ArtRageous Recap

What a FABULOUS event put on by City of Auburn Arts Commission!

Maija McKnight did a stunning job as coordinator of ArtRageous. It was a busy day at Les Gove Park in Auburn and many people participated in creating art.

My favorite was Susan Robb of Seattle with her Giant Black Toobs Art Installation. She and her partner raced to fill the Giant Toobs with air and then tack them to the ground. The Giant Toobs swayed with the atmospheric conditions of the day.


Giant Black Toobs Art Installation
Susan Robb

At my watercolor mandala painting tent, I watched young children as well as seniors creating colorful mandala paintings. Here are some young artists at work:





And believe it or not, this car was painted today by fair goers.......



I believe a fun time was had by all!

Mandala Watercolor Painting #5

Beginning a new watercolor mandala painting, the initial line resembled a hummingbird, yet very stylized. I decided to go with the image. The hummingbird is my totem animal; from the Native American teachings the hummingbird represents joy. It also appeared in the second mandala of this series.

The hummingbird sings a vibration of pure joy. Flowers love hummingbird because nectar-sucking brings about the reproduction of their families. Plants flower and live because of hummingbird. Hummingbirds can fly in any direction, and can also hover in one spot and appear to be motionless.

According to Native American teachings, if hummingbird is your personal medicine, you love life and its joys. Your presence brings joy to others. You join people together in relationships which bring out the best in them. You know instinctively where beauty abides and, near or far, you jouney to your ideal. You move comfortably within a beautiful environment and help others taste the succulent nectar of life. Hummingbird hears celestial music and is in harmony with it.



This mandala relates to my joyous life; and, as my friend, Fernando says, "the beautiful colors of [my] essence," which is held lovingly.

Vertical Mandala

Having been away a long time, before beginning to create a mandala watercolor painting, I felt the urge to place my watercolor paper vertical. This was unusual as all previous mandalas have been painted horizontally. I laughed! I had dramatically made some changes in my life and my spacial orientation wanted to change with it.

I began this mandala similar to the previous four painted in my studio; the colorful line snaking across the center of the circle. I talked about this line symbolically representing me and taking form since my mother's death. In the last painting the shape began to sprout branches, but this time a human shape appeared to me. Yes, I was floating! Yet, from my hand vibrant, abundant life was blossoming (nearly overwhelming by its size and weight). I thought I was floating in water, but instead the water turned into clouds and I added the peaceful ocean scene below.

Needing more support, the mandala image became embodied by the suggestion of hands lifting it to the sky. I am open, receiving, while gently being held.

Watercolor Pencil Mandalas

Although I have been painting with watercolors for about twenty-seven years, using watercolor pencils is a whole new experience.

It is drawing with colors. I found with my set of thirty-six pencils plenty of color options and no need to mix colors. The final mandala looked soft and light before I added the water. Using a small brush, I basically painted over each color individually, allowing a little bleeding and mixing of the colors.

This was totally different!

When I paint with watercolors, I look for the happy accidents that occur through the bleeding of colors. I wonder with more experience using watercolor pencils if my approach will change???

First mandala:



"Urchin by the Sea"

Second Mandala:



"Calle by the Ocean"

The portability of this medium and easy set up makes it ideal for travel. I plan to create more mandalas on my next trip to Mexico at the end of March. Until then, I am heading back to the studio to paint with watercolors.

Watercolor Pencils

What a GREAT portable art medium!

I just returned from 10 days in Mexico..........FABULOUS!!!
Best of all I managed to find time to create two mandalas paintings while sitting by the ocean listening to the sounds of the waves crashing as well as being visited by dolphins.

I cannot expound enough about the simplicity of carrying along a set of watercolor pencils, field watercolor pad, a couple of brushes, and some water.
You can literally set up anywhere!

Here is the spot I chose.



See the flat area overhanging the water? That is where I painted. Nice, huh?!

I will post the mandala paintings as soon as I find a day in Olympia, Washington that it is not raining or snowing. I hope I do not have to wait until Spring! I did photograph the paintings while in Mexico, but total sunshine washed out some of the color........can you believe, too much sun!

Mandala Insights

Hooray for Fridays! It is my day in the studio and I was looking forward to creating another watercolor mandala painting before I slip off to Mexico to pamper myself.

Mountains and a body of water appeared in my mandala today in addition to the free flowing image that has threaded its way through my previous mandala paintings. The image has been my starting brush strokes which seems to take me into the painting. Landscapes and especially active bodies of water accent the last three mandala paintings.

Today it came to me that the floating image is a self-image; amorphously taking shape. In the third mandala I was budding and in this mandala I am reaching out, growing and branching. The first mandala I am enmeshed in emotions and blurred, and the second mandala I am small and thin barely there. I see myself transforming as I continue to process loss.

In addition, the background of the past three mandalas have watery feelings which give each mandala a floating quality. Again I return to the symbolism of the ocean and a returning to the womb......so much meaning!