ArtiphyTheSoul

Op Art - 1

Mixes of pattern and contrast with the addition of shadow and shading.  

Variations On A Theme, Part II

This mandala is my second variation on a theme.  You can see part one and read the story behind it by clicking here: ArtiphyTheHeart.  Unfortunately, the scan doesn't do it justice.  Some textures and subtlties have been lost, but you get the general idea.

 

 

Stage Seven

Continuing in Joan Kellogg's stages of the Great Round of Mandala as outlined by Susanne Fincher in The Mandala Workbook: A Creative Guide for Self-Exploration, Balance, and Well-Being  

 

These two Stage Seven Mandalas are examples of the two typical Mandalas which depict the integration and wholeness of individuation, as defined by Carl Jung.  Above, the cross within a circle, and below, the square within a circle within a square.

Stage Six

Continuing with Kellogg's stages of the Great Round of Mandala, stage six exemplifies the conflict of two opposing forces, resolved by a transcendent third which integrates the opposites without overpowering, bridging, or compromising thier unique identities.  

Observing this Mandala, as in life, appearances can be deceiving.  The central heart and it's off-shooting red circles equally cover both the black and the white areas, the yin and the yang, but because of the transparency of the fluid acrylic paint, it may appear that the white has more coverage.  Things that are equivalent can appear skewed to one side or another, depending on vantage the point of the observer.  In the same respect, the red paint may appear dense and opaque on top of the white, when in reality, it has retained it's transparency.

Below is another, equally powerful illustration of stage six.  The rising sun equally shines upon, heats, and lightens the darkness of sky and the darkness of earth, and it's radient beams, particles, and waves, transcend the opposites on either side of the horizon, integrating both without overpowering, bridging, or compromising the unique identites of earth and sky.

Stage six is encountered frequently by artists, who often must resolve conflicting and contradicting elements in artwork by integrating them through an emerging third solution.  This solution integrates the conflicting parts by transcending them, without overpowering, bridging, or compromising their unique identities.  Example:  the challenge to unify a drawing containing two elements, while retaining the characteristics of each.

Suggested reading:

The Mandala Workbook: A Creative Guide for Self-Exploration, Balance, and Well-Being  

The Mandala Book: Patterns of the Universe

 

Stages Four and Five

Below are illustrations of my Stage Four and Stage Five Mandalas, journaled as part of Kellogg's Great Round of Mandala.  These stages are outlined and explained in The Mandala Workbook, by Susanne Fincher.

Stage Four

 

Stage Five

Mixed-media Mandala

Yesterday I posted concentric circle templates in downloadable .pdf format for anyone who would like to use them in artwork.  Click HERE to access them if you'd like to have them.  Today I worked with concetric circles-3 to make the mixed-media mandala below.

All images are from Crowabout, printed, cut, arranged around the circles and laid down with gloss gel medium.  The entire piece was then treated to successive thin, alternating, red and yellow acrylic glazes, then further defined with pens and markers.  

Mandala making is a soothing, centering way to begin and end each day.  Please join me and more than 70 others at Wild Precious Studios in Making Mandalas: Art Within the Circle.  This is week #2, and you can jump in any time you wish.  Hope to see you there.

Making Mandalas, Week Two

This is week two of my Making Mandalas: Art Within the Circle Prompt Group at Wild Precious Studios.  We are now a group of more than 70 Mandala makers, and we have our own Flickr gallery as well.  If you're interested in getting in on the fun, there's more information HERE at Wild Precious Studios.

 
I drew the Mandala above in black ink and printed several copies to play with.  This is just one of many patterns that have emerged from playing with color combinations and their placement.

If you'd like to experiment with making Mandalas on your own, feel free to download my three concentric circle templates below, and play with making shapes, colors, and designs within them.  I'd love to see what you make, so please post your finished artwork to your blog and leave me a comment on this post with a link to your finished piece.

Download ConcentricCircles-3

Download ConcentricCircles-1

Download ConcentricCircles-2

If you've seen the link on the sidebar (right) to my SoulCollage® gallery, click on it and spend some time looking at my cards.  More information and instruction for making these cards can be found by clicking HERE.

 

 

Breathe Deeply, Renew, And Enjoy

I've been wanting to create a separate place on the web to serve as a container for my deeper, more meditative, artistic pursuits and pleasures.  ArtiphyTheSoul has been growing in my heart for more than a year, and I think Valentine's Day is fitting for its birth.

For quite some time, I've felt that my more meditative artworks and perhaps some of my depth journaling as well, needed a home of their own in cyberspace.  They come from a deeper, more contemplative part of me than the artwork which I display and will continue to display on ArtiphyTheHeart.  You can be sure to find a variety of art here, including commentary and links to people, ideas, and works that I feel are important to me, to you, and to the rest of the world as well.   ArtiphyTheSoul exists for a single, trifold purpose:  To provide a space conducive to renewal, enjoyment, and breathing deeply.

Today also begins the first week of a Mandala prompt group I am facilitating on Wild Precious Studios.  My Week One Mandalas, inspired by How To Grow A Mandala, are below.  

The first Mandala, black outline

The same design, using two colors of Sharpie Paint Pens

The same design, using inexpensive children's markers

 The second Mandala, black outline

The second design, using Derwent's Inktense pencils

The same second design, using red Sharpie Paint pen

All the Mandalas above were created on 4" and 5" squares of bright white copier paper.  Nothing special, just pure, calming, meditative, enjoyment!  

Feel free to help yourself to the two black outline Mandalas in this post, with the following conditions:  Please color them, post them to your blog and link back to ArtiphyTheSoul, then share links to your colored Mandalas in a comment on this post.  If you'd like to take them to color and link back, click to enlarge, then right click to save to your hard drive.  ♡