PAINT NIGHT WAS A GAS!

Mandala on Canvas Paint Nite was a gas! Such a brilliant group of women! We will definitely repeat with another design later this year or in early 2019.

Sorry - a short post but I am designing a new catalog for the Leesburg Center for the Arts and my desktop (laptop) is a fright. It needs tidying before I go to bed. I am a neat freak. I admit it. That's probably why I gravitate to mandalas. Oder out of chaos. They ease my busy mind.

Here are a few photos from Paint Nite, then night night for Patt.

Next week I am teaching High School Level Summer Art Camp which will be so fun. I am not planning any mandalas but will be sure to share the super cool projects that I have planned. We are UPCYCLING!

I hope to get a post up on Monday. We'll see........

Have a great week!

DECORATIVE PAINTED MANDALA TABLES

I thought summer was supposed to be less busy. NOT. But it is still fun! When I've been able to catch a spare moment or two I have been painting up some samples for a "Decorative Painted Furniture" workshop. This workshop is similar to a MANDALA CANVAS PAINT NITE (check the link as I have one coming up July 11th at the Leesburg Center for the Arts) except that the surface we paint is a table top The table and paint are included in the workshop fee.

step one - picking a color scheme and starting to fill in

The three legged side table is primed in white and the basic design is all lined out ready for your mandala artistry. Similar to a paint nite the atmosphere is super friendly and chill. The cost is a bit more than a canvas paint nite (of course - you're taking home a side table) and it runs longer than two hours. The workshop may be scheduled on a weekend or simply start earlier and finish later. Space is always limited and pre-paying is REQUIRED. (I don't carry around extra tables.) Last minute sign ups are discouraged and drop ins will not be accepted.

step 2 - completely filling in the template
THE NEXT STEP MAKES IT AWESOME!!!
YOUR DETAILING!!!!

SUPER COOL RIGHT?

 If you are in the Lake Count,y FL area contact me and let's see if our schedules match.

IT IS TIME TO PAINT!

WINE, INSPIRATION & ART

We had a full house for my Mandala Drawing workshop at Mt Dora's Modernism Museum this last weekend. Wine, Inspiration & Art abounded. Here are a few photos of the fun.

Although we did not have time enough to add too much detailing over the color, all the participants could take their artwork home and continue to embellish. One woman said she was going to teach this to her seniors at her center. I laughed, "You are stealing my job." All in good fun. In fact, I suggested for her seniors she should take note of their dexterity. Many seniors with arthritis in their hands would find the compass difficult to use. While still utilizing the mandala design concept she could switch it up for them and provide a template. Or she could have them create circular designs in many colors using watercolors and sponging. The ideas are limitless. The most important part is getting people to participate happily in the art process.

And as for stealing my job...(insert smile) I have more mandala workshops coming up this summer. One of which will be painting Mandalas on Canvas at the Leesburg Center for the Arts in July. I will be announcing registration details in my next blog post.

Chau 4 now!

PS: David Bowie's Memphis Collection is currently at the Modernism Museum. Why not head over there next Saturday and check it out.

YOU NEVER KNOW UNTIL YOU TRY

I have been playing around with record albums. Sunday I came across a bag of old broken crayons, the really cheap poor quality DollarTree kind. I decided to make some use of them and play around combining them with heat and vinyl. It was a hot cloudy day here in Central Florida. Perhaps I should have saved this experiment for the winter months when I need to heat up but alas, inspiration comes when inspiration comes.

Although not happy with the result it gave me some more ideas. That is what the artistic process is about. Many of us hold on to the finished result not realizing the result is the process. Experimentation is vital to art. From experimentation new techniques are discovered.

Besides I can always re-purpose this again into ?????  Any suggestions? It is covered in cheap crayon wax. :)

Short process video below.

Hasta Pronto!

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.

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/

MANDALAS IN WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP

Thursday's Mandala in Watercolor class was amazing! What a great mix of students opening to creativity through the practice of mindful creation. The day simply flew by.

Here are some of the comments:

"Patricia Gilmore you truly are a gifted instructor. You inspired us with your knowledge, compassion, passion, and artistry. So blessed to for the experience with you, Joanna, and Mary!"

"Had so much fun! The people I showed my work to could not believe I had made that without a template. I can't wait to make more!"

We took a photo of Stage 2- after we lined out our designs in pencil (with protractor and compass) and then decided on which lines to curve (feminine) or keep straight (masculine). We used ink then erased the original pencil markings.

The choices of curves and connections really do change the energy of the mandala. There is no right or wrong. It is the yin and yang and what feels best at the time to you while you create. It is an inner and outer process. Mindfullness. 

We then compared the before and afters. Such fun. There was not enough time to complete all of the mandalas which was fine. It only extended quiet creation time to the home space which is always good. And needed. :) 

And guess what... the class happens again on April 5th. That's right. Make sure to pre-register with the hosting Leesburg Center For the Arts.

Best to register directly to the email in case the eventbrite link is not working properly. 

director@leesburgcenterforthearts.com

Space is limited and I will need to send you a materials list too.

buy tickets

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mandala-and-watercolor-tickets-41046452043

. 

Have a brilliant week!

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.

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!

HOW'S YOUR MONKEY?

