The Freedom to express the hidden artist, to let go and speak out with my own voice has been a work in progress. It doesn’t happen overnight. Nor within the timespan of a short art course.

I must look at art differently. Art is like life, and life is like art.
I view art as a discipline, a way of life. An endeavor for the long haul.
Not a microwaved meal. Patience, grasshopper.

Zen – UnBounded
The Wabi Sabi element “Datsuzoku” is defined as ‘Free, Unbounded.’
I interpret it as a Limitlessness … of personal possibilities.
No bars, the gates are open.
There are no constraints, there are no ‘shoulds. And, I am not chained to the dictates of what someone else might think.
But rather, there is a freedom to develop, an unhindered space to grow and stretch and create and invent as the spirit of creativity directs me.

Wabi Sabi Freedom of Expression
This, is one of the foundation reasons I fell in love with the idea of Wabi Sabi.
I could be Free.
Free, to invent and create regardless of what others might say, dictate, think, or feel. That was their business. Mine was simply to follow where the creativity led me.
An unbounded Voice.
I liked that! It works for me!
Constraints and Limits
To paint or draw from copies or photos, magazines will merely chain me. It will always serve the function to tighten the bands of the cuffs more firmly.
To express what I have in my heart, releases! It pours out.
Fear, anxiety, our critical natures and worry of what other’s opinions are – all combine to chain the creative force that wants to be Unbounded.

Letting Go of Traditional Justification
We want justification. We want Results.
We want evidence to show that our time, efforts and money have been invested wisely.
And they have.
Every time we allow freedom to be released rather than permitting the old tight constraints to remain in place, we advance further along in our artistic development.
We ‘grow’ and build the strength of our Voice. We nurture it like a garden. This does take patience, to grow a garden.

Summary
Zen Unbounded, the first painting featured. With this 1 single fluid brushstroke of crimson tipped in indigo, I think, conveys the message today the best.
I am Content, with the image, just as it is.
That is all an image needs to do.
Speak unhindered, the Voice of the artist within.
These images illustrate my personal interpretations of the Zen aspect of Wabi Sabi “Datsuzoku” – the essence of freedom and an unbounded voice.
Stay tuned for part 3 of the 7 Days of Zen series!
love the freedom of these images
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maureen, thank you very much!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I love this! Amen sister! Preach it, DD!!! 💜💜💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
((Laura)) thank YOU!! I appreciate that !
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this seven days of zen thing! I have a feeling I missed some and will have to catchup. 💜💜💜
LikeLike
Powerfully beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
thank you Nico 🙂 peace and good tidings and shalom
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very powerful and unconstrained message Debi – wonderful “free” works that show how you’ve stretched and obtained some amazing results. I really like Zen Unbounded – the close-up showing some amazing lifted texture is fabulous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
love your comment here Mary! thank you for that ! Debi
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Debi! yep – gotta say it – SWOOOOONing over your art and your wonderful words of advice and art wisdom! Thank you for this! I long to feel this – and I WILL! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jodi, thank you so much and –
What a Swoon!!
its fabulous you’ve found some things that resonate with you. Yes, You will ‘feel’ it; I’m thinking you probably do already. 🙂
…. my approach is just One way…. there are many!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic part II of 7 Days of Zen! There is a key phrase in your post which popped out for me immediately: “what someone else might think”, now that is in my humble opinion what is controlling many minds to some degree and restricting them to develop artistic (or otherwise) freedom.
If you let that thought go you will start to grow your own freedom and flourish, you really hit the nail on the head BAM! As you said “the gates are open” so let it flow, let it come to me, flow through me and lift me into a creative Zen-sphere and content you will be!
I can see from these works your creative free flowing mind, no wonder, your Wabi Sabi hat has an open concept design 🙂
I say cheerz to Freedom of Expression Debi Zen!
LikeLiked by 3 people
yes. Miss Eva of the Wicked Mad Shoes!! the thought of others ‘judging us’ is often the chains that bind.
glad you’re liking ZEN…. 5 more forthcoming 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
To be content with an image just as it is says it all; a great second day of Zen 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
awesome! thank you Andrew 🙂
day 3 installment forthcoming…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am loving your blog and this post inspires me to stretch myself and to slow down and explore more of an abstract and free way of expressing myself. Your blog is truly one of a kind, I am going to be savoring it slowly. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
many Thanks Margaret!!!
I am happy that you are finding the info and the images of use and of relevance!
cheers, Debi
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unbounded joy today, I’m especially drawn to your first image with the textural stroke of colors. Thank you for your message of Zen and art. Happy day Debi.
LikeLiked by 1 person
wonderful! I love it when Joy shows up!!
thank you Sharon. you are really a very nice person!! 🙂
LikeLike
Oh, I love everything you’ve said here about art!
I don’t know “Wabi Sabi”, but I agree to all your opinions about art that you express here in this wonderful article !!!!! It’s really exciting to come across this in words and in your intriguing paintings!!
Looking forward to what’s coming next! Cheers, Petra
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Petra! I’m so happy that this is a series that is resonating with you!! Yay!
I was pretty sure not too many do know “wabi sabi” & wanted to share it with … well, whoever will listen! LOL Do go and read the first episode of this series if you haven’t already, I explain a bit about Wabi Sabi itself.
thanks again Petra! cheers, Debi
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi again!
What I meant: All I know about Wabi Sabi is what I’ve read in your articles and in the first of this series, too. I liked it ;)!
Thanks, Debi! Cheers, Petra
LikeLiked by 1 person
ah ha!!
I’m chuckling a bit here! 🙂 to tell you the truth,
I’d never heard of wabi sabi til about 20 months ago; when I started reading & interpreting bits and pieces. I’m glad you are liking this Series!! cheers, Debi
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very nice! thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You!! I’m Glad you’re enjoying the Zen Series!
LikeLiked by 1 person
that’s really wonderful Debi. I like these Zen days a lot. It’s very calming and interesting at the same time, very inspiring. Wishing you a wonderful Wabi Sabi day, cheers Mitza
LikeLiked by 1 person
wow! I am so glad you are enjoying the 7 days of Zen Mitza!! yay! makes me smile…….. thank you 🙂 cheers, Debi
LikeLiked by 1 person
:))
LikeLike
Perfectly said… Wonderfully displayed. The freedom to create and express oneself freely is spot on!
LikeLiked by 1 person
wow! thanks Jennifer!! I’m glad you enjoyed this! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most definitely! 👍🏻🌞
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ok. I need to do this. So timely for me reading this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
thats awesome! I’m glad you are enjoying this series 🙂 makes me smile, so Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful words accompany your beautiful artworks. Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person