twisted rainbow

The Christmas Gathering
Twisted rainbow, cropped

Twisted Rainbow on canvas inspired by Cheryl's conversation on Mandala Oasis on color - rainbows in particular from Suzanne Fincher's book.

In particular, I was inspired by the idea of creating a rainbow mandala, using all the colors to activate all the chakras in the body and the idea of the feeling of being reborn.

I've been doing some black and white mandalas and some that have been limited in color.

The book I've been working on is thick and my new scanner makes it difficult to scan them.. and I have been a bit lax on scanning them... I photographed these two.

My intention is to do some more painting. It definitely brings me into a different state than the coloring. The painting keeps transforming. Layering, adding on. The background of the painting changed from black to flames to flowers to an edge of black and white design to this...

and it's transformation that I seek.

For YOU...

I would like to wish you all a most merry christmas and whatever else you celebrate... I wish you all warmth, friendship and good cheer!

May your days be filled with laughter and embracing hugs.

I wish you moments of presence.

I wish you peace.

I wish you love.

I wish you joy.

I wish you spend this time in wonderment, appreciating each blessed moment we journey on this earth. I wish you more blessings than you can ever count.

I wish you creative inspiration that fills you with those blessed "ah-ha" moments and they continue to grow...........

Thank you for sharing this journey with me.

Thank you for sharing your creative energy, your wisdom, experiences and your comments.

Happy Solstice!

May all our lives be brighter, lighter,

healthier and happier.

Time without "you"

Just before my computer caught a nasty virus, I watched a Teesha Moore video on creating your own journal from one piece of paper. I love the format of the book and that's what I did during the free time NOT on the computer.

I LOVED it!

I had so much fun cutting and gluing and created a whole journal. I ended up putting it into the show case at the town house with my assemblages because the theme was "recycling into art".

I laid out some junk mail catalogs.. then the journal.. then some cards which were pages scanned from the journal.

I loved it so much, I brought the idea to class and my older kids are now collaging in their own hand-made journals. Thanks Teesha :-)

Now, I have decided to limit my time on the computer. I realized how much of a distraction it can be and how habitual.

With coffee in hand, every morning I checked my email... instead I journaled and sometimes even cleaned :-)

Thank you!

A MOST WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL !
I am most thankful for all the blessing I have received.
Lots of art experiences with my husband and students and friends..
It has been a very good year :-)

Computer is going to the doctor... no blogging for awhile

Shed the thoughts to reveal the heart

I've noticed when I break out of a routine to work on a project, I have a hard time getting back into that routine again. It is like a spiral. One doesn't go back to the beginning, but rather takes the new experience and moves around in an upward motion.

I've added meditation to my morning and evening rituals, so I have taken that experience along with my reading, to come back to mandalas.

I have missed doing them and it was this morning after reading a mandala oasis post on chakras, that I knew I needed to do a mandala to get centered again.

I feel as though I have been all over the place... scattering my energy like the scattered leaves all over the ground. Grounding, that's what I needed and what better place to start than at the first chakra.

Suzanne was inspiring me with her research on chakras at Mandala Oasis, and what seemed to fit here was the issue of Trust that had come up lately.

Trust is a 1st chakra issue.

The issue of mistrust had surfaced and while working on this mandala it came to the forefront of my mind.

Red is the color of the Root Chakra, called Muladhara Chakra.. and snake appeared.

Snake has appeared a few times in my mandalas.. a message of transformation.

Shedding the skin, it gave me thought to our "thoughts" and how we need to shed the old belief patterns from our past. Moving forward, leaving behind that which no longer serves us.

In order to do that, it needs to surface, come to our consciousness.. we need to be aware of it first. One cannot move on until we understand and integrate the lesson.

No sense in burying it, because it will only resurface some other time.

Trust is an issue we develop in our early childhood.

And yes, there were some aha moments with that which I won't go into here...

But the point here is, mandala is speaking to me again. I gave myself the gift of time to listen. To do some art for myself, to have the "conversation" with it, to pay attention to the message.

Thank you my mandala sisters :-)

Back to mandalas

Autumn's burst.

I love autumn, but last week was more like winter.

I love the colors and it's my favorite time to drive.

I could walk forever in the woods with leaves swirling around my head.

It's the energy of autumn, that invigorates me with creative energy.

I want to capture it.

