b'Your work often conveys both the vastness of the universe and the serenity of meditation. How do you find this balance in your creative process?MB:I simply paint peace. A painting becomes a mirror for the person who gazes upon it. If they connect with peace, the artwork reflects that message back to them. It is not the painting itself that heals, but what people choose to do with the energy they feel. They continue to paint thecanvas of their own lives through their interpretation. Before I paint, I take time to empty myself and to harmo- nize my energy through meditation. I never create fromnegative emotions, only from luminous energies, so thatmy paintings may bring well-being to those who contem- plate them.What is the most profound feeling or reflectionyou hope viewers will take away when experiencing your art?MB:I want people to encounter their own vastness, to recognize that they are the creators of their lives, and that they can fully experience the serenity that my paintings are meant to transmit.You often use gold leaf and unique texturaltechniques in your work. What do these materials represent in your artistic expression? In my paintings, I explore materials to create capti-MB: Martin Beauprvating textures. Gold leaf and Swarovski crystals bring in martinbeaupre@ccapcable.comthe brilliance of light. Sand and modeling paste connect martinbeaupre.comme more deeply with nature. Ink and acrylic allow for Lu Martin Galleriesspontaneity of movement, while oil paint offers a dream-372 N Coast Highway, Laguna Beachlike quality, like clouds inviting the viewer to drift into 949.494.8074 lumartingalleries.com the imagination. 66 BALLIET + WANG LUXURY LIVING'