Z.
The Zen Absurdist.

“You are not reading a final product. You are witnessing the process.”

I’m Z—a writer, painter, husband, and father. The Zen Absurdist is the name I use for the work that comes out of paying attention: to my own mind, to the people I love, and to this strange business of being human.

Each morning at 6:05, I publish a piece on Substack. What began in February 2025 as an invitation to think aloud has become a daily practice. I write about consciousness, philosophy, relationships, culture, and whatever ordinary encounter refuses to leave me alone. A question from my daughter can stay with me as long as a book. Some days call for a careful argument. Others call for a laugh.

The name reflects how I try to meet the world: with attention, curiosity, and a sense of humor about how little control we have. I’ve changed my mind enough times to be wary of certainty. I’m interested in what happens when we loosen our grip on who we think we are—and remain willing to be surprised.

Painting was one of those surprises. I had been making things digitally since the late ’90s, but began painting by hand after my daughter received some leftover paints and brushes. Curiosity led to sketchbooks, acrylics, and a growing family of strange characters. Birds, eyes, and marks return across canvas, paper, and found objects. I think of painting as a conversation: I make a mark, see what answers, and work from there.

The essays and paintings belong together. Questions become images; images send me back to questions. This site gives that work a place to live side by side, where you can follow a thought, spend time with a painting, or find something that feels unexpectedly familiar.

I’m still learning how to do all of this. You’re welcome to think with me.