Encaustic Paintings

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Mandala Workshop- Recent Images...

I am finally posting the images from our recent Autumn Equinox Mandala Retreat Day.


We had a wonderful, small circle of women, drawing and sharing in my studio, last Sunday.  The weather really co operated, thankfully and it wasn't as hot as this weekend, with Indian Summer blazing away  here in northern Ca...otherwise the studio would have been like a sauna.


 Photos speak louder than words for the process so here are some from that day of what emerged and our process.



Here are some of the small practice mandala's that were created just in the white on black.








 The contrast of the white prismacolors on the black canson mi tientes paper is always so stunning.  It is hard to jump into color, because often these  are so perfect just as they are.


This is the mandala that I began that day.  It really expresses alot of my feeling about transitioning into autumn and the approach of winter.  Actually, fall is my most favorite time of year, but their is always a bittersweetness to it as well.

Lots of release and letting go is inherent within it.
There is something about the dark center that is so provocative

After a wonderful morning of diving in and drawing small mandalas, we began our bigger ones and then created small test color wheel mandalas, practicing blending the rainbow prismacolor pencils that we use in the process. Color is so exciting, and it changes everything.

 We use a limited palette in this process, just 6 colors plus white.  Aquamarine, true green, yellow, orange, magenta, and violet.

                                 With these 6 colors it is possible to mix hundreds of vibrant colors.




The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals.╡
>
> - Kahlil Gibran -




Here are all the mandala's in process up on the wall.  Because this is such detailed work, we need to give our eyes, hands and backs breaks.  Often times when you stand back and look at what you are doing, it is possible to see the work in new ways. The mandalas will let you know what the next step is.
Please note the intricate detail on this amazing mandala.
Close up..........
This is the mandala that I began that day, in process. I will post the completed process at a later time.
This is Patricia Waters mandala in process, created with a dear friend in mind who is going through some traumatic life changes.  

Most everyone in the group promised to send the completed mandala images to me, perhaps those will be included in another post.  

I knew that in finding the mandala as an expression of the self
 I had attained what was for me the ultimate.
 C. G. Jung

5 comments:

kiminnm said...

Those are beautiful Mandalas..so glad you are leading these classes. Judith Cornell would be very Happy the work is continuing on..they are so beautiful ..it makes me itch to get back to drawing..now where did I put my black paper!!
Blessings,
Kimberly Bartlett
I blogged about the Mandala process in my latest blog you might find of interest
http://anotherdayinroswell.blogspot.com/2010/09/turn-turn-turn.html?spref=fb

basia said...

Beautifully done. So many unique and awesome works. Love them all.

Anonymous said...

lovely, lovely, lovely, and one day I will draw at your table in person... You have been such an inspiration to me.

Caterina Martinico said...

Thank you all. I love to share art, my own and other peoples, all unique and awesome.

Kiminin, I am honored to share Judith's work, and to have had her as a teacher. I love your blog post about your experience with the mandala process. Thank you for sharing.

Emergingcrone, I so appreciate all your positiveness and appreciation.

ℕo⊻∧ said...

Caterina- this is amazing!! Maybe one day I can take one of your workshops! I don't live that far away! =) beautiful work!