Tree of Life Mandala Completed

It has been almost a month since I last posted anything here.  I've been busy, playing around with making paper dolls, cutting out images from magazines for my SoulCollage® workshops, experimenting with more CitraSolv backgrounds, and finishing this mandala...among many other pursuits.  

                                                                  Tree of Life Mandala

I struggled with this mandala quite a bit, as I worked on it,  feeling that the sun color wa too dominant....and at times wishing I had just left the drawing in black and white, or at least left more black in the drawing. But Patricia suggested I bring more of the orange of the sun into other parts of the image and in so doing I finally came to resolution with it. Unfortunately, none of the other participants from the Fall Mandala Retreat, sent me any images, so I am posting this alone.

By the way, we are doing a Gratitude Mandala Workshop on Novemeber 12th in Santa Rosa, if you are in the area and are intrigued with this wonderful art process.  Contact the Journey Center for more info.

Paper Dolls anyone????

While I am at it, I mentioned that I had been playing with making some paper dolls.  I do art mentoring with several little girls and since I planned a paper doll lesson, I pulled out some color copies of my art and turned them into my own version of paper dolls...just for the fun of it and as examples of paper doll possibilities.  The little girl I work with, of course took off on her own unique way of  expression, but I had some examples of my own to share with her.  Talk about fun.  Here are the ones that I did, all in differing stages of becoming complete.

 This one is not complete yet, and her face is collaged from a photograph of me as as little girl.

Again, all are still on process. It is so fun to do this and it made me remember how much time I loved to spend cutting out paper dolls when I was a little girl.  No wonder I love collage so much.

One final thing... here is a link to a clip from a movie called "Praying with Images"
about the art and life of  the amazing artist Meinheid Craighead.     .Praying With Images
If you don't know here work, this will be a epiphany for you.  Enjoy... Until next time. Ciao

Tree's on my mind.... The Tree of Life...

This Sunday we are facilitating our yearly Fall Equinox Illuminated Mandala Retreat Day, at my studio behind my house.  By we, I am referring to myself and my good friend Patricia Waters, who is also a Mandala Facilitator of the late Judith Cornell's wonderful mandala process.  

Our focus for this workshop is the Tree of Life... and just thinking about it has really stimulated me and has made me pay more attention to trees, as well as the trees that have unconsciously emerged in my art over time.  Again and again, the tree becomes a central motif for me.  

  As I reflected on trees, my love of them and how important they are to me, I remembered that my earliest drawings as a child, were of trees.  I would spend hours and hours drawing trees with limbs that turned into little rooms and then created little magical areas in the roots systems, where little people could live.  There was always a knot hole at the bottom where the people, or elves or gnomes would enter the tree and journey to their little apartments under the ground.  Shamanic journeying.... as a child my imagination was fertile ground and I was always looking for a safe and magical place to reside.  How I wish I still had some of those drawings, nevertheless they popped up in my imagination as I started reflecting on drawing a Tree of Life Mandala this Sunday, and I realized how deep the tree roots were in my life.

Then I began googling tree of life drawings....and was astounded to see my Tree Mandala's all over the place online, on different peoples blogs, as graphics for articles and in many other settings, most of them gave me credit for the image, but many didn't.  It felt odd, to be so out there, and yet a bit invasive as well.  But that is all part and parcel of having my images on flickr, here and in the many shops I have online.  None  the less, I wished people would give to who drew the original image, let alone contact info, and dare I even mention copyright user fees.    The biggest issue, was when someone told me that this image was included in a Mandala Greeting Card Coloring Kit on Amazon. Now that is a different story.  So, it leads me to being much more aware of what I pull off the web and giving credit where credit is due.  

I am very excited to gather with others this week and dive into the Autumn and my unconscious and will post the photos from the workshop here for others to see.   Until then, here is a  quote to leave you with.

The Tree of Life is a universal symbol found in many spiritual and mythological traditions around the world. In various cultures it is known as the Cosmic Tree, the World Tree and the Holy Tree. The Tree of Life symbolizes many things, including wisdom, protection, strength, bounty, beauty, and redemption. This wise and holy Tree is like the Creator as it sustains creation with its abundant fruit, protection and generativity.                                                            From http://www.treeoflifeteachings.com/tree-of-life/

                               And some beautiful healing redwood trees from Fort Bragg California....


By the way, if anyone out there is interested in any of these mandala's I sell matted prints of them on my store on etsy, SoulArteEclectica, and I have  cards and all kinds of interesting products made with these mandalas on them on my zazzle store   ArteEclectica,  so please do check them out, the holidays are fast approaching and they can make great inspirational gifts.......there I did my promo.  Ciao. Caterina