“Once you start…continue”
A time-lapse video recording of a a live Dodalism painting performance series in its third installment. The series focus is on the action of creating through free forming and stream of consciousness expression in a public setting. Shot at the Toronto Richview Library as part of 2011 Culture Days in Canada over a five hour period.
Traveling moments (studio installations) 122cm by 86cm – 48” x 34” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2013. 
Live at/for CAMH. 45cm by 61cm – 18″ by 24″ inches. Acrylic, silver and gold pen on canvass. 2010. 
Connections. 20cm by 28cm – 8” x 11” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2009. 
Conversation flower. 20cm by 28cm – 8” x 11” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2009. 
Trance dancer. 20cm by 28cm – 8” x 11” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2009. 
This is not a has pipe. size n/a. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2009. 
Marjorie Eliot playing the piano (Founder of Parlor Entertainment Harlem, NYC.) 20cm by 12cm – 8” x 5” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2009. 
Bob Cunningham playing the base. 20cm by 12cm – 8” x 5” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2009. 
Four hour recording of a Jazz show @ St.Nicks in Harlem, NYC. 20cm by 12cm – 8” x 5” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2009. 
East European Trade Routes (Painted as a performance at a Toronto Board of Trade Dinner.) 91cm by 76cm – 36” x 30” inches. Acrylic inks on stretched canvass. 2008. 
god. 25cm by 20cm – 10” x 8” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2007. 
Her. 25cm by 20cm – 10” x 8” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2007. 
The tourist. 25cm by 20cm – 10” x 8” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2007. 
She dreaming. 25cm by 20cm – 10” x 8” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2007. 
Venice Hustle. 25cm by 20cm – 10” x 8” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2007. 
Unknown Journey. 20cm by 28cm – 8” x 11” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2007. 
Maco collective fundraiser party. 20cm by 28cm – 8” x 11” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2007. 
NYC Weekend. 20cm by 28cm – 8” x 11” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2007. 
Chile. 20cm by 28cm – 8” x 11” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2007. 
The Pianist at St.Nicks Harlem, NYC (pencil work by Rick Kresta.) 28cm by 43cm -11” x 17” inches. Archival print format. 2006. 
Look beyond the 9 to 5. 183cm by 305cm – 72″‘ x 120″ inches. Latex Paint on primed concrete. 2006. 
Black & Blue. 152cm by 157cm – 60″ x 62″ inches. Ballpoint pen on blotch paper. 2007. 
In Poland 14 days after 14 years. 20cm by 28cm – 8” x 11” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2007. 
Methinks Presents: NYC PoStCaRD show at CinaCycle. 20cm by 28cm – 8” x 11” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2007. 
Rock show in Toronto. 20cm by 28cm – 8” x 11” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2007. 
Ants on the Sidewalk (Painted as a performance on Queen St. West in Toronto.) 152cm by 152cm – 60″ x 60″ inches. Acrylic ink on un-stretched canvass. 2005. 
Colour (Painted as a performance during Car-free Sundays in Kensington Market, Toronto.) 152cm by 152cm – 60″ x 60″ inches. Acrylic ink on un-stretched canvass. 2005. 
NYC Ron. 28cm by 20cm – 11” x 8” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2005. 
New York City. 28cm by 20cm – 11” x 8” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2005. 
Mini Infernal Machine. 31cm by 46cm – 12” x 18” inches. Ball point & Ink pens, silver marker on watercolor paper. 2005. 
3 dates. (original became the central panel for Black & Blue. 20cm by 28cm – 8” x 11” inches. Archival Print. 2005. 
Sitting on a bench at Luis coffee shop in Kensington. 28cm by 20cm – 11” x 8” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2005. 
Corporation. 28cm by 20cm – 11” x 8” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2005. 
TTC (Toronto Transit Commission.) 28cm by 20cm – 11” x 8” inches. Ballpoint pen on paper. 2005.
Dodalism (Doo-da-lism, root word: doodle): to do, express, create, play, learn, and explore consciously and with a sense of wonder, from one’s essence / spirit. It is a creative approach akin to playing, using scribbling or a seemingly chaotic approach to expression. Inspiration emerges from the moment at hand and responds to awareness of the internal and external environment, which gives the work a poetic quality.
Taking account of Zen teachings such as “no mind” and other creative approaches like stream of consciousness and free forming, Dodalism is a body of work about channeling creativity into a physical manifestation by focusing on the action of “doing.” The idea shapes itself organically, with each action influencing the next action.
Initially I conceived of Dodalism as a purely abstract aspect of creating. The Infernal Machine drawing, one of my early pen scribbles, was used as a way of mapping and recoding thought. I was curious to see what kind of patterns, if any, would emerge from the attempt of separating my ego from the creative output? The non-specific approach created a space where ideas came and went, producing a rich mosaic of miscellaneous possibilities.
With each new piece, Dodalism progressed to encompass representational elements as the works became narratives and recordings of impressions that gathered during my moment of creating. Perceptions were noted and fed back into the creative loop, in turn influencing further action. I came to focus or channel the “chaotic scribble” within conceptual boundaries, thereby preserving the liveliness of the original scribble drawing while refining the presentation of its underlying ideas.
I have applied this creative approach to drawing, painting, installation, performance, writing, and research.