Wrap myself up in it.

It's the the energy of fire.

Dancing.

Eating the rays of the sun.

Have you ever wanted to just find yourself on a little island, eating the rays of the sun?

Drawing in it's healing energy.. looking at the reflection of the moon in water...

embrace yourself with dazzeling light?

close your eyes.

and be there.

Most popular

This seems to be the one that most people respond to first. The chakra box. I called it Between the Earth and Sky. click on the close up for details. There are small bottles representing each of the chakras. My focus is to take the Middle Way, the Tao, in life.. the path of heart.

We called the show Random Fixtures of the Heart. It all comes back to that, the heart. Keeping it open to find it's messages, to follow it's path.

The path to peace.
Of the nine pieces, this one had the most favorable response. Which one is yours?

Art Show - part 3

When most of the people had left, Igor and my sister took pictures of us.. and of course we were goofing around...
Reflections of the Moon
Memories of the Moon - a piece the evolved about global warming. Protect our oceans before they become just a memory...

This is the Vision Box.

Strange Fruit:

Dear Monsanto,

Please leave our seeds alone.

Make Fun Stuff:

This turns around, so it was interesting photographing it... this is the back..

one side

and the other...

Art Show - part 2

A most wonderful feeling... and able to take a breath!
This piece, Reminders of Life, is in memory of Margaret, John's sister that left this planet on May 18th. These are her shoes.
There were lots of lessons for me with her death and one of them a reminder not to put off doing that which you love to do. Not only that, but to have more faith, to dance, to take more chances, to live life to it's fullest.
Dare. Dream. Create.
Don't put anything off.


Close up of the hanging shoes.

My dear brother taking a look...

Art Show - part 1

Between the Earth and Sky:

A Chakra Box

Taking the Middle Way, the path of heart

This one was probably the most popular one of the assemblages/shrines.

Me and John as things began to wind down. I'm next to The Vision Box.

I loved how this one complemented the "eye of love" next to it.

This is the inside of Excavating the Heart. The back of it reads:
"I think you are searching for a heart of gold," she said.
"Yes, and I had to dig deep to find it."
The more open the heart,
the deeper one loves.




Take the pearl, leave the shell. Inspired by Rumi. All these found at Rye beach, except the doll head which I "inherited" from Margaret.

Breathe: Follow the Path of Passion.

As I was creating this, I was influenced by a book my brother and I are reading and it evolved into a piece dedicated to him. It's about finding your path in life, following your passion, your bliss. When one does, everything falls into place... like these assemblages :-)

My brother creates beautiful ponds, loves nature... a natural gardener. We share a commonality in the love of nature... so this one is for him.

Need to go eat... and I'll post more later.

The neglected blogs....

I have been so remiss in keeping up with my blogging... Sometimes I just don't have much to say.

Most of the time, it's because I don't have anything to show or I haven't uploaded pictures.

Life seems to be back on track with teaching art, yoga, working on art for clients and a show me and John are doing together.

His work hangs on the wall, my is off the wall. Appropriate.

Initially, he wanted to do the show solo, but then "invited" me to participate, but only with my assemblages and shrines.

OK by me :-)

I am having a great time with this, creating in my free time. OH YES! During the school year, I HAVE free time... unlike the summer. Seems to be a bit backwards, and I'm hoping to have that changed for next summer.

Anyway..... Here's some stuff I've been working on.. just a peek.

I'm also reading Hick's new book, The Vortex (an Abraham book) which seems to be a wonderful companion to The Presence Process, by Michal Brown. Lot's of good insight and Aha! moments. Learning and growing........

Mandala Insights..

Fiesta Sun
Eye Dream

Medicine Shield
Looking back over my mandala journal, I've noticed that red is not a color I'll use too often. I'll work with a deep red or a magenta, using a bit of red as accent.
I hardly wear red.
So this was a thought that came about, more like a question... really.
Why the attraction to red? I'm using it more often in my recent work.
Red , a color of the first chakra, to me is a cry for some grounding.
I tend to take on a variety of jobs (Gemini midheaven) and I can get pretty scattered with my energy, especially when clients want it done at the same time.
At the same time, getting all this work is energizing. A pattern, healthy or not, that I see as "working best under stress"... I get it done when the pressure is ON.
So, once again, I look to the happy medium, the center ground (grounding) where I can balance work and play (my own art).
Being self-employed, I take it all on, because one never knows - old thinking!
It's always there and sometimes it pours.
This is a habit that dies hard, although there are a few jobs I did say no to recently. More for fear of totally losing it though. I felt I was on the edge...
scary.
A new season, with a return to a different schedule (more to my liking, I might add) and with it a need to bring my self-discipline to working in a timely manner. (no procrastinating!)
Getting the work done, but leaving room for myself.. my Self.
So this is my medicine shield for now, a reminder to ground myself and to be in balance.
Stand strong. Rooted.
and then take off.....
upwards into the creative realm.
Bliss.

