DOT MANDALAS GO VERTICAL

Yesterday was full of thunderstorms so I hunkered down and painted some glassware. I am facilitating a wine glass painting Sip & Craft next Tuesday through the Leesburg Center for the Arts and it helps to have a few different designs for the attendees to model. I will have several templates to follow, teach some simpler one-stroke decorative painting technique to the brave and also offer up a few dot painting ideas. Of course, I will include some mandala choices.

Do you have a group of 5 -15 friends or associates that would like a fun time painting and crafting? Contact me for prices and availability. 

That's it - time for some trail walking and pool time. Don't forget I am running After-work Eco Art Trail Walks on Thursday throughout the month of May. Bring bug juice and a camera. This week is Sabal Bluff Preserve in Leesburg. Meet at the trailhead parking at 5:30. Mabe if it isn't windy we'll make an earth mandala together. :) 

Chau 4 now.

AVOIDANCE HUMP NOW CROSSED

WOOSH ~~~~~ Gone. My day is almost gone. I have been sitting in the same position for about 4 hours BUT I got a new video uploaded to my GETIN2NATURE youtube channel and finally after almost two years updated my getin2nature website to reflect what I am doing now in terms of EnviroArt, Eco Art, Mandala Painting, Presentations and more. CLASSES!!!

There is more to do on the web but that BIG AVOIDANCE HUMP has been crossed. :) Yey ME!

As for art here is a pic - then a website link - then the video link. Have FUN. I think my leg is asleep. It is time to move the body and stretch EVERYTHING.

Upcycling a damages tabletop a few days ago. Pretty Cool. Remember the records? I will be promoting classes in acrylic pouring on vinyl for Spring.

http://getin2nature.com/

There you will find the process video and a whole lot more.

CHAU 4 NOW!

THE ALTERNATE STUDIO

"Winter will take some patience." That's what I said on a short Facebook video this morning after waking up to 35F in Central Florida.

Today I am working in my tiny bedroom as the studio is a large open space and hard to heat. I am diggin the sunshine too. It is a good time to work on garden froo froo and not outside digging. Last year I painted some cinder blocks in a Moroccan Style motif. They became Buddha's pedestal. This year I am creating pavers for around the earth mandala.

That's it. I am getting back to the sun and color.
Chau 4 now!

SO I DO IT

NEW WATERCOLOR - DRY TIME BEFORE INKING

BEGINNING INKING

I was going to title this post "Sometimes You Just Need to Sit Still" but then I stopped sitting still. I can't do that for too long. I have my moving meditations such as biking, walking in the woods, making art pieces, gardening and drawing mandalas.

"At this moment" autumn is here in Central Florida. I awoke at dawn to 55F - NICE. I am wearing slippers. Insert smiley face. Mornings are lovely. How anyone sleeps in dumbfounds me. I have already been out in the garden chatting with my plants and picking up raintree pods and branches. I save both for earth art. I am often surprised how they work themselves into a piece.

BUTTERFLY LOVING THE LANTANA

This cooler weather inspires me to create my fiber art and my earth art again. On Sunday I found myself wrapping raintree sticks while getting "wrapped up" in fiber arts youtube playlists.

Is it me or is this a fall thing? All I know is it feels right so I do it. Look forward to future posts and pics of mixed earth art and fiber media coming up.

I don't have much computer time today so must be getting on with it. >>>>>> More coffee - more puttering - I have a guest coming for a week and need to sweep up my earth piddle. My enviro art construction can be a messy process sometimes and dust gets everywhere but it "feels right so I do it".

I have added a few happy pics...

NEW SIDE GARDEN BIRDBATH - SUNKEN VASE & PLATTER

BUTTERFLY BUSH - MAGNOLIA & CYPRESS MULCH"

 ENJOY!

