Category: Art & Creative Practise
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Visual Response to “The Last Rag” by Soundeagle
Can you translate the “ragged time” of a contemporary piano piece into a visual language? Following a casual comment on a previous article, I took on the challenge of graphically interpreting soundeagle’s composition. Moving away from traditional calligraphy, I chose to take the word “rag” literally—creating an aesthetic of use where soft, faded layers of…
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Light as State of Being: Light in Painting and Contemporary Ink Art
“Light as State of Being” explores the depiction of light in painting – from the academic studio through the Impressionists to my own attempt to make Ur-light and cosmic light tangible in images.
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When the World Shatters
This article explores the systemic collapse of our modern world, where the high art of diplomacy is being replaced by the “right of the strongest” and international institutions are systematically undermined. From the razed olive groves in Gaza to the manipulation of global financial markets through leveraged options, the text examines how greed and the…
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Before I Gotta Go: Minimalism, Dreams and Surreal Ink Painting
“Before I gotta go…” is an article about a new series on dreams, marking a deliberate departure from minimalism in favor of abstract depth. It introduces the concept of the “Oneiric Divide”—visualizing not the story of a dream, but the raw energy it leaves behind—and offers a glimpse into my upcoming dialogue on “Dot and…
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Don’t let the old man in
Don’t let the old man in is more than just a song title; it is a directive for maintaining an open spirit against bitterness. This article explores that mindset by contrasting striking political imagery with the artistic independence of my 2025 Yearbook, proving that staying young is a matter of attitude, not age.
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Tao and Zen again: Applying Eastern Philosophy to Contemporary Ink Painting
Tao and Zen, along with minimalism, became my focus during a forced pause due to illness. This short article shares how fever dreams led to abstract works that explore the tension between Yin and Yang—an attempt to artistically grasp our world, which has been thrown off balance.
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Autumn Reflections
Autumn Reflections explores the connection between poetry, calligraphy, and painting through a series of original semi-haiku.
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Terra Dystopia
Terra Dystopia, a new series of artworks, serves as the starting point for an essay on the core characteristics of a dystopian society, questioning how many of these once-fictional traits have become our reality.
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Cracks in the Silence
“Cracks in the silence” is about our fractured times and the eroding foundation of global rules and humanity. I initially wanted to write a political article about this rising pressure and fading reason. But I discarded the idea—those who would read it already know how the game is played. In this post, I reflect on…
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State of the Art 2025
State of the Art 2025 is my contribution this year to an ongoing series of “self-portraits.” For years, these pieces have documented my creative journey, reflecting the current status of my work.
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Nothingness in Color
Nothingness in Color continues the thought experiment that began with the journey to the Zen master—evolving beyond monochrome, embracing color, and preserving the essence of minimalism
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Goodbye to the Winter
In traditional Chinese painting, the unpainted white space is often considered more important than the black ink. In this post, I challenge this balance of opposites by painting on black paper, shifting the focus so the unpainted black areas demand special attention. I share three new abstract works that explore the journey from winter’s darkness…
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Depression: A Journey Through the Long Winter.
A long, seemingly endless winter is finally behind me. I tried to channel this extended dark period into my art, looking deep within myself. In this post, I share these new works. They are not a collection of horrors, but rather a creative passage through the cold and darkness before the promise of spring brings…
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Meditation of the Zen Master
In this third and final part of our journey to the Zen Master, I share key insights into my understanding of Zen. Using my artwork, I explore these concepts and the essential balance of opposites that shapes both Zen and Dao. We also continue our playful experiment with AI analyzing the images, focusing on the…
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Journey to the Zen Master
In the second part of our journey to the Zen Master, I reflect on what originally sparked this project: my past experiences traveling on the Trans-Siberian Railway. I share an unexpected photo that connects to part one and explain why I discarded my initial concept of depicting a child’s journey. Instead, as the series progresses,…
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The Journey to the Zen Master
In the first part of our journey to the Zen Master, I reflect on my five-decade philosophical connection to Zen and Daoism. Since I do not have a physical master, this journey is purely a mental exercise. In this series, I attempt to capture an abstract experience through my artwork, highlighting the essential balance of…
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The Dao of Annual Planning in 2024
A look at annual artistic planning and how creative priorities evolve over time. The article reflects on long‑term projects, shifting focus, the balance between structure and intuition, and the ongoing process of aligning artistic goals with personal development.