For Passion

After creating this last night, I thought I'd dedicate it to my friend Ann Marie whose birthday it was yesterday... Happy Birthday! It's message is to follow your passions in life. Open up to them, keep them always in your heart and let them out to share with the world.
Who would we be without our passions?
They are what keep our fires burning. Vowing to keep stoking that fire, feeding it with doing that which I love to do. My art. My spiritual path.. these are things I share with my friend.
Always good to have a friend to share these passions with and glad to share this path with you.
Happy Birthday :-)

Away from or Towards

I had one of those moments when it "clicked" as to how I was looking at something a bit problematic in my life... attached. stuck. focusing on what I wanted to remove from my life.. what I was wanting to move away from... when I focused on it, I felt terrible.
And then something happened...
I began to visualize what it was that I did want.. what I wanted to move towards and my body felt different. I smiled. I felt good... aaahh, silly me.
Looking out the wrong window again.
It is that law of attraction.. what you focus on is what appears.. even if only in thought.
So instead of moving away from, I am now moving towards.
Not from, but to...
and it feels so much better :-)

All One

A week long vacation to take in the mountain air and spend some time creating. I did quite a few mandalas. Our cabin had a table big enough to share.. John on one side and me on the other with enough room to spread out. We could hear the sound of the water rushing by, birds singing along with the smell of wood burning below at various campsites. It's a peaceful place.
We take walks to the creek, read and do our art. A truly relaxing vacation.
This one I did with the twinkling H2O's that I ordered.. and finally got to open up the new colors.
Most of the mandalas unfold without any conscious intention other than just wanting to create in a circle. Afterwards I sit with it. Listen to what it wants to say, or what I need to hear.
Being in this environment, it is easy to feel at peace and at one with all beings... human, animal, plant, river, rock... breathing in the beauty, listening to the song of the birds... reminding me of what is important.
I feel in alignment again.
I fell out of it for awhile and I'm not so sure why I had to create all this drama. I did have a choice on how I responded to all of it and I didn't do very well.
This mandala reminded me of the oneness...

~All One~

One with the Divine

She is One with Nature

Goddess of Expression

Creative Spirit

Her palette is her Spirit

holding the colors

Nature has manifested for her

Her power comes from heartfelt Service

Wisdom passed on..

Stamina shines forth

Radiating her strength

She knows

She sees

All embracing

Reaching out

Connected

One.

Divine.

8/17/09

Deep Reach

Reaching out from my heart center

How far, how deep

can I reach

stretch

Open

I want to open out to the Universe

Stretch so deeply

as to touch the edges of life and love

Open up so deeply and fully

Embracing all life and love has to offer

Embrace All

even the unknown

Drink it into my heart

filling it to it's fullness

and then exploding it outwards

landing all over you :-)

Insightful mandalas

I did this one on Sat. morning.. called "inner sensing" which I didn't really know why. It was something that popped into my head and didn't question it. I pretty much did that through out the mandala.. choosing colors intuitively. Allowing. Seeing what comes up. Later comes the insight.
Interestingly enough, in yoga class, this is pretty much what the class was about. Inner sensing - getting in touch with what was going on internally. It was an amazing practice! Powerful in "presence" and right in synch with what I am reading... The Presence Process by Michael Brown.

This mandala is called, "when paths merge". Life can be so freaky at times. Small. Without going into the details of it, life has shown me that when we are on a path, you never know who you'll run into. We all have our path in life, but I find it astounding at times how paths interweave with someone else's.. another "pay attention" moment. What is this telling me?

I'm where I'm supposed to be. I guess we all are where we're supposed to be. We just look too much outside ourselves and into the future.. wondering rather than Being in the present moment and receiving and intimately feeling the moments in our hearts, bodies, soul... relishing each glorious moment.

