What do we see in this symbolism? At first glance, people see possibly a
heart. Some people see a spade. Still others see an Egyptian symbol for life.
When looking still further, some people see something very interesting is
going on in the center. They see some arrows. There seem to be more puzzle
pieces. What does all this mean? What is the "message?" And why is this
silkscreen called "Inspirations In Focus?"

There are many "parts" and so the following may help to explain the symbolism
I had in mind:

Generally speaking, this image is a symbolic representation of a feeling many
of us have had at one time or another in our lives. It is a feeling that is
so wonderful that we may not even be conscious at the time of its presents
(simply because we are so "lost" in the inspiration of the moment. The
concept of time vanishes. We are "in the moment," so to speak. We have
unlimited energy for clear and directed thinking. Often it is a feeling that
is "all encompassing." Carrying this “feeling” one step further: we may
unconsciously have a feeling of love associated with this intuitive
awareness. The title of the piece has the words "In Focus" in it. This is
because this “feeling” is often a fleeting one. Sadly, we lose it. It passes.
We long for it because it was such a nice "state" to be in. The inspiration
we feel is perfectly in focus at these times of self love and love of others
(and in love for what we may be doing at the time).

There is a heart in the image. It, being a symbol for love, is also quite a
mystery in and of itself. Breaking the heart up into many puzzle pieces
represents the mystery. The pastel color is intentional. You will also see
there is an Egyptian symbol for life, also known as the anch (pronounced
"ahnk"). It is broken up into yet another series of puzzle shapes. The
"mystery" of life is forever with us even in our fleeting moments of clarity
when we think we "know” completely. Interestingly, you will see that there is
a union of love with life in the piece. The heart has been united with the
anch. It is within this union of both mysteries that direction is born. We
feel the inspiration despite the mystery. With a fine-tuned eye, you will
also notice that the spaces between all of the arrows are also arrows
themselves and that they lead to the direction from which their neighboring
arrows came. Quite simply: they go the other way. This union of love with
life is the catalyst that generates the reaction of inner peace within our
own thinking (apart from an awareness of such thoughts themselves).

There are also "shades of gray" within the work. This is a symbolic
representation of the Universe. You will notice that these "areas" in the
image contain no "love" as well as "no life". This is "the void" in the
image. Like the heart and life symbol, this gray universe is broken up into a
mysterious puzzle. There is no unity. This is intended to symbolize death,
simply because there is clearly no life. At this point, the issue of life
(and love) elsewhere in the PHYSICAL universe could be debated. The artist
feels that this symbolic image represents more of a feeling rather than it
does any representation of life (or love) "in the void" itself. The image is
therefore a message about our inner universe and the inspiration that comes
with love in our lives.

Artist’s Note:

Upon reading this text again in July of 2008, it occurs to me I have a
different “view” of love than the view discussed in the latter paragraph. I
would now say Love exists in all areas of the Universe irrespective of man’s
knowledge, (or “feeling”) or relationship to life. It is eternal and “exists”
in all “parts” of the mysterious Universe.