The Middle way painting flew out of me. Probably my record of the fastest painted painting, considering the size.

I started the Middle Way painting with a little charcoal sketch on one Wednesday night in October. It took me just few minutes. The idea of middle way was born. The humble warrior walking the Middle Path. I will talk about that later.

This was the original sketch that I did with charcoal and few oil pastels. I don't aim for perfection when I sketch. I just want to see if the idea makes sense at all. It's one thing having it in the head and completely different thing seeing it on paper. Two different dimension.

On Monday morning I started to paint, on a pretty big format black canvas (60x60inches), thanks God I had one ready for use! As usually, I had a little face-off with the canvas before I put the first stroke.

Blank canvas is a formidable adversary, and I pay it my respects before the battle!

Only 2 hours later it looked something like this!

And I had to leave it at that for next two weeks!

Imagine the pain!! Maybe you can't imagine, but the worst thing that can ever happen to an artist (besides when someone chops off his arms) is when the mused kissed him and inspiration is flowing on the highest level and he has to stop and leave!

That was exactly my case. I was leaving to Belize for 2 weeks that day and I did not even start packing 4 hours before the flight! I dropped the brushes at the last possible moment and packed up my stuff in less than half an hour. Considering that I was taking a checked in luggage with all sorts of painting stuff with me, it was quite a feat.

Middle Way was also the name of my last show, huge success!

When I got back from Belize, guess what was the first thing that I did? You guessed it. I finished the Middle way painting!
And to my satisfaction.

Overall I did this painting from start till end in less than 12 hours, maybe 10. It's looking down on me from my studio wall right now, whispering the message of the Middle Way Warrior:

...So forgive and be the true Warrior of Light who walks the Middle Way. Who doesn’t shrink from the fears of the dark side and who doesn’t cling to the attachments of the ego gratification.
Be the Warrior of the Middle way, as you silently undergo your own, spiritual revolution, treading the path lightly, with humour, open heart and forgiveness.

Obviously, the skulls represent the dark side (fear) and the attachments (ego gratification), both paths lead to misery. The only way is the middle way.

Thank you for reading and upvoting,

I wish all of your to become Warrior of Middle Way,

Much Love,

Jan
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At my most recent exhibition. Special t-shirt for special occasion!