Mindfull - time-lapse + artist's thoughts

Short time-lapse while working on the drawing

Final drawing, "Mindfull" - mixed media on 40"x 50" in. chip board

I finished this drawing back in 2021, the sister of "Catharsis". It only made sense to draw the mind/brain after I drew the heart a.k.a. our soul, intuition and love as represented in many philosophies and spiritual teachings.

I wanted to illustrate the relationship between self and brain through the anatomical brain surrounded by elements of gears or mechanisms, human bodies entangled in a somewhat abstract mixture of nervous system and neurons. In contrast to "Catharsis", this drawing has sharp edges and shapes as well as more contrast in the shadows and highlights. When I am in an analytical space, it feels more sharp and planned out, vs. the heart space which feels softer, flowy and intuitive.

"Catharsis" - mixed media on 40" x 50" in. chip board

This drawing is also a representation of the fact that on a scientific level, we are our brains, forever connected to the brain, dependent on the brain and intertwined with the brain. The brain is responsible for all of our experiences and perceptions, yet many feel a "separate" thing, hence beliefs that stem from the idea that once the body dies (and so does the physical brain) something else survives, usually called "soul" or in my personal practice represented by the heart. This may not be scientifically true, but for the sake of symbology, this is how I choose to visualize this concept.