GO GROW SOME ART

If you are new to this blog you may not know that a little under a year ago I found my little Florida nest. I had wanted a resting place - wait - not a FINAL resting place, just a little artist cottage to call my own. I will still travel but most likely not as a full time nomad. My first year in Central Florida came with a high heat drought, then a major hurricane, followed but a extremely cold winter with several nights below freezing. We all survived. Unfortunately the few plants that I had gotten started had some fatalities. Live and learn. The first year or two is a learning curve.

As a mandala artist I of course wanted a living mandala. And it is coming along just fine this spring.

And Buddha's corner is really shaping up too.

And just to give a little perspective, what I started with was dismal. I gave myself a $200 cash budget and "permission" to work as hard and long as I loved. And I do love it. I am so happy that it is spring. This will only get better.

The front of the MoHo? Of course I painted a card table top and put it up in the first few weeks of purchasing the cottage. Last week I found a free bowling ball and "HIPPAFIED" that. It is in the style of Hungarian-French Op Artist Victor Vasarely.  I think it goes quite nicely on the upside-down vase that I also found in the free pile at the thrift store.

So there ya go - A spring filled post. Now go grow some art!

Chau 4 now.

BOWIE, MANDALAS, MODERNISM & YOU

Good Mandala Monday to YOU!

Today I am sharing news of an event coming up in Mt Dora at the Modernism Museum. They contacted me this month and booked a Creating Mandalas Workshop for their patrons. This workshop is on a Saturday June 2nd and runs a 2.5 hours. When you call to reserve ask if it comes with "A TWIST".

• Saturday, June 2, 2018
• 2:30 PM  5:00 PM

https://www.modernismmuseum.org/new-events/2018/6/2/learn-the-art-of-creating-mandalas-with-patt-gilmore

Here is the direct link from their site if you wish to register.

Space is limited to 12 people so do not delay. 

While at the museum check out the exhibit. 

SPACE ODDITIES
BOWIE | SOTTSASS | MEMPHIS

THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION INCLUDING OBJECTS FROM THE ESTATE OF DAVID BOWIE

And while in Mt Dora make time to take a walk and check out all the cool galleries and shops.

*****

on another note:

Yesterday I found myself agitated and thought, "How do I move this?'

And then I realized I had not done any focus art in a few days.

I made the shift back to being more balanced by detailing a mandala while listening to meditation music. I removed my earbuds in order to shoot a little video for you.

Do you see what I see?

A clip board and a bed.

You do not need a table to mindfully draw.

And you don't need hours of free time either.

Drawing mandalas is LOCATION INDEPENDENT.

Get back into balance, lose the chaos, calm the racing thoughts and relax. 

Is your group interested in Practicing Mindfulness with Mandalas?

Contact me to book a class.

gilmore444@gmail.com

NO GUILT

I DID IT AND I LOVED IT.

AND I DIDN'T FEEL GUILTY AT ALL

I STOLE TIME.

FOR ME!

Last week's post's title resonated with me and I took it to heart. Friday was one of those 12 hour marathon days at the LCFA with back to back events from 10 am to 10 pm. I was so glad that I committed to going to a picnic Saturday at Venetian Gardens with a flute circle to switch gears. I don't play the flute. I did bring my drum and more to my abilities, I brought a watercolor mandala to "play on".

The weather was beautiful, the music lovely, the art inspiring, the people a good vibe and the wildlife friendly AND I had NO INTERNET. Darn that felt good.

,
It was no surprise that the following day a friend 1200 miles away posted a video on Facebook that spoke to being BUSY. I have to share the youtube link. Take the time to watch it fully. It is well done and with humor. You will be glad that you STOLE THE TIME FOR YOURSELF

PS: As I was waiting for my little art video to upload an email came in from Walmart. My double hammock and stand has been shipped. :) Yes - I plan on stealing more time in the future.

My trance art is developing quite nicely. I am still working the same amount of hours as usual but I am much less stressed. I even beat my drum today.

Have a Marvelous Mandala Monday!

Namaste y Saluti!
Chau 4 Now.

STEAL IT IF YOU HAVE TO

So many things happening - ALL GOOD - but it seems to leave little time to STOP and BREATHE. Which is EXACTLY what is needed or you will burn out.  "But I don't have time to mediate." You don't have time not to. Coffee is not an answer - though it sure tastes good.

TIME - Find it, Take it, Steal it if you have to, but take a break. Make it a moving mediation if you must. Create some art, listen to relaxing instrumental music, walk by the lake, slow down that busy brain. The anxiety will quell and time, which is a perception, will slow down for you. It is the anxiousness, the pressure that makes it seem so tight.

Decorate your Buddha space even if it is in your mind.

LOOKING WHO IS TALKING! It is my day off! And it is 5:00 already. Did I take a real break yet? Eating leftover pizza and meatloaf for lunch and talking to a friend up north on the phone for an hour is not a break. I even wrote Take a Break at the top of my TO DO list this morning. Further down the page I wrote Relax - Love Self - Smile. OK I checked that last one off (SMILE). I am not done smiling for the day. :) It makes everything feel better.

Did I get to the Automobile Association today - NOPE. It can wait. More important to me and my soul was the Prime Coats on "Canvas" Let's see where it goes. I am not anywhere near to revealing what I am expereimenting with but I think it is going to be BRILLIANT!

And Buddha's new scarf....

Below are photos from last night's event with Flag Across the World, Rotary, Apa Sherpa Foundation and the Leesburg Center For the Arts just to name just of few of the wonderful folks and organizations involved in helping the kids in Nepal rebuild their school.

It was a privilege to attend and a be a part. Perhaps I will expound later but for now

... I AM STEALING SOME TIME!

Chau 4 Now

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Finally the cold has subsided in Central Florida and I have been out biking and consequently foraging. You can see so much more from the seat of a bike. The thing is you can't carry all that much.

Yesterday while foraging on the side of a main road in Fruitland Park/Leesburg some worried residents of a mobile home park approached me. At first they were afraid that I had fallen off my bike (no kickstand - I just lay the bike on the ground) but then they saw what I was doing. I was picking up pods of the liquidambar tree - sweet gum - AKA GUMBALLS!!!  They wanted to know what I was going to do with them, then told me where to park to my car when I come back to get the mother-load that had rolled down the hill. Yes hill. I live along the Ocala incline. We have hills here.

So - If anyone wants to go on a foraging adventure with me just let me know. I am talking "legal" foraging. I always stress not to gather things from wildlife preserves and government run parks but sometimes people get excited and forget that part, as did members of the garden club that I presented to in February. I received a lovely thank you note the other day. One of the things mentioned was some attendees got so excited and went out foraging in their local restricted areas. WHOOPS! A notice had to go out to "stop it." I did have to laugh. I find it flattering that I inspired them.


And I too am inspired, by this warmer weather. The studio is full of color. I am finally getting my batik prayer flags for my garden strung. I am also making up the minis for sale at concerts and festivals.

If you are in the  Leesburg area do check out the free indie concert happening at the LCFA on April 13th. It is free and open to the public. The gallery space is vacant right now so we are renting artisan tables for that night only. Cost: $5. Come on down and enjoy the show!


ART OF SONG

https://www.facebook.com/events/414987808925010/


AND LAST CALL TO TAKE MY MANDALA IN WATERCOLOR CLASS THURSDAY!

DETAILS - https://www.facebook.com/events/192895814599030/