Mandalas
These are inspired primarily by nature, of course. Many were painted throughout my tenure as a f/t Licensed Creative Art Therapist, consistently re-balancing rigid time strictures with spontaneity of clients' emotional needs.
Lately I have been going through Mandalas that were only partially painted to try to complete them. I do this because art-making is always a compulsion but, especially now, I am trying to counteract the darkness of our wider world. This darkness includes my awareness of man-made climate crises, and the chronic pandemic of injustice. So the act of creating is my way of coping, my release and reaction to past and present - spontaneous, unplanned. One of my forms of protest. Lots of layering, of colors and techniques (brushing, sponging, splattering). The circle form helps to calm and focus; my self-imposed strictures and structures help further these.
The materials are mainly watercolor and antique Pelikan metallic gouaches (water-soluble). I'm also using some Sennelier inks, mostly metallic (not water soluble) and my own mix of iridescent watercolor using a Holbein medium. Collaged elements are from varied sources.
"Being on the lotus, one is living in a floating world and always needing to rebalance oneself." (Betty Winkler)
