Mandalas, inspired by Teri & the Tibetan Buddhists

A couple of weeks ago, I was inspired by Teri's Mandalas to draw a mandala a day. I'd never tried it before but had always been intrigued by this ancient art form. I believe it was the Tibetan Buddhist monks who started it all, creating huge and intricate sand mandalas which are then swept away, as a kind of meditation on the impermanence of life.

I don't do anything fancy like that. I just draw them in my lined moleskine diary with no specific aim in mind, not even the aim for them to come out looking like "art" or to make a good drawing. I do find it very soothing and absorbing to draw them and, like Teri mentions on her mandala blog, I really enjoy the spontaneity of not knowing what's going to happen when I start. It's very freeing and therefore it really doesn't matter if I end up not liking how it turns out.

I did a bit of reading about mandalas and discovered that Jung used them in his work, believing that they are the ultimate expression of the self (he wrote about this in his book Memories, Dreams, Reflections). This idea intrigues me though I don't draw them with that intention or aim in mind. What I did want was a different way of "documenting" or capturing my day to day life in my diary other than in words, and the idea of drawing mandalas really captured my imagination. It may be that when I look back on these one day, I will learn something or see something about myself that I'm not able to see now. Who knows. In any case, I just really enjoy doing them.

Here are a few of my favourites from the last ten days or so.

still life at zero gravity

You know when you have an idea in your head for a picture but it doesn't even come out half as well as you intended? Well, this is one of those times. Instead of the objects looking like they are floating in space, they just look like they've been piled on top of one another on a flat surface. The zero gravity chamber wasn't working, so having the floating still life to work from was mostly in my imagination. Neither was my brain or else I would have realised that a background to set it against might have helped with the illusion of weightlessness. My sincere apologies. I kinda like the way the panda turned out grumpy though. That wasn't intended either.

Still life with panda and drum at zero gravity, pastels on watercolour paper.

Burning heart with peas ('tis better to have crashed than to have stayed in the garage)

This is for my pea lover...who likes to try and sneak stray peas into places where peas don't belong (like custard, shoes, belly buttons, soft furnishings, stir fries, sandwiches, tea, water bottles, Hank Williams' nostrils, Johnny Cash songs and the bath tub). Mind you, that's the worst thing I can say about my lovely Paul. I'll put up with that thank you very much. He didn't want a card for Valentine's Day, and neither did I. We don't need a "Special Day" or a commercially made greeting card or chocolates to say I love you and all that shrubbery. We have chocolate and shrubbery every day. But I did want to draw something. So here it is.

I crashed into a burning heart with peas, I went down, down, down, but the peas they outdid me and they burned burned burned, those big green peas, those big green peas...

For my lovely Paul, pastels on black card.

Back from Mexico!

I'm back from Mexico, where we had a fantastically colourful and possibly the best holiday I've had for some time. We saw tons of art, including numerous Diego Rivera murals, and visited Frida's Blue House, amongst other things. I don't think I've ever been to so many galleries and museums in my life. We also spent some time in Oaxaca City and managed a few days on the beach as well!

This is an ink and watercolour drawing I made of a portrait by Jose Luis Cuevas, one of my favourite Mexican artists.

Also liked the work of the Spanish painter Remedios Varo, who later lived and worked in Mexico. Some of her paintings reminded me a little of Ros Foster's work.

I didn't do as much drawing as I would have liked in Mexico, but I have come back with a few ideas for drawings inspired by the trip which I hope to complete in the next few weeks. Plus, I took loads of photos which I'll be posting to my photo blog soon.

I'm on vacation...see you in mid-February!

Layers for inspire me thursday

This is the final piece. I used dry pastels on black card.
The various stages are below.

Snow on my birthday!!

My friend Iole was just over from Boston and she said, "But it never really snows in London does it?"

Yes it does Iole, look!!!

Happily, I have the day off today, and tomorrow, and Friday and two weeks after that as Paul & I are off to Mexico on Friday! This morning, I've been lazing around listening to BBC 6 Music and doing a bit of drawing in my journal...here's a snapshot. The drawing is of the hot water bottle that my friend Mad gave me for Xmas, and which was used last night because it was soooooo cold!! Paul kindly got out of bed and filled it up for me after I moaned at him for at least five minutes about how coooooolllllld it was! Thanks Paul :)

The Striped Avenger for IF

This is Horatio, otherwise known as The Striped Avenger. He moves stealthily and wisely, and helps to counteract and fight writer's block. He is not one of those unhelpful bunnies that snorts, "There's no such thing as writer's block" or other intellectually snooty and most unhelpful comments when you are suffering. No. He gently guides you back to what you need most: writing, and trusting yourself. Not as well known as other super heroes, or as flamboyant or dramatic as anal probe man, but I'd never wanna be without my sweet little Striped Avenger.

