The Bonds That Matter

Contemporary Pen and Ink Fine Art by Doug Ashby

Funny thing about this life. The stuff that resonates as important are, for the most part, eternal. With that caveat though they present themselves with different intensity throughout the various stages of our journey. In the context of a recent discussion on values I realized this. The values I hold today are far different from the ones thirty years ago and they are likely to be vastly different within a decade. Still though there is a persistent current that underlies all of this. I have come to believe it is that undercurrent that truly binds us all together.

In the title of this blog post I mention bonds. Let’s take a minute to define that word. A quick google search will immediately turn up a variety of sites that are strictly economic. I get that as we currently live in an epoch of monetary mania. I even fall prey to this. I am obsessed of late with figuring out the right formula for financial freedom. The various online dictionaries offer up a wide variety of definitions running the gamut, however the basic essence is something that ties two or more things together. And if I am reading things correctly that is usually towards a mutual benefit, but not always. For our purpose here I want to reflect on the positive aspects.

In the artwork above I am outwardly representing the bond of love between a parent and their offspring. This is without a doubt the single most important bond when we are young, as well as when we are the one charged with guardianship. There is nothing more sad then witnessing the experience of a young person who was not afforded the absolute need of a loving bond from a young age. It’s essential to our existence and really difficult things happen when that breaks down. In my humble opinion we should be doing all we can in society to ensure that this ever so important milestone has as many protective layers as we can possibly apply. The fail safes should be nearly impossible to snap. However I feel there is more at work here, and the thread that binds weaves throughout our lives is truly what drives our success, and it’s the awareness of their complexity, as well as our surrender to them that matters most.

So what exactly is it I am talking about here? Truthfully I do not fully understand myself what it is I am feeling, much less trying my best to artistically render and put into words. With that said I can not deny that I feel a call towards some sort of connected continuum, one that insists, no embodies, the reality that everything is connected, and furthermore that disconnect from that is what ails us the most. That is why above I mentioned surrender. Because surrendering to this reality, while exceptionally difficult for our formed ego to do, is what restores our health and well being. It is what truly matters most for our journey. The surrender though, for the worse, is quite the struggle.

So I ask myself constantly how can my artwork be a vehicle towards this higher calling. This grand purpose. Within that notion I also have to pause and ask if given that context is my ego betting the better of me? I simply do not know. And the truth is I know I still have much work to do. However I can not deny that the best work I have ever done in my life is often done when I am not in tension with either myself, or those I am in a relationship with. The best work occurs on the edges of my ego and often comes to realization when I least expect it.

The above artwork is not one of my favorites personally. However I know it resonates with others. Therefore I must let it out there and move in from it. I wish it were that simple with so much more in this life.

I hope you like the art and writing. Please feel free to leave a message and I promise I will respond.

Thanks,

Doug