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Blind Drawings: Artistic Expression in Darkness
“Blind Drawings” is an experimental series of over twenty charcoal works created in a completely dark room with my eyes closed. By intentionally removing light from the process, I bypassed conventional techniques to explore the essential balance of opposites—light and darkness, conscious control and pure intuition. In this post, I share how embracing this sensory…
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Theme and Variations
In the series “Theme and Variations about a Blossom in Autumn,” the delicate image of a fading blossom takes center stage, offering an allusion to the graceful aging of a young lady.
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Daoist Aspects in My Paintings
A deep dive into Daoist influences in contemporary ink painting, focusing on emptiness, opposites, Zen elements and the interplay with quantum‑physics concepts. This article reflects on Nothingness, minimalism, perception and the resonance between philosophy and artistic practice.
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Visit of the old Zen Master and other Nonzens
I don’t actually know a physical Zen master, but his presence is still felt. In this post, I explore him as a teacher through a few grains of wisdom and semi-haiku. I also share my attempts to visually portray this master by finding the exact line where the concrete and the abstract meet. It is…
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Summer Inventory
I conduct a summer inventory twice a year to bring a sense of order to my paintings. In this post, I share a diverse collection of hidden works and high-quality “leftovers” that did not quite fit into previous articles. Revisiting and reworking these forgotten pieces reflects the essential balance of opposites—finding value in what was…
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Can We Hear a Painting?
Can we hear a painting? In this post, I explore the age-old challenge of translating music into visual art. From ancient rock paintings to Roberto Matta’s surrealist interpretations of Mozart, we look at how artists try to bridge the gap between sight and sound. Capturing this intersection is another fascinating exercise in the essential balance…
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break on through
A reflection on artistic breakthroughs and the moment when creative energy pushes beyond familiar limits. The article explores resistance, momentum, uncertainty and the transformative shift that occurs when an artist breaks through into new expressive territory.
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Selection of New Works
A presentation of new works highlighting evolving motifs, fresh energy and shifts in artistic focus. The article reflects on how recent pieces explore variation, gesture, rhythm and the continuous development of expressive ink painting.
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Between Calligraphy and Painting
When I hit a dead point in my painting and the dynamism fades, I turn to calligraphy. In this post, I explain how calligraphy serves as the foundation of Chinese art—much like drawing does in the West—and I share a few new works to show how this practice directly influences my paintings.
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Superior Haiku by Ashley
In this post, I take a beautiful haiku written by my fellow blogger Ashley and turn it into a piece of calligraphy. I share a short video of the creative process, some extra details about the art of calligraphy itself, and the story of how this artistic collaboration came about.
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Red Dao & Black Zen – The Art of Painted Calligraphy
In this post, I detail the creation of my “painted calligraphy” series. After an old collector asked to watch me work, I realized the lengthy process is better captured on film. I share short videos of two pieces—”red dao” and “black zen”—and reflect on the hidden complexities and the balance of contrasting forces that shape…
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old and new works
When Chinese people see my traditional calligraphy, they often point out that few Westerners take the time for such a challenging discipline. While my classical work might not be extraordinary, calligraphy remains a very high art form that actually stands above painting in Asia. In this post, I share some old and mostly new works…
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new yearbook is out
A reflection on assembling a new yearbook, capturing artistic milestones, evolving themes and personal highlights. The article explores how a year’s work forms a visual narrative, how selection shapes meaning, and how the process reveals development across time.
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day dream job
A reflection on daydreaming as a creative state, exploring drifting thoughts, intuitive imagery and gentle abstraction. The article examines how imagination flows into artistic expression, how wandering attention reveals new motifs, and how daydreams shape subtle shifts in perception.
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Between Here and There
A reflection on the threshold between here and there — between waking and dreaming, expectation and authenticity. The article explores new works from the ‘Exit’ series, dramatic scenes from the Magic Sea project, and a childlike depiction of the fever‑night creeper, highlighting how perception shifts across states and artistic intentions.
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Between Cold and Heat
A reflection on the period between cold and heat — illness, recovery and the slowed artistic rhythm that comes with it. The article presents three AI‑supported portrait sessions, thoughts on aesthetics, resemblance, and the challenges of addressing charged global topics, all framed by the attempt to ‘come back into the light’.
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and the beat goes on
A reflection on ongoing artistic projects and reduced posting frequency. The article presents new Magic Sea imagery, experiments with wood and elephant‑dung paper, and a Firebird piece inspired by Stravinsky, all tied to the attempt to paint more directly and less intellectually — with the beat simply continuing.
