Brandon Whitacre

There are times in life that call for action, efficiency and speed. There are times when slowing down, breathing, and just sitting, are what we have to do. This body of work is intended to express the importance of the slow, quiet instances that I experience in my daily life, and that help me maintain the delicate balance of living. There are things that cause worry, frustration, distraction, anger, confusion, etc… There are also things that counteract these negative aspects and provide contentment and a sense of well being. Be it religion, talking with a close friend, or taking a trip into nature, I feel we all have our own unique and universal ways of finding peace and refuge.

My own life experiences have played a major role in this realization of the importance of these calm, meditative moments. My interest in Buddhist philosophy, in conjunction with my perception of the state of society and the world has prompted me to start focusing on the concepts of slowness, mindfulness, and meditation in my work. Last summer my car broke down and I wasn’t able to fix it for a long while. I had to walk everywhere I went. This sudden change of pace gave me a new perspective on society. I started to see how fast everything was moving, at such a mechanical pace.

There seems to an ever-increasing pressure to do everything faster, better than the rest, and not stop and think about why. I don’t mean to say that we should never hurry, work hard, be busy, or drive. These things are a part of the struggle of life. I am simply trying to express the need for the balancing of these things with slowness.

Two Old  Friends acrylic on canvas 2006

Windowsill acrylic on canvas 2006

Portrait acrylic on canvas 2006