The tao that can be told 
is not the eternal Tao 
The name that can be named 
is not the eternal Name.

The Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

I have been an admirer of the Tao Te Ching since I discovered it in my early twenties. I have loved the seeming contradictory nature of it. As I practice drawing it has been a guiding influence on the way I think about the universe and my place in it. I don’t look too far beyond for inspiration but prefer to be close to the place I feel most grounded. Good fortune has brought me to where I live and love. I have been granted much space to explore the Maine woodland and familiarize myself with its ever evolving majesty.

Occasionally, I think, Oh, maybe I should go further away to explore new vistas to incorporate into my artwork. But I am so compelled to stay close, to what may seem familiar but on second look becomes the miracle of mindfulness. I think the Tao has opened my mind to the possibilities of discovery as I apply ink to paper or paint to canvas. And also, words to pages, another of my great loves.