Each step.. walk gracefully.

Each breath.. be aware.

Being conscious of life.

Living it with conscious awareness rather than mindlessly walking-talking-in-the-head-to-the-next-place-I-need-to-be and in such a hurry that you don't consider anyone else around you... ever been like that?

Take a moment to walk. slowly. consciously. allow your body to move the way it desires. Give it permission.. to sway. to swoon. to glide... to move into dance. Be inside and take notice.
Have fun :-)

Jungle

Wandering eyes

Starting to slack off on my mandalas a day... I kept up with it pretty good and even went back to color some in... but the last week, I've only been able to do some on the weekend.
Today, this one is taking on a new meaning.
I think what happens sometimes in art is that the unconscious is revealed to us but not always right away.. it takes awhile for the conscious mind to "get it".
I'm a pretty stable person. I've lived in the same place for over 30 years, held the same summer job for about 25. There is a comfort in stability, but I also like diversity. I take on a lot of different jobs throughout the year... this year, there was a big increase in work. I teach art to children, teach yoga to adults, teach private art classes at various times, take on various other art jobs painting furniture or walls or tiles or whatever someone may want painted... add to that community projects: window painting, mini workshops, etc.
I am full, overflowing with an abundance of work. (For this, I am grateful )
Add to THAT- caretaking parents, fitting in my own art, so yes... life is full and diverse.
Summer involves camp.. pretty much a full time job and I still have clients that want stuff, yoga classes, incomplete projects waiting in the room, and I AM BURNT!
Wandering eyes revealed to me that it is time to let something go... and it is camp.
I come home and veg.. nap... or whine... Client's work sits waiting to be done. My own work waits to be done. My energy is depleted.......... my eyes wander to where I can go, what I can change.
Goal: Next year start a preschool art camp. Mornings only... Saving my afternoons for my own art, clients.. and having some fun.
Yes, these eyes are looking to the future - knowing it's time to leave. Let it go.

Blogger mystery...

I have my blogs back. I like some things with wordpress, (www.mandalas4me.wordpress.com/ )but I love that you can click on the above picture and it'll pop up larger... not sure why wordpress doesn't do that, or maybe I just don't know how.
I have stuff to scan. So now I know it's not ME that messed up, that I deleted something, but some weird glitch with IE, because this happened to someone else as well.
I love the computer, but damn! they are so temperamental.
Sometimes, you just need to let it go... does everything need to have an answer? and sometimes, I don't really care as the why (although this is rare :-) just as long as I have what I want.. in this case, my blog... it's a mystery as to what happened and right now, I don't care.. enjoying the moment :-)

A Station Break

Here's the deal... I'm at the library. I cannot access my blog from my own computer because, well, I messed up something and until I figure it out, you can go to my NEW blog over at Wordpress.
See my mandala art at http://www.mandalas4me.wordpress.com
and my main blog will be http://www.doegrozart.wordpress.com
So, until furtur notice....... that's where I'll be. Hope you come visit.
thanks.

Tiles in progress........

So far, here is where I'm at with the tiles. Some of the work will be done on site, adding grape vines... one bonus of doing fruit bowls and doing them in a timely manner, is that I get to eat the "still life"

Ate the mango today :-)

Yum.

Remembering

Remembering

It's been awhile, but it's coming back to me.

yes.

I remember your radiance and how magical you made me feel about the world.

You were gone for such a long time, but now you are back.

You were deep in slumber, waiting for this time.

This time,

I will keep you in my heart center.

This time, I will not take you for granted.

This time,

You are deeply appreciated.

Art of the Young Child

I have been lucky enough to fall into the work I do... I give children an opportunity to create.

Important stuff - for them - for all of us. From the beginning of October until the end of March I give them a variety of materials to create with and take pictures of the creative process. The celebration of Week of the Young Child is this week, and we celebrated yesterday with a reception of their work... It is diplayed along the walls, covering both floors, and in the case.. It brings color and joy to all who see it. The next few posts are some of the photos... enjoy :-)

Party Time...

Sometimes, one sings their art...............

At the Reception...
Sharing their art with family and friends...

enjoying some snacks

Chatting with friends, finding their artwork..

and taking some time out to do a little dance

say "Cheese"


Parties over ....