Art Opening: Art As A Spiritual Journey

Join us to welcome Lorna Ho and her artwork to the Journey Center Art Gallery. Stop by to enjoy food and beverages in addition to hearing from the artist about her work.

From Lorna:

My work is a combination of mind, body and spirit. I use my mind to create elements of art like composition, color, line, and form.  My hands hold the brush and uses “chi” energy to make the marks on the paper or canvas.  The spirit that creates the art becomes what is uniquely mine. My work uses watercolor, acrylics or mixed media in an eclectic style combining Chinese brush painting, some realism and abstract designs.

I’ve enjoyed drawing and painting as a child but did not begin to study art as a painter until I retired. I did not think of painting as a career although I majored in Art History in college.  The most I did with my art interest was to work as a docent for the University of Oregon Museum and take classes in Chinese brush painting.  Upon moving to Sonoma County, I took classes in watercolor, acrylics and mixed media.

As I paint, I feel that it is a meditative process where I get in touch with my inner being.  It has been a spiritual practice for me regardless of the subject or result.  The subject is not as important as the inspiration although the subjects I am usually interested in are abstract forms, horses, cats, plants and figures.

A strong influence in my work is my Chinese cultural background.  I was born in Hawaii and although I don’t speak or write Chinese I have a great respect for Asian cultures.  I particularly admire calligraphy and use it in some of my work.  My goal in art is to make it a spiritual practice which engages my mind, body and spirit.