ARTS: Zen and art-making/art-viewing

[Nyzha]

Hi there! I'm an artist and meditation practitioner and lately zen learning has caused me to consider my own practice as someone who uses a lot of detail and rendering in their work. I've begun to consider representing how it feels to be the thing I'm depicting, which is much more challenging.

My question to you is, has zen practice changed the way you view, enjoy, or create art?

Gassho
Nyzha
SatToday

[Tai Do]

Hi Nizha,
I'm surely not an artist, but a while ago, we read "Zen of Creativity" by John Daido Loori and had an interesting discussion on the Forum, with artistic exercises to follow the reading and discussion. Here is the first thread (there were threads for each chapter that you can find searching for "zen of creativity" if you are interested):

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?16948-The-Zen-of-Creativity-book-discussion&highlight=creativity (https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?16948-The-Zen-of-Creativity-book-discussion&highlight=creativity)

Gassho,
Tai Do (Mateus)
Satlah

[KvonNJ]

I paint, and am a musician. I've had to learn to incorporate my Parkinson's tremors and that experience into what I do. It's not that I make an effort to do that, I just had to learn to create with what I have to work with. Sort of like cooking with the ingredients on hand, you know? Same with Zen. I sit with what I sit with, then, I play or draw that.
I know it sounds like I'm oversimplifying; I promise, I'm not, and I'm not being dismissive. It's difficult to put into words, but, in the same sense that we "just sit," we can "just do." I guess what I mean is that when I stopped overcomplicating and overthinking it, I ended up with some stuff I really like.
(Guitar with shaky hands... who knew??!! LOL)

-Sat today

[Nengei]

Hello Nyzha,

I am an artist professionally, and the "official" artist-in-residence at Treeleaf. But in truth I think there are many artists in residence at Treeleaf, and I welcome you among them.

For me, Zen practice and art have existed together for a long time. I am not sure I can remember what it was like to make art before I took up practice. But I can say that my art is a part of practice. Practice reminds me of this moment, and of my connectedness with all sentient beings and the universe. In my work, my way is to be in the process, rather than the finished painting. This moment, this mixture, this brush, this stroke, it's one ripple in the sea of the painting. I can be with it and be precise, or I can let my mind wander off, and make mistakes that I then have to go back and fix.

This is the main forum for the arts at Treeleaf: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?128-TREELEAF-ARTS-MUSIC-%28-Sports%29-CIRCLE

This is the forum for two-dimensional art: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?180-Painting-Drawing

And this is the place to post images of your work for our sangha to enjoy: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?18459-ARTS-Konoha-Gallery

Gassho,
Nengei
Sat today. LAH.

[Jundo]

If it is alright, I have moved this discussion to our ARTS center so that we can keep it, with a link in the main forum for awhile.

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?21054-ARTS-Zen-and-art-making-art-viewing

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

[Mokuso]

I am a musician and text writer. I can feel and see similarities with zazen and creating. both for me are about finding a flow beyond the actual reality. for me, zazen is sitting on the cushion and when I practice instruments or create .

Gassho. Mokuso

[Ryumon]

Hi there! I'm an artist and meditation practitioner and lately zen learning has caused me to consider my own practice as someone who uses a lot of detail and rendering in their work. I've begun to consider representing how it feels to be the thing I'm depicting, which is much more challenging.

My question to you is, has zen practice changed the way you view, enjoy, or create art?

Gassho
Nyzha
SatToday

I’m an amateur photographer, and zen has certainly helped me both appreciate minimalist photography by others and led me to create more minimalist photos myself. I’ve also adopted a more “in the moment” approach to photography instead of overthinking the technical aspect that obsess many photographers.

Recently, I’ve been exploring how I can make my photography reflect more of the zen arts.

Gassho,
Ryūmon (Kirk)
Sat

[Veronica]

Hello Nyzha,

I am an artist professionally, and the "official" artist-in-residence at Treeleaf. But in truth I think there are many artists in residence at Treeleaf, and I welcome you among them.

For me, Zen practice and art have existed together for a long time. I am not sure I can remember what it was like to make art before I took up practice. But I can say that my art is a part of practice. Practice reminds me of this moment, and of my connectedness with all sentient beings and the universe. In my work, my way is to be in the process, rather than the finished painting. This moment, this mixture, this brush, this stroke, it's one ripple in the sea of the painting. I can be with it and be precise, or I can let my mind wander off, and make mistakes that I then have to go back and fix.

This is the main forum for the arts at Treeleaf: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?128-TREELEAF-ARTS-MUSIC-%28-Sports%29-CIRCLE

This is the forum for two-dimensional art: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?180-Painting-Drawing

And this is the place to post images of your work for our sangha to enjoy: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?18459-ARTS-Konoha-Gallery

Gassho,
Nengei
Sat today. LAH.

I didn't know we had an artist in residence! Like Nyzha, I too am finding that Zen is changing the way I think about my art. I've started making some more simple Zen-inspired art and it's making me excited again. And at the same time... Just paint.

Gassho,
Veronica
stlah