Journeys on Foot

In February, I delved into the theme of ‘Journeys of Foot,’ a subject that fascinated me partly because of my experiences with long walks, but also its connection to meditation practices grounded in the physical body. Before the artwork of Gateless Gate Studio, I found inspiration in the history of physical practices that could foster meaningful personal change, particularly through the seated meditation posture of Zen Buddhism. Subsequently, my exploration expanded to include the standing poses in Qigong and the broad spectrum of Yoga. But walking as a mode of change caught me by surprise.

J.R.R. Tolkien writes in “The Lord of the Rings,” “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door. You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.” This quote, while seemingly a cautionary note, captures the subtle power of walking. Unlike the immediacy of a train or plane, walking carries a quiet and, as Tolkien suggests, almost subversive momentum. Each unassuming step carries us forward, with the potential to cover vast distances and intimately experience all that can be seen, heard, smelled, and touched along the way. Walking 10, 15, or even 30 miles in a day was not uncommon prior to the transportation options of the present, and such paces can carry us across counties, countries, and continents.

There also seems to be an additional layer to walking that hints at the possibility that our feet are not just tools for movement but guides, conveying the path beneath us like fingertips reading braille. Author and walker Nan Shepard beautifully captured this idea with the quote, “My eyes were in my feet.” Perhaps it’s because to walk means to move out into the world, with all its potential for surprise and discovery, intrinsically taking us out of the confines of the known and comfortable and prompting an awakening of senses that are only engaged when in movement and on our feet.

In Shane O’Mara’s book, “In Praise of Walking,” he highlights studies demonstrating that regular walking mobilizes changes in the structure of our brain that can increase our capacity for learning and memory. “Walking upright makes our minds mobile, and our mobile brains have marched to the far horizons of our planet.” The more I look, the more advocates I find on walking’s positive impact on mental health and creativity, “Methinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow.” – Henry David Thoreau.

All of the above came together when I realized the delightful connection between my art direction and the traditional artwork depicting Buddha’s footprints seen throughout Buddhist countries, which serves as a reminder of the Buddha’s teachings, enlightenment, and physical journey on foot.

Recent Side Path’s

I work as an illustrator at a company called Deloitte. During quarantine, I started hosting Zoom drawing lessons for colleagues, telling myself I’d stop when interest dwindled, but three years later, participants continued to attend. The lessons focus on beginning drawing skills for wellness and fun and have become a favorite part of my work week. All of which has gotten me thinking about replicating something of that outside of Deloitte, and I’ve made an initial start here: https://youtu.be/hqpCDqTj1ik

For my Patreon subscribers, I have exciting news about an experiment I will conduct in March. The experiment involves finding an alternative method for delivering artwork. To explain the details, I have created a video where I talk through the experiment: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsH6iEaqueilpEadv3GMEp_XYeNtdnEI6