yoga in college. Thinking it would be an easy elective class and a means to meet girls I anxiously signed up. At a time in life  that I was not yet capable or willing to see Yoga’s true devine light, it quickly slipped from my weekly ritual when the class completed.

Over the past handful of years with some gentle nudging from my now wife Chelsea and a pathetic desire to be able to touch my toes in the morning I began to reacquaint myself with the ancient practice of Yoga. It’s become an empowering transformative tool for me, which I rely on as a regular means to connect with the creativity of the Universe.

We were in Kauai , Hawaii last month staying at the northern part of the island in Princeville, spending much of our trip at and around the legendary and gorgeous Hanalei Bay.

There’s such a symbiosis in Hawaii, the tropical plants inhaling our exhalations. The warm sun rises and falls as does our chest with each breath. The great Pacific Ocean reflects light and divides the life above with the life below.   I enjoy bringing autobiographical elements to my work, it acts as a visual journal for me. During my visit, I knew that Kauai was soon to become the inspirational setting for this piece.

With this painting,  I offer gratitude for the inspiration and experiences that Hawaii offered me. I also pay tribute to the inner-beauty and oneness within us and the immeasurable perfection that is our Universe.  Namaste.

Signed Limited edition Archival Prints are available on Gallery Wrapped Canvas and Fine Art Bright White Paper.

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