Exploring Mind and Consciousness
These recent paintings explore the relationship between the mind, perception, and consciousness, and what this relationship reveals about the nature of reality and the human experience. As well, some paintings continue to revisit and visually translate the joyful, expansive, and complex ideas and experiences described in the closing sūtras in Book Four of the Yoga Sūtras, Kaivalya Pāda.
Perception and Consciousness: Triangular, 2025, oil on canvas on wood panel, 21” x 24” Do we ever perceive what is truly there? Or do we perceive what we are conditioned to perceive? Or perhaps we create a perception based on an idealized form of what exists? Whatever is true, perception, the mind, is a gateway to consciousness, as long as we focus on consciousness and not the content of consciousness.
Perception and Consciousness: Square, 2025, oil on canvas, 16” x 20”. In the midst of whatever is hot, where is the unchanging consciousness?
Perception and Consciousness: Horizon, 2025, oil on canvas, 25” x 37”. At every liminal moment, there is an entrance possible to awareness of consciousness.
Powers From Other Means, 2025, oil on canvas on wood panel, 16” x 20”. Yoga Sūtra 4.01: Powers can be from birth, herbs, mantra, disciplines, or samādhi.
Joy of Perception, 2025, oil on canvas on wood panel, 16” x 20”.
![Perception, 2024, oil on canvas on wood panel, 16” x 20”.
Yoga Sūtra 4.22: The unchanging consciousness becomes aware of intellect when it [the intellect] takes the form [of an object].](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/677dbb3375c7077642913d35/4c0ab5ab-3c48-404c-8e91-aca66f5e0da6/6_Perception.Work_Townsend.jpg)
Perception, 2024, oil on canvas on wood panel, 16” x 20”. Yoga Sūtra 4.22: The unchanging consciousness becomes aware of intellect when it [the intellect] takes the form [of an object].
Celestial, 2025, oil on canvas on wood panel, 16” x 20”.
Into The Pearl, 2025, oil on canvas on wood panel, 16” x 20”.
![Resolved Through Meditation, 2025, oil on canvas, 24” x 36”.
Yoga Sūtra 4.28: It is said that these [saṁskāras, interruptions] should be eliminated like the afflictions (kleśas) [through meditation].](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/677dbb3375c7077642913d35/09723add-d569-4f30-a95f-ec678152e75a/9_ResolvedThroughMeditation.Work_Townsend.jpg)
Resolved Through Meditation, 2025, oil on canvas, 24” x 36”. Yoga Sūtra 4.28: It is said that these [saṁskāras, interruptions] should be eliminated like the afflictions (kleśas) [through meditation].
The Mind Organizes Many Parts, 14” x 17,” Oil on Canvas on Wood Panel, 2024. Yoga Sūtra 4.24: Being imprinted with innumerable impressions, the mind is for the purpose of another because it operates with many parts.
The Guru, Yoga Sūtra 1.37, 2025. Oil on canvas on wood panel. 18” x 21”. Yoga Sūtra 1.37: Or the mind is pacified by attuning to the mind of one who is free from desire.
Toward Kaivalya, Sūtra 4.26, 2025, oil on canvas on wood panel. 21” x 35”. Sūtra 4.26: Then, the mind, inclined toward profound wisdom (viveka), gravites toward non-dependent liberation (kaivalya)