Is That So?

Is That So?
encaustic, thread, oil stick
12x12 inches

Several weeks ago I attended the open studio at the Cornelia Arts Building as I've always wanted to step foot in this building right by the brown line tracks. And I also wanted to visit the studio of Ahavani Mullen who is a new member of FUSEDChicago. It was a wonderful evening as I always love visiting other studios.

While I was there I ran into Kathleen Waterloo, another Fused member, and I took the opportunity to discuss with her my growing desire to leave out the transfer and just leave my abstract backgrounds as is. I told her how the urge has been growing stronger lately, but that it is so different than my norm that I was a bit anxious about. She said, no, no, you have to follow the urge and that my abstract compositions were already there and that there comes a time in a painting when you just need to stop and let it be. She encouraged me explore it and told me to keep Mies van der Rohe's words in mind:

Less is More

So while I've worked on this painting, that became my mantra. I actually felt that the composition without the bowls was strong enough to stand on its own. And if it were a bigger painting, at least 24x24 inches, then I may have left it alone. But I really wanted to do another bowl painting. There is still a representational object there in the bowls, but the way I drew them was actually a leap for me. I used thread.

I turned to the thread "drawings" because it allowed me to let go, loosen up, allow what may. And I liked what it created: Simple line. Fluidity. Lightness.

This painting has a ton of layers of wax. I lost count. My encaustic paintings always contain many layers, but since this painting was such a struggle for me, there really are a TON of layers. In person, this painting has a definite heft to it.

If you've read Eckhart Tolle's book A New Earth, you may recognize where the title comes from. There is a story in it about a Zen Master who is able to reply to any situation, be it positive or negative, with one response: Is that so?

"The Master responds to flasehood and truth, bad news and good news, in exactly the same way: "Is that so?" He allows the form of the moment, good or bad, to be as it is and so does not become a participant in human drama. To him there is only this moment, and this moment is as it is. Events are not personalized. He is nobody's victim. He is so completely at one with what happens that what happens has no power over him anymore. Only if you resist what happens are you at the mercy of what happens, and the world will determine your happiness and unhappiness."
p200

Yep.

I've read the book and also listened to the audio cd which is read by Eckhart Tolle himself. The whole time I was painting this, I kept hearing his somber, particular voice saying "Is that so?" and I couldn't help but giggle to myself.

Is that so.........