August 31, 2026
Enso Art Rurns a Single Brushstroke into a Moment of Reflection and Self-Expression
By Roxanne Brown
Enso Art Rurns a Single Brushstroke into a Moment of Reflection and Self-Expression
Wendy Pablo wasn’t searching for a new artistic medium when an unfamiliar word suddenly entered her mind.
“I heard, ‘Paint Enso,’” she says.
There was only one problem.
“I thought, ‘What is Enso?’”
Wendy, who lives in The Plantation at Leesburg, had never heard the word before. Curious, she searched it online and discovered an ancient Japanese art form centered around a single brushstroke painted in the shape of a circle.
Enso, traditionally associated with Zen philosophy, is often described as a reflection of mindfulness, self-expression and living in the present moment. The painted circle can be open or closed, bold or delicate, but no two are ever exactly alike.
The discovery felt like something bigger than coincidence.
“I thought, ‘Okay, Lord, it’s from you because I didn’t do anything to create it,” Wendy says. “I just kept going with it.”
That moment four years ago began what Wendy describes as her “Enso art journey.”
When introducing others to the practice, she encourages them to breathe, quiet their minds and focus on the present moment right before painting their circles.
“There’s no need for perfection because beauty is in imperfection,” she says.
One woman recovering from two broken legs once painted a perfectly closed circle, calling it “Hope.”
“She felt trapped and said, ‘I hope to one day get my freedom again,’” Wendy recalls.
A man drew what Wendy describes as “a wobbly, crazy-looking” circle.
“He said, ‘This is called windswept, because I was imagining myself on a boat with the wind going through my hair,’” says Wendy, adding that the man was completely bald and weeping while sharing his thoughts.
Experiences like that continue to wow her, reinforcing what she loves most about Enso. Every participant starts with the same task of painting a circle, but the finished pieces often reveal something deeply personal.
Some circles reflect peace. Others represent healing, patience or life’s ups and downs. Each one becomes a snapshot of a person’s thoughts and emotions in that moment.
“Everybody’s got a story,” she says. “It’s compelling seeing all the different emotions and things brewing in each heart.”
Photos: Nicole Hamel
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Originally from Nogales, Arizona, Roxanne worked in the customer service industry while practicing freelance writing for years. She came on board with Akers Media in July 2020 as a full-time staff writer for Lake & Sumter Style Magazine and was promoted to Managing Editor in October 2023—her dream job come true. Prior to that and after just having moved to Florida in 1999, Roxanne had re-directed her prior career path to focus more on journalism and went on to become a reporter for The Daily Commercial/South Lake Press newspapers for 16 years. Additionally, Roxanne—now an award-winning journalist recognized by the Florida Press Club and the Florida chapter of The Society of Professional Journalism—continues working toward her secondary goal of becoming a published author of children’s books.
