Mom's Mandala

It's my mom's 65th birthday in a few days! I decided to make a mandala for her to "usher in" the things that I am wishing for her: travel, adventure, grace, beauty, freedom, love, prosperity, and newness, among other things. Since this is the fourth mandala that I've made, I wanted to take pictures to document the changes that happen along the way.

Come have a peek.

Here's the 24 x 24 inch canvas with my initial collaged items. I chose each pattern and piece of ephemera to represent what I was hoping she'd have in her life. She's an amazing singer, so music was a no-brainer, and for some reason travel was really coming up for me while I was making this, so I chose a lot of text in different languages and vintage travel photos.

Here's with the mandala pattern done in gold leaf. This part takes me forever and usually results in a headache.

Yay! Some color, some gesso...

More color and more refinement..

an additional ring added..

 

Rays of pink and white added to reflect the sentiment in the middle of the mandala, which reads: "The light reaches out, and in each shining ray are thoughts and happy wishes." (those are Beau's and my toes on the chair there, she was helping to take the picture)

 

Here's a photo I took in the sunlight, you can see the texture of the gold leaf here.

And here's my mom, holding her birthday present! Isn't she cute?

......................................

Add on: For those of you interested in learning more about making mandalas, I learned the above technique from the wonderful and talented Anahata Katkin. She teaches her Mixed Media Mandala classes in places like Artfest in Washington and in faraway art retreats in Bali. Please visit her website for upcoming classes, she is an inspiring and generous teacher. You can also look here for some photographs of the class that I took with her and to see all the gorgeous mandalas made that day.

Comments

[daisybones]

This is really gorgeous. I love the variations within such a tightly geometrical composition. It's really amazing, and your mama is a lucky lady!

[beth lamphier]

i love how you showed the process, so inspiring, your art work is a mirror image of your mother...xo

[elke glendenning]

fabulous work girl!! i love the progression-- thanks for sharing that!! love love love it! lucky mom!

[Liz]

Totally and wonderfully beautiful, loved seeing the progression through till the end... what an amazing gift for your mother!

[Shelley]

thanks so much, everyone! i'm really glad that i photographed all that i did along the way. i told my husband that these paintings are a process of making a mess and then cleaning it up, then making more mess and cleaning that up.
:)

[Christine]

This is amazing! Thank you for showing the progression...that is so cool. You really do lovely work.

[heleen]

An extraordinary work, I'm thoroughly impressed...

[khairun]

Loved the progress photos, it really gives me an idea into the way you allow your work to develop. Lovely piece for your mama!

[Mona E.]

So lovely... and inspiring. Thank you for showing the progress photos. I am an Art Teacher for 1st - 12th grade, and I love doing collage with my students, it is such a special way they can express their own individuality. Your work is beautiful.

[Natasha]

Your mom looks so young! I would never have guessed she's 65! very nice piece - great to see the progression.

[Kara]

This is just achingly beautiful. Thank you for sharing your process xo

[Tammy]

I've so enjoyed the work-in-process shots and thoughts behind the imagery selected. Your work is just lovely & inspiring!!!

[oksupra]

Your mom looks so young! I would never have guessed she's 65! very nice piece - great to see the progression.