April 05th, 2022

I photographed this Saddhu, or Holy man, seated on the steps of a Hindu temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, as he sat quietly observing the events of the day.  Later, I contemplated the image and the busy background in the photo and began to consider the composition. At that moment, the Muse appeared, and I had a very clear flash come to mind of an image from our 1995 expedition to climb 28, 250’ Kangchenjunga, in eastern Nepal.  It struck me immediately as the perfect background for this painting, although I did not, as yet, understand the significance.  The finished piece tells the story of a mystic, who has completed his homeward journey, taking every step assigned him along the way.  He gazes serenely into the distance, his view is now unobstructed by illusions… his vision is infinite.  Only the “Final Step” remains, the step from form back into formlessness.