Zen collage, 8"x8", by Donna Watson
Note: I will be teaching two 2-day workshops in Portland Oregon for Art and Soul. The first workshop on April 8-9 is Journal to Book: A Zen Approach. The second workshop on April 10-11 is
Boro/Wabi Sabi: The Spirit of Collage. For more information and to register for one or both go to
the Art and Soul website here.
"It may be that when we no longer know what to do,
we have come to our real work
and when we no longer know which way to go,
we have begun our real journey."
--- Wendell Berry
Zen Nature 2, 8"x8" collage by Donna Watson
I have been lost for awhile. I forgot that "art is a journey into the most unknown thing of all -
oneself" (Louis Kahan). It took me awhile to figure out I was lost. I thought I had just wandered off of the 'path' and I would easily get back on the right path. I finally realized that I had fallen so far off of the path that I had to begin a new journey. I found that reading books on Zen helped me begin to find my way again.
Zen 4, 8"x8" collage by Donna Watson
As you start to walk out on the way, the way appears. -- Rumi
Zen 3, 8"x8" collage by Donna Watson
The mind that is not baffled is not employed.
The impeded stream is the one that sings.
-- Wendell Berry
Zen 2, 12"x12" collage by Donna Watson
"The path isn't a straight line; it's a spiral. You continually come back to things you
thought you understood and see deeper truths."
---- Unknown
Zen 1, 12"x12" collage by Donna Watson
Your pilgrimage brings you to and from your homes,
here and there, and always inside you ---
will you re-walk that path with the stone lanterns
over and over again in dreams?
and wake to walk
the path you've created in your own temple.
--- Nancy Neva Gagliano
Zen Nature 3, 6"x6" collage by Donna Watson
Note: Most of these collage are available for purchase at my Etsy account here.
20 comments:
A great collection of words and images. So does this mean you are following a new trail on a new-ish path now, Donna?
I notice new color schemes...
Beautiful works, as always!
Love the Wendell Berry quotes.
It is hard to know if falling off the path is just part of the journey. I think only in retrospect can we tell. One thing I do know, is that things are never as tidy as we'd like them.
Wishing you much richness on this new leg of the journey.
so beautiful new collages and so interesting quotes for thinking.
have a good week!
Love the look and colors in these!
I'm reading Zen Seeing by Frederick Franck
Have you read this? It's about drawing and seeing truly.
D - the artistic journey is an interesting path - so easy to get distracted, bored and frustrated - but creating is the thing - it will find its own balance - it will feel right. Go well in Portland - I really enjoy that city. B
It is as it should be right now in the present....you and your work are so richly connected, a life of art and creative living intertwined as one.
~v~Laura
Beautiful work and thought provoking inspiring words -- stepping off the 'known' path must be part of the journey -- seems you are still you creating pieces that are serene yet complex.
the sad thing is i have been lost for about 5 years, since i had to stop my 30yr career as a hospice nurse d/t back injury, but art has kept my sanity, and like u said, somehow we find our way back on this path/journey, this thing we call life. i am hoping to do your 2day boro collage class in april as i have family in portland, aloha, angi in hana
Being lost has brought you to this point in time where all I see in your post is beauty! Thank you, Donna.
Exciting new work, being lost apparently has its advantages!
I enjoy hearing from you on my blog :)
Pleased you have found a new thread to pick up. I love the pieces where you've included reds.
It's so true that we often don't even realize we've strayed from our path. All artists - whatever their medium - go through these periods of being 'lost in the forest'. It can be frustrating and even frightening, but hopefully we reemerge with new insights and renewed creative energy. Looks like that's happening with you with your beautiful new work, Donna.
Surrendering to not knowing what to do, to not knowing where to go is often, I think, the most significant step towards self-discovery. Chopra calls this 'the Wisdom of Uncertainty'. Hard for us control freaks to grasp sometimes.
These are beautiful and come with so much to think about. Thank you and good wishes.
so glad you found your way again! love all esp. the red and black!
Beautiful post. Of course we do not 'know,' it is also hard to measure the progress, it is just to have faith, continue to work, and before you know it you are working on a body of work...from the 'unknown.' Perhaps it is only when we do not know, are we on the right path. xoxoxo
Though it's taken me a week to find your latest post it's such a treat and the cache of new artworks is the cherry on the top. So glad the "way appears" as you start to walk in new directions. I'm really looking forward to seeing your new encaustic art too.
It's so good to see your new work Donna! The way appears - I like that!
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