TrustyScribe’s process is a never ending quest to address the big questions about the human experience and connectedness. He has worked for nearly two years to expand his creative repertoire, learning and falling in love with underwater portraiture. The image of the peaceful Monk began as an underwater photo, taken by Trusty just weeks before the global pandemic shut down California. As an avid scuba diver, Trusty has always found peace beneath the surface, whether it be an ocean, a lake or a pool. Creating this image with famed ballet dancer Ikolo Griffin, was just the beginning of this piece.

Nodding to the street art origins of his work, Trusty looked to repurpose something traditionally discarded, building the background of the painting in paint swatch cards from multiple hardware stores, pushing the boundaries of the concept of “help yourself.” Each layer of the painting is then sealed between a think coating of resin, creating a visual depth and nod towards the aquatic origins. The saffron robe is a reminder of the artist’s journey of meditation during a vow of silence while on a spiritual journey through South East Asia. The final layer of resin is lightly flecked with a metallic blue wave, finalizing and sealing in water the entirety of peace and mindfulness.