NON-EARTH ART PIDDLE

BOHO EARTH FASHION - ORGANICALLY CHIC

Today rushed by and I almost forgot to post for Mandala Monday. Today's post is another Earth Art Dress. YEY!  BoHo Fest is almost here (Saturday September 22nd - Downtown Leesburg) and Sweet Magnolia is bringing her best friend Rosemary.

Rosemary is wearing a fuzzy sweater vest with shawl collar, a belt of sweet gum, bodice of rain tree pods and skirt of Spanish moss woven with dried rosemary - of course. BOHO EARTH CHIC!

I rushed to take some photos and videos before another storm hits. These dresses are not made to live out their lives outdoors but by the big mandala garden  behind my home studio they sure look fine. To think last year I had everything tied down and packed into closets as Hurricane Irma spun closer and closer. I am very thankful for today's calm in contrast. I am preparing to make some modifications to the garden this month. The MUMS are in stock but pavers are a bit harder to find. Stay tuned!

Make sure to stop by on the 22nd and check out the festivities. Here is a link to the BoHo Fest page. https://www.leesburgarts.com/bohofest2018/

ENVIRO ART TRAIL WALKS

Similar to many attempts at getting a new routine started, I began biking in the mornings before the sun got too high in the sky and heated up the pavement. This is Central Florida and it is August.That routine lasted 4 days but it did spark my "earth love" memories of being outside in nature. Consequently, after two busy mornings off I took to the woods on foot. YEYYYYYYY!

Nature feeds the soul. I am not full yet but man did I have some great appetizers over the weekend. Yesterday I was walking Sabal Bluff preserve. While by the lake I heard a rustle from above. There on a tree branch not more than 20 feet away was an adult bald eagle. It spread its wings, circled around me and flew off. What a beautiful thing.

So why not share? In person. YA - Why Not? It is time to get my walks started in Central Florida.

Introducing - for September (National Wilderness Month) Thursday after work EnviroArt Trail Walks sponsored by the Leesburg Center for the Arts. Parks close at sunset and September's setting times are past 7:00 PM. We will have time to discover. Find the addresses on your GPS and meet me there at 5:30. We will take a 45 minute walk around. Get to know your preserves. All three on the schedule are very close to downtown Leesburg.

No more feeling fearful of walking into the woods alone. You will have company.

Bring repellent, water and you may want to wear lightweight trousers and shoes (not flip flops) as Flat Island Preserve has some taller grasses on some of the trails. Will we make art? We'll talk about eco and environmental art and learn to see the woods in a new way, a place full of color and texture. If we have time perhaps we can make some simple mandalas along our way.

Check out the schedule and print the flyer for your friends. Let's GET INTO THE WOODS!

Sept 6th

Bourlay Historic Nature Park

851 N Canal St.

Sept 13th

Sabal Bluff Preserve

1201-1257 Leesburg Mobile Rd.

Sept 20th

Flat Island Preserve

2388 Owens Rd.

Sept 27th

Bourlay Historic Nature Park

851 N Canal St.

Download the park's trail maps here:

https://www.lcwa.org/open-preserves/

And now for me it is 8:30 AM and I am saddling up my bike and heading to the island.

Try to get outside today!

 - Chau 4 now.

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.

MANDALAS IN THE WOODS - JOYFULLY INTENSE

What a whirlwind of activity. I apologize for not posting my usual Mandala Monday cheer for a few weeks. Many of you know I took on the position of Program Coordinator at the Leesburg Center For the Arts last January. Last weekend was our annual Art Fest with artists showing from all around the country, two stages of music, an indie film festival and so much more. The preparation and days of the event were insanely busy. On top of that, I was referred to do an emergency wordpress web build for a startup company. Breathe Patt Breathe.

So - ya - busy. And it continues with friends coming, garden and home renovations, blah blah blah. No excuses this week - as promised here are some images of the Create Your Own Personal Mandala event in the woods. It wasn't short of joyfully intense, internally and externally expressive and profound.

