The Zen aesthetic is fascinating. Less is more, and encourages mental calm. That’s the reason for Zen gardens, reproducing nature with subtlety and suggestion. The wave patterns in a a bed of pebbles say something about natural energies. Consider how different that is from a city which talks to you incessantly, calling out, demanding your attention, so you lose your inner world.
Mountain photography is a Zen pursuit because the aesthetic is simple, the more so the better. A few lines with light and dark is enough. The walking experience is the same with days reduced to waking, navigating, sleeping. There’s less to think about and you feel better for it.
I don’t like winter but like to capture the simplicity of pared down essentials. The leaves are gone, days are dark, and for the purpose of art, there are imaginary wild flowers. Soft cowslip, bright hawkweed, British bluebells, and two favourites: spring pink cherry blossom and the almond scented Queen of the Meadow.
I like the Zen style but calmness is not the only benefit of art. We also need colour and hope, liveliness and energy, interest not emptiness with a wild flower reminder. If you’d like all five of these, the price is £220.
