I’ve been working on a series of paintings of interior scene, many of which I have featured here recently. They have a limited number of elements and there is an almost formal order in the way they go together, with only so many available options. But even with this limited visual vocabulary and subtle, muted tones in the colors used, these scenes seem to have great emotional depth that transcends the apparent limitations.
It reminds me of a zen garden, those minimalist meditative spaces consisting of sand and stone and a small bit of vegetation where the sand is raked each day. There is little there. Pure simplicity. Yet there is great depth in its expression.
Zen Garden at Ryoan-ji , Kyoto
One of the most famous zen gardens is Ryoan-ji near Kyoto, Japan. It is 30 meters long and 10 meters wide and consists of 15 stones, a bit of moss and sand. It seems so simple yet so complex at the same time.
The emptiness, the lack of the non-elemental, allows room for the expanse of thought. There is a great power that occupies the stillness of this space, a concept that I hope carries through in these small paintings of sparse interiors with simple scenes outside their windows.
Redtree Times 
Hi Gary-
I wanted to let you know this painting has found a good home. I was looking at your work on The Principal Gallery Website and was immediately drawn to this piece. I went to the gallery with my husband and friends-Stacy Nolen-who I know you have had some correspondence-and her husband.
I loved the painting but David was indecisive so we made another trip back and thankfully it was still there-we took that one home and “A Peek Ahead” . David absolutely loves both paintings and he says “Zen Garden” is now his favorite-LOL!
I love the name “Zen Garden”; it is very peaceful and helps me to center like I try to do in my Yoga classes. I also love the bottle on the table-a Friday “wined” down after a long week at work. Of course, the Red Chair, the Red Tree, the fields out the window, and the painting on the wall-these all come together with your themes of harmony and strength. It really speaks to me at you see.
“A Peek Ahead” has the great colors that I love in your work. I love the composition and what we choose to think as a sunrise in the valley.
We hope to someday to acquire a painting from your Archeological series.
I notice that you will be at The Principal Gallery on June 8th-I hope we can meet you then-we love your work!
Laura McKaskel
David Arnold
Laura–
I am glad that “Zen Garden” has found a good home, as well as
“A Peek Ahead.” Perhaps the scene in “A Peek Ahead” is the same scene as the one viewed from the window in “Zen Garden”? I’ll let you decide that one.
I hope you can make the opening at the Principle in June. I look forward to meeting both you and David.
All the best—–Gary