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a kinda yin-yang too
A reflection on yin‑yang aspects in two new ink works, contrasting abstraction and figuration as well as ego and superego. The article explores shifting visual perception through AI engagement, the dilemma of artistic self‑analysis, and a promotional video created largely with AI. It concludes with a playful fantasy graphic and thoughts on AI as a…
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not nothing this time, but
A playful reflection on developing catalog drafts for Dao and Zen, including minimalistic cover designs, room mock‑ups and a children’s‑book idea. The article shows how ink works appear in curated spaces, how AI assists with hanging and lighting, and how philosophical concepts can be introduced visually — even for kids.
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Elements of Rhyme
A reflection on elements of rhyme within new ink works, exploring rhythm, gesture and variation. The article presents playful abstractions, shifting motifs and small studies that reveal how visual rhyme emerges through repeated movement, intuitive flow and poetic resonance.
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What game shall we play today?
About knowing and believing. Quantum physicist Anton Zeilinger: “Sciences are good at measuring something, but cannot say anything about our being”.
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environment and nature topic
A personal reflection on environmental destruction, political shell‑games, differing national metrics and the shock of a calculated ecological footprint. The post comments on the difficulty of addressing the topic artistically, presents two ink studies with divided scenes, cubist veils and hints of danger, and ends with a note on an upcoming TV portrait.
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The Magic Sea
Magic Sea Opera: Even if the idea that I would like to present today might sound unrealistic or at least utopian at first, I would by no means see it as unfeasible. Namely, the idea of an opera as a total work of art, in which the visual part is the actor
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The children’s book of my last post
A brief reflection on an old children’s book project. The post recalls early drawings, the lighthearted tone of the story and the thought of bringing the material back to life after many years. It keeps things informal, mixing nostalgia with a quiet smile at past ideas.
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new horizon
A brief note on recent ink works and a change in direction. The post comments on shifting motifs, new gestures, small studies and the feeling of moving toward a fresh horizon. It keeps a light tone, touching on rhythm, reduction and the quiet clarity that comes with adjusting one’s focus.
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state of the art 2023 – a step further
A brief note on the artistic state of early 2023. The post comments on changing motifs, new studies, small shifts in rhythm and the feeling of entering a fresh phase. It keeps a light, direct tone, mixing simple observations with the calm clarity that comes from adjusting one’s direction.
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ginkgo leaves in autumn and winter
A brief note on ginkgo leaves and their unmistakable form. The post touches on their gentle fan shape, their long cultural history and the ease with which they lend themselves to ink work. It keeps a light tone, mixing simple observation with a quiet appreciation for a motif that never really loses its charm.
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gone they are
A calm note on depression and how it can sit in the background of daily life. The post touches on hesitation, the difficulty of speaking openly, and the way art can hold a mood without exaggeration. It stays understated, pairing the text with a small ink work that mirrors the tone.
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Getting rid of the Blues…..
Since my work is usually heavily influenced by Chinese calligraphy, I decided to try a more Western approach this time. This new piece is a study. I could have kept working on it, but I chose to leave it exactly as it is to preserve its basic mood, contrasting with my usual contemporary ink painting.
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Painting Through Winter Depression: An Ink Art Series
A personal essay on coping with winter depression through ink painting, with a series of works tracing the mood from darkness to light.
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AI Tools for Presenting Ink Art & Book Illustrations
Over the holidays, I had a detailed conversation with my son about physics, quantum mechanics, and AI. While his scientific background makes him hesitant to engage with topics like Daoism, Zen Buddhism, or Asian art theory, our discussion took an unexpected turn. When we disagreed on certain AI concepts, we let a program settle the…
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How an idea takes root and persists
Some memories stay with us for a lifetime. I recall skipping class on a beautiful autumn day as a student and watching a mysterious dance of leaves floating down into the middle of a meadow. Years later, I translated this experience into contemporary ink painting. In this post, I also share a childhood winter memory…
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Because it’s Wednesday again…
I’ve started two new series that spill over into each other. I’ll explain how this idea came about in my next post, but today I want to present the fifth piece separately, as it is my favorite so far. It is closely connected to abstract calligraphy, Daoism, and Zen Art. The objects in this contemporary…
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The Dreamweaver’s Daughters: Ink Paintings on Dreams
The world of dreams has always held a special meaning for me. During my years of figurative surrealism, I focused on illustrating specific dreams. Now, working with more abstract imagery, my approach has shifted. Today, my contemporary ink painting is no longer about illustrating a dream scene, but about depicting raw states of consciousness. In…
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Three New Abstract Ink Paintings on Zen and Dao
Three strikes: Today I would like to present 3 newer works and will not write much about them. The first is a play on Zen thought. In the sense of what was said above, it remains without further explanations.
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two book covers and one dragon
A short look at two book‑cover designs and a small dragon sketch. The post comments on layout, colour decisions, the practical side of preparing covers and the spontaneous humour behind the dragon. It keeps the tone relaxed, mixing design notes with a touch of playfulness.