Many thanks to Maria Stefanovic and the LCFA for trusting to take on this event and to Christina Carroll of "Off the Beaten Path" Blog for documenting in images both still and moving. Yes Central Florida YOU ARE READY for these types of programs!

If you want to know more about what happens in this event look to this previous post for a full rundown of the schedule.
http://mandalaearthart.blogspot.com/2018/02/its-happening-experience-it.html

I can gear these workshops to older teens, college students and adults.  Limits of participants is best kept to 20 people or less and prep time is essential for scouting out an appropriate park/property that suits our needs. Meaning BOOK EARLY IN THE SEASON. ;)

EARTH MANDALAS INDOORS

"Went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends

A chance to share old memories and play our songs again

When I got to the garden party, they all knew my name..."

And they all did know my name as I was the speaker. Someone made a truly lovely "springy" poster at the entrance of the ballroom. How lovely! Thank you! The Garden Club made me feel so welcome.

Last week was so FULL with a mandala presentation at the Del Webb Garden Club and the "Create Your Own Personal Mandala" event in the woods that I have decided to write two posts. One for this Monday and one saved for the next. I am insanely busy and that feels so good.

I had the great privilege of giving my Mandala In The Wild Media Presentation to the Spruce Creek Country Club Garden Club in Summerfield last Wednesday. I was given one really huge (6' foot) round table to prepare so that the members could come up and play. And they sure did. The were right on it! We all had such a good time.

Check it out.

Earth Mandalas Indoors. Gotta Love It!

Saturday was (for me) a phenomenal success. Art, the woods, souls touched, subconscious free to express, energy in motion (emotions). More about it with next Monday's post >>>> Stay tuned.

NATURE HUGS HONORING MOTHER EARTH

It is still a bit cold in Central Florida evidenced by the several layers I have on in the below photo. It was taken inside my house on Thursday. Ouch! I have been told many times that these cold temperatures are not usual, it is an odd year. Well I don't know about that but I do know that I am looking forward to spring! Anyway...a very special postal delivery warmed me up from the inside out. Insert Big SMILE HERE :)

Keith Beaney's Earth Mandala Calendar arrived last week and I thought that if a picture was worth a thousand words a video would be worth 12 times that amount.

Really, think about how a land artist would explain what they do."I make earth designs out of twigs and pods and leaves. They blow away and biodegrade. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust."  Most of us photograph our work. I created the book that you see at the top of this page. Keith Beaney of the UK makes BRILLIANT calendars. Check out this video I made. LOVELY. A year full of nature hugs honoring Mother Earth from a very talented land artist.

The video says it all. Go to the FAcebook. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/Earth-Mandala-Calendar-2018-1492308927718255/   

That's it people. I am busy beyond words. I need to stop typing now and get on with it. This post is short but ever so sweet and beautiful :)

As a land artist, earth mandala creator and workshop facilitator please send me your inspirational images. Share your appreciation for Mother Earth through your ART.

Be INSPIRITED!

 Adelante >>>>

A BEAMING GOOD VIBE WEEK

Last week was simply brilliant. The people I came in contact with both in person and online just seemed to be beaming. My media/lecture event at the LCFA was stupendous. Attendance was almost double what was expected. We had to bring out more chairs from the back. Some photos are at the end of the post.

I showed my environmental sculpture work, one of my mandala videos and my Buenos Aires book as well. I also joyed in showing the works of my favorite mandala-land artists. I covered mandala history as religious art, ceremonial art and street art. This segued into an Inspirational Earth Art Tour of the works of several artists including Ines Barro de Batista and Ana Castiho of Portugal, And Keith Beaney of the UK. The four of us have never met each other in person but are in an online group of Nature Mandala lovers. I posted my photos of the evening on the group page and tagged the three artists. I received messages from each of them. I think good work should be celebrated and shouted out.

Keith creates the most colorful mandala calendars each year. I love his work. It is so full and warm and abundant like a huge loving hug from Mother Earth. I will link the facebook page for his calendar here so that you can place your order. My calendar is on the way to Florida from the UK today. I am SO EXCITED!


