more mandalas :-)

Crystal Lotus
Cross roads. The center is empty, for "possibilities". I found some markers that I had forgotten about and played with the large variety of colors. It made me think about decision making. I've had this toothach and according to Louis Hay, teeth have to do with just that. decisions and indecisiveness. Decision-making is not my strongest asset... the more I think, the more muddled my mind becomes. I need spontaneity, decide from my gut, on instinct. This mandala made me think of this, crossroads being a time when I have to make a decision on which way to go. Which path I should take. The affirmation for myself is to feel confident that whatever path I do take, will be the right one and will take me to a wonderous adventure, no matter where I am.
I started with the two moon shapes mirroring each other, divided the circle in both directions and put a dot in the middle. from there the hearts and eye appeared and radiated outward. I had fun with the patterning of colors... light and dark.. but the result of the hearts and eye shape, the leaves representing life, seeing a world with love, I thought of John and called it, "I love my life with you"
Reaching towards Summer

Summer Solstice... things in bloom, reaching for the coolness of shade.

Photo Exhibit

The Harrison Council for the Arts is holding their first amature photo contest and will be displayed this evening... being a member, I didn't enter the contest, but I am exhibiting non-cometition display boards of my Peru pictures. I have been printing out photos in between working on menu boards for Powells... work space now includes the living room :-)
So, if you're in the area, stop by Masterpiece Frame and Gallery to see the work. Tonight is the reception, but I'm sure it'll be up for a bit. I'm just thrilled I can exhibit them!

Four Directions

Altered photos of me at Machu Picchu and the water lily I took at Pepsico. Inspired by my trip and the beauty that surrounds me...... I give homage to the four directions.

Mandalas at Mom's

Being in the NOW, spending time doing that which I love to do, see.
Ribbon Dance
In the mandala yahoo group, we had a "prompt" of what calms us...

Doing mandalas definitely calms me. This week, I took notice of when I was calm, centered and most peaceful.
My brother was away and my husband and I stayed at my moms these past two weekends. I took my sketchbook and twinkling H2O's along with my pigma pen and water brush. oh yes, definitely a wise decision...............
Besides creating mandalas, then next on the list is doing any art work... although painting more so. Then, meditating and doing yoga definitely brings me to that peaceful place. Reading. Listening to the birds and even the rain (as long as it isn't raining really hard).
I played a bit altering photos and another mandals not posted.
More later.........

Journal pages

Intending to come to the page to work on a mandala, this came up instead. Inka Dreams kept repeating in my mind. I have been focused on bringing balance into my life and this turned out to be a top. When the top can spin and be in balance... all around us moving, but we remain centered. It is like being in the center of the wheel.

Centered. Balanced.

I started out scribbling with watercolor crayons, blocking in some color. Later I pulled things out, adding line. "Sometimes we need to create our own path by walking it." On the bottom it says, You have a choice. Follow the path that is already there or create your own path. As with everything, I have always strived for being original... walking a path that was true to myself.
Keeping on the theme of paths... First chakra. Foundation. Home. No matter where we go in life, it is good to come home.

Journal pages vs. the canvas

I've been journaling with pigma pens and twinkling H2O's and a gel pen here and there. I'm looking at this as warm-ups for getting back to the canvas. The canvas for some reason is harder for me... takes up more room, paints and canvas are a lot more expensive and therefore, unless I have something in mind, I don't like the idea of wasting paint.
This is something I would like to over come.
I recently saw a painting that had a background of color, the artist pretty much just smearing color on the background and then pulling out what they saw. It reminded me of a conversation I had with Jake about being spontaneous in painting. Just throwing paint on the canvas and see where it goes..........
I'll get there, but first I have to clean my room up... and then make some space to paint... and maybe....
yeah. not very spontaneous at all.
Not sure where that comes from, this being safe. It's only paint and can be painted over I know. BUT, It becomes another painting that sits around as well. This place is small. I have canvases stored all over the place... under beds and in closets... some hang... others collect dust.
So I paint small or on a wall, which is already there and not taking up any space.
God, there is this part of me that wants to explode on a canvas... and then there is the critic, the one who just voiced all the reasons not to.

Sunday Stroll in the Park

We took our walk at Pepsico today. Nice day. Breezy....... I was happy to find the water lilies and the frogs. Later we went to the Neuberger for an amazing exhibit. Just the inspiration I needed.

Journal page 2

I sketched this out the other day and painted it in today. After reading an email (on the other blog) I am placing my focus on what brings me beauty, what is good in life.
Today, I was a bit challenged while driving. I found myself again focusing on the inconsiderate drivers, judging others for driving these huge cars ("why the @$#! do they need a hummer!") and catching myself, I asked myself where was I finding the beauty??? I turned my attention to that which I could find and soon realized I can find beauty in anything really.... it's just a matter of changing one's perception...
Sometimes though, it is just easier to stay home. I decided a lack of sleep and feeling a bit cranky does not make for a happy Doreen who is loving everyone out there.. better to be home and read and nap and paint with my twinkling H2O's. Yeah, that's what brings me joy. Creating.
Being with John, sharing our thoughts....
Life is good :-)

Join the Fun!

