This series is inspired by the notion that there is an ocean of boundless calm behind the swirling patterns of thought, emotion, and sense perception. With the seven graphite drawings of my Gateways series, I am exploring the idea of symbolic portals that open to this alternate realm and are loosely influenced by Tibetan mandalas. Each free-floating, meticulously rendered pencil drawing contains within it an expansive oceanscape and some of them have a luminous light that radiates from the opening into our world.