Zen Paintings: The Art of Emptiness

Zen Paintings Portfolio

For me, Zen is not a stylistic trend, but a fundamental attitude developed over 50 years. It emphasizes the present moment and the clarity of the mind. My Zen paintings are not attempts to illustrate this philosophy, but direct expressions of it. They seek to capture the “Void” (Emptiness)—the fertile space from which all phenomena arise.

The Process: Zen Brut

In this series, I often work with what I call “Zen Brut”. There is no preliminary sketch, no correction, and no hesitation. The brush touches the paper, and the ink records the state of the mind in that exact second. If the mind is cluttered, the stroke is cluttered. If the mind is clear, the image resonates. This unforgiving process demands total presence.

Themes and Motifs

Many works in this portfolio feature vast black spaces interrupted by spontaneous gestures. These scattered marks are not objects; they represent fleeting moments of insight and energy. They invite a meditative gaze, exploring the impermanent dance between form and silence.

Flickers in the Void

black and blue

Dialogue with Tradition

While my technique is grounded in traditional Chinese training (Central Academy of Fine Arts), my approach integrates Western abstraction. You will find references to classic themes like Bodhidharma or the Enso circle, but interpreted through a contemporary, often minimalist lens.

When the Zen Master Meditates

This picture When the Zen Master Meditates is part of a three-part article about a fictional journey to a fictional Zen master, analyzed with the help of AI. An exciting experiment.

Whole article series: part I – part II – part III

In a Zen Garden

flower in late autumn

the sound of the Shakuhatchi

Zen Moment

Zenimals

Sumi-e & Zenga Reimagined

Traditionally, Zen art divides into styles like Sumi-e (ink wash) or Zenga (monk painting). I do not strictly separate them. Instead, I combine the minimalist aesthetic of Sumi-e with the rough, direct power of Zenga. Whether I am painting a landscape or an abstract “Sound of Zen,” the goal remains the same: to reduce the image to its absolute essence.

early morning mood

mother goose

Chinese character “yi” ( 一 one)

Morning in the Mountains

A Sound in the Silence

Zen at the seashore

Hiking in the mountains

A Glimpse of Zen in the Morning

detail of a painting (Light Ahead )

Sound of Zen

Philosophy in Practice

If you want to understand the theoretical background of these works, I recommend reading my article series on Asian Art Theory. For a deeper look into specific works like the “Flickers in the Void” series, please visit the Journal.