Wow. I have so much going on which is great as long as I keep organized, centered and CLEAR. Before I post about two free and open to the public presentations that I have scheduled this month I want to write about something that whacked me (again) right in the head/mind yesterday.

MONKEY MIND

The monkey mind (kapicitta) is a term sometimes used by the Buddha to describe the agitated, easily distracted and incessantly moving behaviour of ordinary human consciousness (Ja.III,148; V,445). Once he observed: ‘Just as a monkey swinging through the trees grabs one branch and lets it go only to seize another, so too, that which is called thought, mind or consciousness arises and disappears continually both day and night.’ (S.II,95). 

I don't know how many times I have told people about the therapeutic aspects of making art in nature, specifically mandalas. For me and for just about every person that I have brought out into nature to create, the process frees the mind of useless chatter. Gathering objects, clearing space and constructing art focuses and clears the mind. You are placed IN the environment, IN the creative flow and IN the NOW. There is no time, there is simply space.

Yesterday I made an afternoon visit to Massasoit State Park with my four legged foraging buddy Sr. Benjito. I have been there before but am not very familiar with the trails. I printed a map before leaving the house but we stuck to the main road and nearby side paths. I wanted to check out the landing area at the far pond and if I had the time, make some EnviroArt.

I am a person that notices things, especially thoughts. (The first step is to NOTICE THEM.) Sometimes I am in better control of my thinking but lately I have been doing way too much multi-tasking and bouncing from topic to task to thought to "to do" list to ARGH! It has been as if my mind has been "Running on Dunkin's" caffeine. (An appropriate reference as today is National Donut Day.)

(How do people live like this? I really don't know how they add radio and tv and YAHOO news and FB trending to their already over stimmed minds. No wonder people are so stressed out and on meds.) Anyway...

Lately I haven't given myself enough nature time and my Monkey Mind has been gaining control. As we walked to the landing I recognized that my thoughts were not on where I was at all. I had driven over 20 minutes to this beautiful park but my mind was  NOT THERE. We walked over 30 minutes to the landing and I was thinking all the way. Oh such a busy mind.

When we got to the pond I said out loud, "I am so out of practice." I stopped, sat myself down on a bench and looked out over the water. "Relax, take the time, BE here."

I listened to the birds and the leaves rustling in the trees. "How did I stay away so long?"

WRONG QUESTION. The response to that question would have had my mind busy for hours. Don't ask, Don't tell. Just BE quiet.

I secured the dog and kicked around in the the pine needles noticing and observing the things that were lying on the forest floor. I picked up a pine branch, snapped it and held it to my nose. The scent of the sappy wood was intoxicating and nothing like any commercial product ever invented. It was and is REAL PINE. I floated into childhood memories. I noticed the shapes of the different varieties of cones on the ground and broken sticks and branches and.... I bent down to pick up the ones that spoke to me.  Before I knew it I had cleared a space and began to construct an earth mandala. It took quite awhile before I even noticed that my monkey had simply and easily disappeared. POOF! Like magic he had VANISHED. My mind did not wander to any thought other than the ART at hand; the colors, shapes, aromas and textures of the materials and where to place them. I was in blissful peace.

The sun was lowering in the sky evidenced by the shadows on the mandala so I knew we needed to start hiking to the parking lot. I shot a few final photos, unhooked the dog and began the walk back and... HELLO MONKEY - HE'S BACK! Ah but I was in far better control this time. I could consciously brush him aside and return to the sensations of the breeze and sun on my skin and sounds around me. I needed to this this over and over and over again. When you condition yourself out of the NOW it takes practice to get back in. The first step is... to notice.

What about you? How's your Monkey? Do you think he needs a vacation from your mind? YES! Do you need some help centering and focusing? I invite you to go to my website GETIN2NATURE.COM and to the MEETUP GROUP group and join for free (if you just want to be on a mailing list send me a mail) and take an EnviroArt workshop. It will do you good. Then go out on your own and leave your Monkey at home.

PATRICIA’S UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS

Free and Open to the Public

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June 9th – 6:30 pm – Quest House – Easton, MA

“Making Mandalas in the Wild”

Moss is not just moss and pine cones are not just pine cones. To an EcoArtist they are paints and textures to be skillfully combined in an organic piece of earth art. Join Patt Gilmore for a photographic tour and presentation of nature mandalas. From North to South America these images are sure to inspire you to get outside and have fun creating.

Patricia is an environmental artist and therapist that works internationally. Her photographs have appeared in national art exhibitions. In 2014 she created the first Ames Mansion mandala in Easton. Her site specific land art is scattered throughout the USA and beyond.

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June 27 – 3 pm – Borderland State Park – Easton, MA

“Sticks & Cones on Paving Stones

Learn about the fun and inventive process behind the making of the very first Ames Mansion Mandala in the fall of 2014. The 6 foot nature art installation was created for the 12th annual Blanche Ames National Art Exhibition and almost all of the elements of design were found right at Borderland State Park.

The woods and trails hold so many colors and textures. After the presentation you are invited to join Patricia on a short trail walk where she will point out many of nature’s paints that work really well in creating earth art.

Patricia Gilmore is a local environmental artist that works internationally. Her site specific land art is scattered throughout New England and beyond. Recently she returned from making and photographing nature mandalas in South America. Several images of her earth art creations can be found in her ISSUU book “Nature Mandalas within an Urban Landscape.”