The next part of the LCFA event was an invitation to join together and participate in making two joint mandalas. It was wonderful. So many people happily engaged. Many were seeing the materials I brought from private trails in the area with a whole new frame of reference.  In fact, I heard from the director of the Center For the Arts that a group that attended got together and made mandalas on the walking trails of their gated community. They wanted to surprise and delight trail walkers. Now that makes my heart sing!

The night was a huge success.  I just love my work/play.

Here are some more photos. Until next week....make it BRILLIANT!

MANDALAS IN THE WILD AT THE LCFA

I am so very excited and happy to be speaking at the Leesburg Center For the Arts in central Florida on Wednesday evening. The topic is environmental art and specifically earth mandalas. This three hour event includes a media presentation featuring the works of several land artists from around the world including yours truly. I will be featuring images and video from the USA, Europe, the UK, South America and if time New Zealand.

I wrote the presentation to educate and inspire people to play. There will be table top mandalas with a plethora of materials foraged from private walking trails in the area. Everyone that wants to may add their decorative artistic mark and create a cooperative mandala together. “Mandalas in the Wild” is free and open to the public.

For more details check out the youtube video - 

 Share this post with your friends and I hope to see you there!

  

WELCOMING IN A BRILLIANT 2018

BRILLIANT NEW YEAR EVERYONE. I hope it was a happy and safe and celebratory time for you. As I have a new "nest" I decided to forgo the festivities at the clubhouse and cook super healthy food for myself, catch up on some Masterpiece Theater DVD's from the local library and reflect upon the past while looking forward to the exciting future.

This year's adjective is BRILLIANT! Last year's was AWESOME. I am working/playing my way through the alphabet.

Today I finished the gold inking of this 11" x 14" watercolor mandala while the cold rain came down. Taking photographs of the mandala in natural light was a bit of a challenge, but I was able to snap this one out on the covered porch. Rain and watercolors don't mix. Well actually they do which is the danger. The rain thwarted my Trail Association hike this morning but I shall not complain. Rainy days are great days to peacefully render on paper. Hopefully we will be able to see the full moon over the lake tonight.

And... That's it. Get back to your relaxation and chilling out on this first day of the new year. Here is toasting (for me with a cup of hot tea) to a AWESOMELY BRILLIANT ART-FULL YEAR!

PS: I have two watercolor mandala workshops coming up at the Leesburg Center For the Arts. They are in March and April so I will fill you in closer to the dates. ENJOY!

WHEN ART CREATES ITSELF THROUGH YOU

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays. I just wanted to jump on for a second to wish you a wonderful day. I am currently in Lake County, FL and not traveling for a change. I am at my own home (thank you Universe) and am helping out a neighbor who went up north to be with family for the week. I am taking care of his dog.

No, this is not a photo of Slippers from next door. This photo spread is from one of my books NATURE MANDALAS WITHIN AN URBAN LANDSCAPE - BUENOS AIRES. I came upon it while pulling some images for the lecture that I am giving on January 10th at the Leesburg Center For the Arts. The red of the ceibo flower (cockspur coral - the national flower of Argentina) is so vibrant it made me think of Christmas. The dog is a former neighbor from when I lived in Cabillito, a barrio of Buenos Aires. Oh those eyes... they sure know how to pull at your heart strings.

The two images, nature and cityscape, worked perfectly. The red of the flowers and of his collar, the shape and color of the corner leaves and his ears, the straight lines of the cut reeds and the lines of the paneling mirror one another. It wasn't planned. The entire book was not planned. The pairing up of the small nature mandalas made in the urban parks with photos of my adopted city just created itself. I will be talking about the aspect of art and intuition and flow on the 10th. Yes, in the right circumstances you are the instrument AND you are the music - you are the art.

Enjoy! I hope to see you very soon.