Have you ever done an online class?

I've taken one on and love how it was done. Mai-Liis is a great teacher and she is offering another class. It's a Torso Tag Book....

Come Play with Me!
The torso tag book class through Joggles.com has been canceled, so I will be teaching it through my website.

Start date: June 11, 2008, when you receive the materials list complete with substitutions which...chances are good you already own, torso outlines, and all the instructions. I will be online with students for 3 weeks to make sure that everyone has the help that they need, but you can do this project whenever you have the time. The tags are placed into the book with brads, and therefore can easily be removed and used for other purposes such as gift tags, or book marks.

Price: $25To sign up, PayPal to
MaiLiis@ix.netcom.com
This is a fun mixed media project for artists and non-artists alike.

I'm playing... I so need a project that I can do and share with others. You can go to her website to see her fabulous work and inquire about it if you need........

Journal page 1

This is my doodle page. Profound, huh?....
The one thing I constantly need to come back to is just that though. Too much in my head. I have to just go and do... just pick up the pen, or brush or whatever it is and just begin.
Hardest part is beginning. Once you do, the rest is just going with the flow....................

A new beginning

today I sat with my pigma pen... bought some new ones which is always good for inpiring one to sit and draw. I heard Jake's voice saying to be spontaneous. He was referring to painting, but I wanted to just doodle and I did.
I opened up a new book, a scrapbook that was on sale. Outside cover will be redone, but the pages are nice for watercolors (twinkling H2O's) and I have begun.
Words and doodles became a fish. I'll post tomorrow when it's done.
It is good to start again.
Right now, it is something I need in my life.
Art therapy.

Recommitting

Coming out of hiding, I am.... I've been slacking off here with the art for various reasons. Distracted and preoccupied with other things. A trip to Peru and it's preparation and just plain ol' procrastination.
Now it's time to refocus my attention on my art. This includes my love of photography. I'm commited to carrying my camera with me every where again.

And the other thing is painting.

First is to finish up some paintings - the ones that came to a point and then were put on hold. My attention went into teaching and putting together an art and photo exhibit of preschoolers. That was FUN!

One of my favorite subjects to photograph is children. I took a few in Peru that I have on my other blog, but I'll put here as well.

I intend that I begin again, continue to create every day. Bring creativity into every aspect of my life, spend time in the art room every day, and create some art for myself and to share with others. I intend to allow spirit to co-create with me and my true inner voice come through into my work.

Deer, my totem animal. The path begins by walking your walk.

A beautiful day in the woods

Good morning mama!
We took a walk this morning at the marshlands and found this doe. She kept coming closer to us and wasn't bothered at all by us.

This little guy came out to say hi as well..

Pakarituampu

Peru's flower.
The hotel is surrounded by flowers. Opening up the window early in the morning, flowers and a hummingbird greet me.

Last year and this year we stayed at Pakaritampu Hotel. Really nice place. Didn't have "water issues" here, but instead the electricity went out. They had a generator though. What was cool was seeing the stars at night here. The hotel is close to the train station where we caught the train to Aquas Calientas at the foot of Machu Picchu.

Cycles

Lessons on Life - cycles that begin and end. Dear flower, teach me how to be in touch with that part of life, that part of how to let go, when to release that which no longer serves the higher good. Teach me that it is all about transformation. Beginning - blossoming into our wholeness and then releasing and letting go when we have served our purpose.
Even in decay, there is beauty.
And each time, we begin again in our newness. Every day we can begin again. Each time blossoming into our truest Self. Being part of the oneness of All.

May we all see from the highest perspective, that of the Divine, to help one another.

More flowers

I am in awe!

A day with Nature

We took a walk at the beach and found these little guys swimming with mom and dad.
There is a neighbor that has a garden which always seems to be in constant bloom. I found these beautiful iris' and was just mesmerized by their beauty... looking deeper and deeper within. Yeah, that's where I wanted to be today... going within... going deeper within, getting in touch with my true inner self. I realized how much I love my camera and what it provides for me. Those moments that make me stop and look deeply into a flower, catch a bee and wonder at the magic of nature.
Flowers are so sensual.

Cusco from above

My new friends.

Walking up the street towards San Blas, there is a fantastic jewelry store. Unique pieces that stood out from the tiresome pieces you begin to see repeatedly on the street. One of the woman who works there had her daughter in the store, Andrea, in blue, a sweet little girl. She was drawing on a piece of paper with a red pen. While Mai-Liis was making some serious buying decisions, I played with her. We had gone back to the store numberous time and the last time gave Andrea two boxes of crayons. I wanted to encourage this little artist :-)
12 angles on this stone!
Sachsayhuaman from above on our way to Pisac.
Looking at Cusco from above. Cusco is laid out in the shape of a Puma, the jagged wall at Sachsayhuaman in the hairs on the back of it's head...

Flowers from Kuntur Wassi, Colca Canyon

The oven.

Cala Lily at Kuntur Wassi

Garlic tiles done

Emelio sent the tiles I painted, completing this part of the wall. The only remaining part is above the doorway.