In my art, I am exploring the individual and collective Search. In one sense, these are religious paintings. However, they are not about any specific religion or cultural tradition. The Search is something that appears to be built into human life. Recently, some research has suggested that we each have a gene which causes us to search for transcendence. Others have long believed that we search for something greater than ourselves because of our fear of death (the psychological approach) – or perhaps because of the “problem of evil” (the ethical approach). Some Process Thinkers posit a concept of the “Divine Lure” as the way in which humans feel a pull to find transcendence. In any case, this drive toward transcendence has been an essential element in human life throughout history. In individual cultures, religion has often defined The Search in terms of it's goal – the local values, norms and the local deities. However, in the “global village” which is our planet, we can now see that the The Search is universal. It is not specific to any one tradition. It is interesting to look at the The Search through the use of symbols, images, color combinations, and compositional approaches. The goal of this art is not to attempt an image of the Divine, but rather to create an image that looks at the universal human longing for transcendance. I strive to keep this work free of sectarian tendencies, yet express something of central importance to human existence. In these times when religion has often been a dividing force in human society, artistic expressions that are more universal in nature may help to reconcile our social and cultural differences, and thereby point to a more holistic vision of human life on this fragile planet.