“The first half of life is devoted to forming a healthy ego, the second half is going inward and letting go of it.”  ~ Carl Jung

It seems that letting go of things was a central lesson in 2012. It has also been a part of learning as we begin 2013. Something I enjoy about stone balance is that it has a weird way of breaking ego. just when I seem to get ahead of myself, stone balance will remind me to slow down.

This is my first balance of 2013. A freezing day up at woods quarry… but as always, the experience was quiet and relaxing.. A cool part of this photo is that I inadvertently captured downtown Denver in the distant background… It looks like such a peaceful place from way up here… another reminder that perspective can change things quite a bit.

Something I like to incorporate into my balances, from a design perspective, is making the form flow as a whole. Just as with fabric squares in watercolor quilting, I like to fit rocks together in such ways as to become extensions of one another…  so they collectively radiate a certain energy through design. Another important aspect I enjoy is the tension that comes out of pushing limits of my own skill… often a greater challenge will induce more focused meditative states where breathing really becomes center of attention.  Without paying close attention to breath, the small changes in lung inflation are enough to unbalance my efforts as I brace the premature balance. SLOW BREATHING required.

btw, I find Carl Jung to be an incredible genius. His work and perspectives are highly inspirational both artistically and personally. I have also heard from credible sources that Carl Jung was himself interested in the art of Stone Balance and has even written briefly about the practice.  Though, I do not know this for certain… anyone with more insight into this, let me know!

Last year around this time was when I first dabbled with my own watercolor quilt design..  I don’t have sewing skills, but I highly enjoy the creative process of arranging the 2 inch fabric squares, cut from mom’s collection. My mom is an excellent quilter. She’s done it for as long as I can remember, and has built up quite a fine collection of interesting and colorful fabrics over the years…  all of the 2 inch squares are painstakingly arranged into palettes based on color, value, and print patterns…the possibilities are endless.

The goal is simple. Blend the colors/designs/values in such ways as to make the squares “flow” and disappear into one another.  I’ve always thought that I inherited much of my designer’s eye from my mom.  When I was growing up, my mom would constantly ask for my input on her watercolor designs. 



I used two important tools during the process. A red color filter is a plastic screen to look at the quilt through.  The filter neutralizes all colors so I only see the relative VALUE of my arrangement. This process really helps in spotting unwanted lines that can appear when squares may match by color but not value.  Paying attention to both spectrums is the key to achieving a more fluid piece.



The other important tool is a reducing glass. It is much easier to spot breaks in overall fluidity when the piece is viewed from a distance.  Arranging the squares up close is one thing. But to create a unified feel, It is very helpful to alternate perspective between close and far.  :)



So here’s a picture of my final arrangement.  I also took the liberty of shooting a time-lapse of this creation. 2 inch square by 2 inch square… the final product after sequencing all the frames will look amazing :D

Let me just add that the colors in these fabrics are absolutely amazing. vivid. diverse… This arrangement is more abstract than most examples I’ve been shown from professionals. but I love the intense depth of color here. sometimes I stare at it begin seeing 3-dimensional illusions.  Tis’ a great stimulus for the eyes and imagination :)

**This quilt is available for high resolution printing. limited edition. only 10 prints will be made before retiring the opportunity..

email gravitygrab@gmail.com for inquiries..

“The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.”

~ Lao Tzu

Some balances take on such interesting form when all the parts are arranged thoughtfully. I wonder what there is inside my mind and perception that tells me this is an interesting balance. Perhaps specific arrangements of shapes, colors, proportions have a way of communicating with my subconscious…? I’ve recently thought often about the paradigm where these balances are merely actions of the total universe rather than actions of my separate ego. They would not be possible without everything else happening simultaneously if everything is a single energy system. So then, are the balances communicative in some way? after all, it is the total universe acting to create something for itself to witness. ..