Super Moon, Mandalas & More
September 2nd, 2024
Super Moon, Mandalas & More
It was the first of three nights when the August super moon shone brightly in the sky. This blue moon of late summer was also the Sturgeon Moon, named for the abundance of sturgeon fish in the Great Lakes. This is a time of harvest, of gathering the bounties of Mother Earth. The light from the moon was felt as we gathered for three hours of sacred creativity.
Moon’s Light
Linda M. created a bright moon mandala filled with white words of gratitude and inspirations. Although hard to see, their subtle energy shines through in the moon and encircles it. The spirals of the night sky remind me of Van Gogh’s Starry Night.
Linda M – Full Super Moon Mandala
Kathy F. created a rising full moon as it shone down onto the water. The reflection on the water is an inviting path into the moon’s light, asking one to enter into its magic. Is it rising or setting? Either way it beckons to become one with its light.
Kathy F – Full Moon Rising, Full Moon Setting
Sun & Sky
Linda M.’s other sky mandala shines the bright light of sun as it changes from burning yellow, to orange and then on to a cooler night sky. The words are honoring and full of wishes. The white twinkling stars shine in the night sky.
Linda M – Sun, Sky & Stars Mandala
Weaving Serenity
Ann B.’s soft blues and greens are woven together into a blanket of serenity. Inspired by a piece of art from the St. Louis Art Museum, Ann’s torn painted paper alternates with green of meadow and blue of sky. Shiny brads hold it together like a book to climb into.
Ann B – Woven Serenity
Expressions
I started the night with my favorite symbol, the spiral. According to many it is a symbol of journey. It is the most widespread shape found in nature. The curves toward and away from the center draw me in and out.
Spiral Mandala – Purple, Red and Orange
I started another piece using highly pigmented watercolor ink to create something much more serene than what ended up below. Before I finished I spilled an almost entire bottle of very bright magenta watercolor ink on my dress, leggings and feet. Luckily the paint all washed out. I returned to my art table, somewhat flustered and created this very expressive piece.
Getting It Out Expressions
After I got my frustrations out, I decided to use colored pencil, which would not spill, and pan watercolor which also wouldn’t spill. The result a much calmer state of mind and expression.
The Calming of Leaves Mandala
Flowers “I must have flowers, always, and always” – Claude Monet
Flowers call to me always, in my garden work, during our Creativity Circles and whenever I sit down to create. They call to others too.
While we were together Kathy F created an expressive purple flower with green leaves. The purple is from a granulating watercolor that also has blue in it. (More on this below) The bottom flowers are hydrangea like blue with purple centers. These lovely hydrangeas remind me of this year’s explosion of blue hydrangeas in New England. Each bush was filled with sometimes over 100 full blossoms. Some said it had been decades since this abundance of blue was seen.
Kathy F. – Purple Flower Ascending over Blue/Purple Petals
Flowers & Granulation Flowing Together
I love having new art supplies to share during our Creativity Circles. If you look closely at the above painting by Kathy F., the large flower on top has a bit of blue in the purple. This is one color from a watercolor set where two or more colors are combined into one. When put onto paper, the colors separate. I saw this set of granulating colors online many months ago, but it was not available in the states. Finally it arrived here and I had to get it. Many of us played with these colors during our Creative Circle gathering.
Gansai Tambi Granulating Watercolors
My first time playing with these colors it was fun to watch the colors separate as the paint dried. Using more water and less paint made the colors separate more. The colors flowed and separated in the loose shapes. I love the purple and blue. The purple on the right had more paint and did not separate as much.
Purple Petals Granulating Flower
This painting has two of the granulating colors. The inner petals of the flower are the blue and purple, the outer part of the flower petals and the leaves are a green that separates into a brown/purple and green. I added a touch of turquoise to a few of the green parts. Sepia ink and dip pen formed the marks on the outsides of the petals and circles in the leaves.
Purple & Blue Flower, Green/Brown Leaves and Sepia Marks
There are other granulating paints and inks. I tried two fountain pen inks for their granulating colors. The purple inner flower petals separate into a bit of blue and purple. The red didn’t separate. The blue background is gouache that the red ink bled into in a few places.
Playing with Inks Purple, Red & Blue Flower
Fantasy & Real Flower Art Workshop
I am getting ready for my Sept. 28th workshop. Because the title is “Fantasy & Real” flowers, I am having fun painting from real 3D flowers from my garden. Purple zinnias and sea oats grass in a ceramic vase I created were the subjects for the first painting. A single zinnia in a small vase were the subjects of the second painting.
I can’t wait for the 10 hour workshop. It will be a time to enter into a long flow state while sharing creative time and space. Here’s more info about the workshop.
Three Purple Zinnias & Grass in Blue & Yellow Vase
Small Vase & Purple Zinnia
Enjoy & Create