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Book Cover Design – A Clean, Focused Draft
A brief reflection on creating a book cover. The post comments on layout, typography, colour decisions and the small adjustments needed to make a cover work. It keeps the tone simple and practical, pairing the text with a clean draft of the design.
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Old Sketchbook – Early Drawings and Quiet Memories
A brief reflection on an old sketchbook. The post shows early drawings, loose lines, small studies and the quiet charm of pages that have travelled through many years. It keeps the tone simple and personal, treating the sketchbook as a companion rather than an object.
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just two characters
I recently uploaded a YouTube video exploring my calligraphy, from traditional to asemic styles. Despite my son’s initial doubts about the channel, this step led to an unexpected request from a Chinese editor to create characters for a new book. Drawing inspiration from Zen masters, my designs were well received and quickly led to a…
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Too Young to Die – A Quiet Personal Note
A calm note on losing someone too young. The post touches on memory, the difficulty of finding words and the quiet weight such moments leave behind. It stays understated and pairs the reflection with a small ink work that mirrors the tone without exaggeration.
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Minor, Major and a Video – A Small Musical Note
It has been another busy week. The Chinese have an idiom for this: “qí hǔ nán xià” (it’s hard to dismount when you’re riding the tiger). To step back from this hyperactivity, I am sharing a relaxing video featuring my painted bookmarks, complete with a new intro and outro. I also present a new piece…
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Only One Picture This Time – “Rheingold”
A brief post featuring just one picture. The note keeps things simple, letting the image stand on its own without extra explanation. It’s a quiet moment, a small visual pause in between larger entries.
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Understanding the “Zen Moment” in Painting
It can be annoying how twisted the Western approach to Zen often is. The phrase “Zen moment” doesn’t even exist in Japanese or Chinese, and my understanding of the subject has nothing to do with incense sticks, YouTube Reiki music, or herbal tea. I am bringing this up because, for decades, I have constantly tried…
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Ophelia Painting (2022) – A Quiet Contemporary Study
A brief note on a 2022 Ophelia painting. The post comments on mood, composition and the way a familiar motif can be approached in a quiet, contemporary manner. It keeps the tone simple and reflective, paired with the finished piece.
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Études – Small Studies and Quiet Experiments
Etudes: If one looks up the English-language equivalent of the French term études in conventional dictionaries, the result is generally “studies”. Only when you translate it from a music-theoretical point of view do you come up with “etudes”.
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metaverse (V)
After my last post (metaverse IV) Schrödinger, his cat, you and I basically agreed that IS and NOT-IS can exist at the same time.
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metaverse (IV)
day & night and Schrödinger’s cat [1] I am very pleased that my postings on this topic are so well received and thank you for the general interest!After this posting today, one more on this topic will follow, but it will be easier to understand. Today it gets a little more complicated. When I present…
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metaverse (III)
the beginning and the end Short preliminary remark If I just started with my thoughts, there would be a certain danger of someone shouting: “Hey, that’s not scientific!” Two preliminary remarks are therefore permitted. All our thinking is based on previously thought and mostly we deal with premises. Such as A $100 bill has a…
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My Ukraine Contribution – A Small Personal Gesture
Recently, I read about an initiative for artists to paint sunflowers in response to the war in Ukraine. But I am not the type to just paint a given symbol on command. Still, artists must take a stand against barbarism. This led me to create an abstract work based on the classic dove of peace,…
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Studies for Oil Paintings – Early Ideas on Paper
A brief note on studies made in preparation for oil paintings. The post shows early ideas, loose sketches and small brush experiments that help clarify composition and mood. It keeps the tone simple and practical, treating these studies as quiet steps toward larger pieces.
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state of the art 2022
I recently resumed my annual self-portrait series, “state of the art.” Rather than a realistic likeness, these portraits reflect my current mental state and worldview. This latest piece started well, but a sophisticated scam attempt in my online trade distracted me. My annoyance led to a frustrating mistake—leaving fingerprints on wet ink, which ruined some…
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my kind of metaverse (I)
In February I started playing around with an idea, but I don’t know if it will become a series yet: It’s dedicated to the metaverse.
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Light in Arts – A Short Reflection on Illumination
A brief note on how light shapes art. The post comments on contrast, atmosphere and the subtle ways illumination changes a piece. It keeps the tone simple and observational, paired with a small ink work that echoes the theme without overstating it.
