Mandalations and Creative R & R

"Mandalations" (Stacy Wills, 2014)

alcohol inks on ceramic tile, 4" x 4"

I have been incredibly busy this spring...and have really neglected my blogs, which I'm not too happy about.  Hopefully, I will be able to establish a workable rhythm and get back to some proper blogging.  Even in the midst of a hectic schedule, however, I still feel the need for some creative R&R.  I get itchy...and twitchy...if I'm not able to create.  So this afternoon I was able to enjoy a few uninterrupted hours in the studio experimenting with putting alcohol ink into some of my water brushes.  It allows for more control than I've ever had with this medium which made it fairly easy for  me to make this  simple mandala.  It's still a work in progress - like most good things in life are - but I'm pretty pleased with the direction it's heading.  

To Understand Easter...

Resurrection Dance (Stacy Wills, 2014)

watercolor on paper + sacred altering

"To understand Easter and live it, we must renounce

 our dread of newness and freedom."

-Thomas Merton (1915-1968)

"Peace" - A poem by Sara Teasdale

Peace (Stacy Wills, 2014)

watercolors on paper + alcohol inks + sacred altering

Peace

Peace flows into me

As the tide to the pool by the shore;

It is mine forevermore,

It ebbs not back like the sea.

I am the pool of blue

That worships the vivid sky;

My hopes were heaven-high,

They are fulfilled in you.

I am the pool of gold

When sunset burns and dies,

You are my deepening skies,

Give me your stars to hold.

-Sara Teasdale (1884-1933)

Rekindling a Daily Mandala Practice

Rekindling a daily mandala practice has been such a gift.  As I wrote in my last post, it began with my participation in Judy Shintani's creative project - 12 Mandalas in 12 Days.

Now, I'm keeping a small art journal...

and creating a mandala (4" in diameter or less) each day,

 using my chosen tools of a compass, pencil, permanent marker,

 a pan of watercolors and my favorite Niji waterbrush.

The process is very calming and  centering and takes an hour or less to do.

You could say it's just my way of  "checking in -

to see what condition my condition is in."

Here's a little slideshow I put together that shows some of February's mandalas...enjoy!

If you are unable to view it here on the blog, you can watch it on YouTube here.

12 Mandalas in 12 Days Project - January

"Happy" by Stacy Wills, 2014

(acrylic on watercolor paper + sacred altering)

At the beginning of 2014, I decided to take part in 12 Mandalas in 12 Days - a creative project put together by California artist, Judy Shintani.  Judy invited us to make one mandala a day for 12 days using any media we chose, and then post that mandala on a designated Facebook page along with a word connected with our mandala.  Our own 12 mandalas would then represent the  twelve months of 2014.  "Happy" was my first mandala of the set.  The project attracted enthusiastic mandala makers from all over the United States, and beyond.   After the initial 12 mandalas were created, many of us didn't want the experience to end.  Judy graciously and wisely extended  the project, inviting us to go deeper with the process by creating 4 more mandalas each month using the original one for that month as inspiration.  The four mandalas below were inspired by "Happy" either directly, using it  as a source image, or in spirit, using the bright color palette as my starting point.  Of the four, do you have a favorite?  I do...can you guess which one it is?

 "Light from Light" by Stacy Wills, 2014

(digital mandala using "Happy" as a source image)

 "Lighthouse" by Stacy Wills, 2014

(digital mandala using "Light from Light" as a source image)

 "In Touch" by Stacy Wills, 2014

(3-D mixed media on canvas)

 "Inversion" by Stacy Wills, 2014

(digital inversion using "In Touch" as a source image)

I'm H-A-P-P-Y

Crossing Over (Stacy Wills, 2013)

acrylic on canvas + sacred altering

I'm leaving this year on a high note, and dancing into 2014 with joy in my heart.  I was introduced to this video by Pharrell Williams recently, and I can't stop watching...listening...and dancing all over my kitchen!  It's a round-the-clock mandala of HAPPY!  Enjoy...24 Hours of Happy!

Just Another Mandala Monday...

No "manic Monday" for me...today was one of my "Art in Pajamas" days...relaxed...creative...Happy!

I had seen a video recently (I wish I could remember where!) of a fun, easy way to create mandalas using a square sheet of canvas and acrylic paints, and I was eager to try it for myself.  

Take a square piece of canvas and fold it into  8 sections.  Dab acrylic paints in various colors randomly around the canvas...then start folding and unfolding along your pre-made creases.  Use a brayer to make sure the paints squish and blend well.   Add more paint and repeat the process until the mandala feels complete.

Warning - this is a messy process - so be sure you have your table covered with newspaper or something protective.  Also have a roll of paper towels handy.

And here are  the results!  

Untitled I (Stacy Wills, 2013)

acrylics on canvas, 9" x 9"

Untitled II (Stacy Wills, 2013)

acrylics on canvas, 9" x 9"

Untitled III (Stacy Wills, 2013)

acrylics on canvas, 9" x 9"

They remind me of Rorschach Inkblots.

What do you see???