The above drawing was a work in progress over a five year period. It was a meditation with no immediate goal to finish it. It was more than a creative process it turned into a healing for me.

I was inspired to create this piece by my work teaching meditation in the Central Juvenile Justice Prison in downtown Los Angeles. Once  a week for over two and a half years I worked in the various holding chambers for youth from ages 8 to 17. There wasn’t a place in that institution I had not visited or taught in. The stories I could tell would disarm the prejudices you might have about these young people. I remember going into the institution with energy and compassion and driving away from it with tears streaming down my face.

This drawing was a way for me to pour my frustration, anger, and hopelessness into the drawing, so that I could continue working in these institutions with energy, determination, awareness and compassion.

Bleak as it may seem, this drawing has some light streaming in from the back ground, a turning of events. There is a dragonfly at the bottom right, which is the symbol of courage and fearlessness.

I met a boy who was only eight years old at one of my classes at the Juvenile prison. He had been bounced around in the foster care system, and was used by the older boys, because of his age, to run illegal errands. There was no other place for him in the system so he was put into juvenile prison. I met him in the “CD” unit which was for the youngest boys, and is a protection unit. It was furnished like a school classroom, and it was where I taught meditation. I was particularly drawn to this young boy as he was clearly soaking up the guided relaxations and meditations I was teaching that day, and seemed to be enjoying the class more than the others. He was glued to me, and was constantly asking questions about meditation. He was beaming, serene and peaceful, when I left.

I was told later that he was put in my class because he attempted suicide the day before. His story and others create the light emerging out of the darkness that is in the background of this image, that came later in my process.

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The title of this piece is taken from Dante’s inferno, “In the middle of my journey I came upon a dark forest.” It is a drawing -  pencil on paper  22″ x 30.”

There are signed prints online available 13″ x 19″ that can be purchased on line by requesting it in the description box – even though it is not shown in the on line store. You can shorten the title in the description box.

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Art makes visible everything, anything, dreamed, imagined, possible, real.

The image here describes a modern day interpretation of Dante’s inferno, Canto 3, “Give up hope all ye who enter.” When I began this piece it was titled “Buried in the sand” and it is still the subtitle of the piece.

It is pencil on paper and 22″ x 30.” The image here does not give justice to the detail that is in the original. The landscape is cracked and dry and unstable above ground where the man is, the world underneath where his head is buried is filled with horrific detail.

About a decade ago I had devoted a lot of time to working in our prison systems, mostly with youth at risk and young adults. I taught specific meditation techniques, and integrated Aikido non-violence principles to  help them cope in their environment and situation. From this work came a drawing that will be on the next blog post. It was my meditation during that time. I pored all my frustration, anger, and fear into that drawing so that I could continue working within these institutions and be effective, compassionate and loving. It was the reason I did not burn out, and It took five years to complete it.

The artwork depicted here has a similar story and process. Just a few weeks ago I finished this piece. Here is a detail of the piece..

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Fine art prints for sale online – this piece will be available in December, along with several other new works.

Spiritual traditions world wide speak about longings – the longing to be one with the source of  love. Like a bamboo reed growing in a still pond that dreams of being a flute played in the hands of a virtuoso, the bamboo flute that longs to be a reed in a still pond, and like our own longing to connect to the source of our existence.

There is a clear connection for me between the creative process that makes art and the creative process that is love.

My late Japanese grandmother – Obaasan, Noe, saw that I had a passion for drawing. I was three perhaps four years old living in Japan, and we (my mother, father, sister and I) were staying with Obaasan.

I remember the many coloring books, and crayons she gave me. The many days spent coloring with her. One day in particular stands out above all the rest. I remember that day clearly – feeling this enormous frustration as she tried to keep me coloring within the lines.  It was quite an advanced coloring book with pages upon pages of Japanese letters and Kanji. I would naturally continue to spill out and color all over the whole book, and even onto the floor. She eventually replaced the book with these huge pieces of blank paper. I remember the enormous joy and freedom I felt when she did that. Eventually I got too expressive for these large sheets of paper on the floor, so she then began to tape the paper together all over the floor, and even onto the walls!

We were both set free that day. Free to love. Free to create!

Unconditional love frees us from the limitations of our conditioned love, informs us to be creative! Michele Benzamin-Miki

All things splendid have been achieved by those who dared to believe that something inside them was superior to circumstances. Bruce Barton

The image above is Dry Media 11×14 inches, titled ‘Longing,’ all works are for sale and prints are available. Contact me if you’re interested.
I can also be contacted for Creative Coaching and Hypnotherapy.

Art heals, in the making of it and the seeing of it.

This piece is titled ‘Birth root’ 22″x 30″

I use imagery purposefully, visioning my future, re-visioning my past, looking at the present with greater possibilities. This engagement shapes my artwork, my healing work whether teaching meditation, martial arts, my coaching and hypnotherapy work and my inner core sense of self.

Imagery is a flow of thoughts you can see, hear, feel, smell, and taste. An image is an inner representation of your experience of your fantasies – a way your mind codes, stores and express information. Imagery is the currency of dreams and daydreams, memories and a reminiscence: plans, projections and possibilities. It is the language of the arts, the emotions, and most important of the deeper self. Dr. Rossman

Let us exercise our imaginary powers. Take responsibility for our inner world. Spend time intentionally guiding how we see our life, and future.  This is not spending time in a wishful state, it is much deeper. It brings to light our potential for healing physically and mentally and living on purpose, with purpose.

DR. Martin Rosaman wrote in his book, ‘Healing Yourself’ – Imagery is a window on your inner world; a way of viewing your own ideas, feelings and interpretations. But it is more than a mere window – it is a means of transformation and liberation from distortions in this realm that may unconsciously direct your life and shape your health.