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snow and ice and corona
I am sharing a few new works and studies that explore the idea of a “snow landscape in lockdown.” Branching out from my ongoing Corona series, these pieces reflect on Austria’s heavy reliance on winter tourism. Lockdowns here determine many fates and spark highly controversial, heated debates. I wanted to capture the sharp contrast between…
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Painting Through Winter Depression
Winter depression through the decades — a personal collection of ink paintings from the 1980s to 2022, and how painting became a coping tool.
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New Abstract Surrealist Ink Paintings
Why stepping away from an unfinished painting matters — three new abstract surrealist works and reflections on knowing when to stop.
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Triptych Variant: A New Version in Ink
A new ink painting created to replace one panel of a recent triptych — and a comparison of both versions side by side.
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Waltzing Corona: A Triptych on Balance and Yin-Yang
An abstract triptych reflecting on Vienna’s ball season during the pandemic, explained through Chinese principles of balance and yin-yang.
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New Year’s Pastime
Ringing in the New Year with Chinese calligraphy practice, a poem by Tang Yin, and thoughts on what it really takes to master an art form.
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Handmade Painted Bookmarks with Dried Flowers
Twenty handmade painted bookmarks combining ink art with pressed flowers and leaves, made during a quiet holiday season.
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about my surrealist work
Decades ago, my early years of painting were marked by surrealism. Fascinated by authors like André Breton and Paul Éluard, I started with collages and later moved to oil paintings. But surrealism as an art concept was already falling out of fashion. Expressionism and Asian art soon exerted a greater influence on my work and…
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trying environment topic
This is a complex topic I plan to discuss in more detail soon. I chose a landscape construction because it is the easiest way to depict the subject. The composition uses two vanishing points that create a strong force field. The upper point is calm and contemplative, looking out over a river. The lower point…
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new territories to explore
I am taking a deliberate break from my Corona series. Bathing in lukewarm water makes you anemic, so I needed a change. My latest works capture that blurry state of limbo you feel when completely absorbed in music. And with those finished, I am turning to two new topics: tributes to artists and the world…
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corona and the sea
Graphing Covid-19 is a difficult undertaking. I want to make the invisible visible and convey feelings of fear, isolation, and restriction. A semi-abstract approach allows me to integrate the abstract virus into realistic scenarios. After exploring the forest as a metaphor, I moved to the sea. My first attempt was visually strong but too optimistic;…
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another one of those
I am presenting a new painting today, though I originally hadn’t planned to write about it. A recent conversation with a customer and fellow painter named Robert made me pause; he argued that explaining one’s own art destroys the mystery for the viewer. While I understand his view, I don’t think discussing my work ruins…
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Abstract Landscape Paintings: The Big Bang Series
New abstract paintings exploring creation and chaos, inspired by the Big Bang and shaped by the balance of yin and yang.
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girls – girls – girls
For a long time, I painted a lot of portraits. Painting men was usually easy because their faces are often distinctive. Portraying women and young girls was much more exciting, but also more difficult. Without wrinkles or concise facial features, there is a risk that the work becomes too sweet or pleasing. To avoid this,…
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remembering a landscape
Lately, I have been painting landscapes based on ideas and memories rather than scenes from nature. The composition is simple, but that is exactly what I found challenging. I have modified this theme repeatedly over the last 30 years. This time, I explore the aspect of memory through the concept of a “negative of a…
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simple painting with some ideas
I recently presented a few drafts and sketches, ideas that should flow into my next exhibition on the subject of Covid-19. They were largely abstract. I was very pleased with the feedback, as it helped me to reflect on the topic better. Thank you!
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Out of the Blues into the Blue
The composition clears the way to the blue of the sea and the sky. Perhaps the picture is a little too melodramatic, but a good mood is powerful in its own way. It relies on the tension of opposites—the natural balance of yin and yang—contrasting heavy, dramatic elements with clear, uplifting space to give the…
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landscapes by the water and in the mountains
I wanted to work on a simple landscape by the water to capture the mood of a serenade performed at early dusk. I stopped before overworking the piece and spoiling the atmosphere. Interestingly, the mountain on the right turned out like a volcano. This was likely influenced by recent news of the La Palma eruption…
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Drafts for the Corona series and questions about them
For one of my exhibitions, which will be shown in Vienna next year, I chose the topic around covid-19. I think this is a subject that might be of some interest. We all suffered and still suffer from it in one form or another and so I thought that it might be of interest to…
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early sketchbook with Chinese minority people
Today I am showing a sketchbook I kept in a drawer for 40 years. These are single sheets of charcoal sketches mounted in a Chinese fan-fold album. They are not masterpieces, just captured impressions. But looking at them again, they have a certain charm. They reflect a clear tension of opposites—the loose, spontaneous charcoal strokes…