Watercolors – TIME & SPACE CONSULTING

Published November 26, 2023 by ifc

So Many Circles!

Geometric drawing has taken me on quite a cultural journey. Today, I understand why geometry is sacred.

Initially I became interested in what is known as Islamic geometry. Examples of it’s artistry are found around the world and on this website. In holy and humble places, the patterns are everywhere once you *see* them. Straight lines dominate but movement, fluidity, and spiraling is evident, especially with the addition of the biomorphs.

Ready to jump into a new genre, I found Lucie Rose, a teacher in Paris. When I saw her course in May, 2023 on the South Rose Window of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris I signed up. Whereas Islamic geometry is mostly straight lines, gothic geometry requires a multitude of circles, hardly a square to be found.

I was there in July, 2015 with my grandkids and the pictures from that day are a treasure. I watched with shock and gratitude that I had been there before the fire. Having an emotional connection to a project steps up the preparation.

Architectural achievements that display man’s faith, trust, and reliance on a higher power fuel my personal beliefs.

So, I cleaned up the entire art room and reorganized it to tackle this ONE project, rather than the many I usually have going at the same time. It took nearly the entire summer to complete the drawing and transfer it to the Khadi watercolor paper, which was a very risky choice. The first layer of color came from my coffee cup.

Rose Windows are saturated with symbolism, combining earthly and heavenly qualities, the tracery and the glass. Customarily they are placed opposite a cross at the altar. The feminine stands in balance with the masculine.

To complete my project I began to consider it a tool for meditation, like drawing a mandala. Fighting with the inner perfectionist became crystal clear! Letting go, in every way, became a joy.

It’s still a work-in-progress. I’ve been adding some silvery shine which doesn’t really show well for a blog post.

As Fall approached I got distracted and began a second Rose Window. More circles. Still on the risky paper. But loving the new colors, and now I can use all the gold & copper colors I have! We’ll see how it goes.

In December I’ll be re-directing my creative energy towards drawing the Tree-of-Life for the Winter Solstice. Want to join me for our Solstice Sadhana? LMK.

Ancient Wisdom Geometric Art Meditation My photos Watercolors

Rose Windows Sacred Geometry

Published July 26, 2021 by ifc

Dual Level Patterns – twice the fun?

My love affair with geometric drawing continues with this recent rendition of a jaali screen with ‘tabla’ (drum) design found in Akbar’s Tomb, Northern India.

Drawing out dual-level patterns is another level of complexity that can be frustrating and satisfying at the same time. Over time it’s easy to train the eye to see different levels or layers and inscribing that on a 2 dimensional piece of paper using just a compass and straight edge. Measurements not allowed. I completed the pencil drawing early May. And then, as usual, it sat there, unpainted and ignored for months. Each time I saw it in my unpainted stack I waited for inspiration to come. I’ve looked at thousands of pictures of patterns and their coloring, or lack of. So many possibilities! Choosing colors is the best and most confusing part….there’s a beauty in every color when used creatively.

Then, after a stressful week of turmoil, grief, and exhaustion, I needed to play with my watercolors. Just watching the water carry the pigment around is meditative and soothing. No ‘trying’ to “paint a picture”. Recognizing my turbulent mental state, I decided to limit my palette to only three colors. Structure helps. However, at the very end of this process/painting I did add those antique gold lines for just a little bling. Otherwise, it’s all about: Ultramarine Blue, Yellow-Deep, and Burnt Sienna mixed in varying proportions. A lovely neutral palatte that eliminates all that unnecessary picking and choosing of what to dip the brush in….just mix…add water….paint…..repeat… and there are no freehand or biomorphic swirls here either, just lines. Follow the lines. A Mindless, Magical, and mesmerizing meditation to paint.

It is all about the process and breathing thru it. Yoga & Art… Within each layer are mistakes, judgements, opinions on how it’s coming. My attachment to ‘outcome’ rears it’s ugly head at times. And, then I remember. The whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts. The difficulty lies in when to put the brush down? When is enough? There is a line between too little and too much. Looking for that middle ground where balance and harmony co-exist. That’s art.

namaste, everyone. stay safe.

Dharma Geometric Art StudioIFC Watercolors

jaali

Published June 20, 2021 by ifc

Green

During the winter months I took a writing class with Ann Randolph and the prompt was

Think about a time that you were wild and green in the ways of the world…the whole world was before you, green a newness, a novice, sense of adventure, anything was possible…a curiousity, maybe stumbling and fumbling during this time too…excitement, anticipation, or maybe the wild and green in the ways of the world got you into trouble….if you think about the phrase Wild & green in the ways of the world…is there an openness & Curiosity to that now…and if so, what does the picture look like? we just to a future moment of being wild and green in the ways of the world…what would it look like for you, in this case green= learning something new that brings you joy, delights you, brings you adventure?

A month or so after that I participated in an online watercolor class where we would learn how to paint The Green Man using various techniques involving crackle paste, ink, and other stuff. Purist that I am, I prefer to limit myself to one medium. Choosing colors is complicated enough. The Green Man is part of Celtic lore and gets Spring up and running.

Green is the color that aligns best with the Heart (4th) Chakra. Anahat in Sanskrit. Within the heart space are the Four Immeasurables (also know as: heavenly or divine abodes, divine abidings, or the four Brahma Vihari’s.

Equanimity,

Compassion,

Sympathetic Joy,

Loving Kindness (Metta)

The philosophy and practices that focus on these four *states of being* have attracted millions of *followers* who *like* it a lot, to use a modern-day cliche. the instructions are simple. stabilize your mine through: mindfuness, or calm abiding, or meditation. Then bring each immeasurable to mind, first to yourself, always, and then over time extending out toward all sentient beings.

Many have said that these four are the only emotions worth having.

June 21 is the Summer Solstice and I guess I’ll have to find a different face to paint? For the solstice I will be facilitating a one day retreat at the Grounds for Sculpture. I can’t think of a better place to connect with nature, art, silence, space, and the heavenly abodes. Namaste.

Blogging Buddhism StudioIFC Watercolors

Published March 29, 2021 by ifc

I Got Tired and Bored Looking At That Ox

Drawing lines is (sometimes) easier than writing words. So I’m posting these pictures to show you what I’ve been doing This video tells the whole story in 30 seconds.

The artist is Richard Henry and I’ve been taking courses at his school since the pandemic locked me down. There’s something very soothing and fulfilling to drawing lines, straight & curvy. Using a straight edge and striving for perfection can be easily witnessed. And, letting go brings joy. The whole of the process can be, and frequently is a meditation.

This particular geometric pattern falls into the category of 8-fold. It’s a common pattern seen and pictured here in an archway at .Humayan’s Tomb, Delhi, India .

Often, it is used as a pattern for a jaali screen. Here we use shades/blinds/curtains to adjust the amount of sunlight that enters a space. In other places……jaali screens.