Eight T's for Illustration Friday

Better late than never! Inspired by shadows and clouds, I decided to draw eight t's as well, eight objects beginning with the letter 't'. A nice way to ease me back into drawing. The eight are: toaster, tea bag, tray, trinket box, toilet paper, Toby, teaspoon and a tail that someone sent me the other day.

Thank you

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who's been sending their sympathies about Caesar. It really means a lot and it does help to know that you understand what it's like. Paul has his own tribute to Caesar here.
It's been an emotional week and continues to be. The night he was put to sleep, we brought him home and buried him in our garden. We buried him with a short letter that we wrote saying our goodbyes. We put it under one of his paws. Laying him in the ground, he looked like he was just fast asleep. We left a candle burning for him, and a few hours later, we noticed through the glass panel of the back door that his candle was still burning. So we went outside and saw that the sky had cleared, the air was crisp and fresh, the moon had come out, and even though the light of the moon was bright, we could still see some stars (a very rare occurrence in London) and there were also a few beautiful white streaks moving slowly across the sky. It was as if the night sky was welcoming him. It was a great comfort.

I haven't done a single drawing since he died. The ones I've posted recently about him are all old drawings. The one in this post was the first ever drawing posted to this blog, just over a year ago. I'm slightly trepidatious about picking up a pen to draw, as Caesar was one of my favourite inspirations. But I will do it soon, one of these days. In the meantime, thank you for stopping by and sparing a thought for the little guy.

Goodbye Caesar

I'm very sad to write that Caesar is no longer with us. He had kidney problems, and during this last week, his kidneys had started to fail. He was put to sleep on Friday, 5th January. He is now at peace and is buried in our garden. He was 12 years old, and his last couple of years with us was very happy. He was sweet and special and we're going to miss him very much.

Caesar

Caesar is unwell and I'm worried and sad. He's just not himself at all. He had a check up on Saturday and he was fine then. But since we brought him back, he's lost his appetite, hardly moves and doesn't even say hello to us anymore, and he's usually such a sociable and talkative little fella. If you're reading this, please send happy thoughts to our little cat. Thank you.

Phoenix for Illustration Friday

Two versions of phoenixes, the top one is done in oil pastels, the bottom with dry pastels.

Researching the story of the phoenix, I discovered that it is based in Egyptian mythology, on a bird the Egyptians called the benu, or purple heron. Hence the bottom image.

However, Greek mythology mentions that the bird has red and even gold feathers, as does Fawkes, Professor Dumbledore's phoenix. So, I decided to draw both.

Which do you prefer? I think I prefer the red one.

Painted for Vicky

This was painted for my friend Vicky for her birthday.
Acrylics on canvas. It was also my first ever commissioned piece of work!!

Drawing practice

This is my attempt at copying a Kandinsky, dry pastels on black card.

Happy Holidays to all!

moments of peace for illustration friday

Most of my family is scattered around the globe and I don't get to see them much. I won't be spending Christmas with my parents or my brother, but I will have some of my family with me. This is them, catching some moments of peace. Paul and Caesar...merry xmas guys! And Happy Holidays to everyone out there.

Drawings as gifts

Here are a couple of drawings I made as gifts. The first is a pastel drawing based on a photo of boats taken in St Ives, made for my friend Mad. To see the photo, click here.

The one below is a drawing of a Bantam Rooster that Paul's Dad sent me a photo of as a possible drawing subject. Paul's Dad keeps one, and several chickens in their large garden in Cheshire.

Help for Illustration Friday

"Help!! I'm so adorable I can't stand myself!!" says Caesar the Dancing Christmas Cat. "Will you give me an extra portion of Christmas dinner please?!?!"

Sketching at the Porthminster Beach Cafe

Having a drink at the Porthminster Beach Cafe, St Ives, watching the dogs playing on the beach, and drawing each other.

Photos from our trip can be seen here.

Some sketches from St Ives

Just back from a gorgeous, even though blustery and wet, long weekend in St Ives. Here are some sketches I made from our visit to the Tate Gallery there, situated fabulously overlooking Porthmeor Beach. These sketches are my (rushed) attempt at capturing the appreciation for three of the works I saw there that I loved most. From top to bottom: a Barbara Hepworth sculpture, a Ben Nicholson painting and a Roger Hilton drawing.
For a look at the original Hepworth sculpture, click here. For a look at the original Nicholson painting, click here. I couldn't find a link to the specific Roger Hilton I copied above, but for a link to the exhibition of his work at Tate St Ives, click here.

More drawings and photos to come soon.

the cat of peace and happiness

In his headress and robe of Peace...cos life ain't all doom and gloom.
Peace Miaows to all.

single line drawing for inspire me thursday

This one is called "she smiles, but she lies" and...















I'm calling this one insomnia, which I had pretty bad last night.

Can you tell I'm not having the best of weeks? Can't wait till it ends and the weekend begins, when we take a beautiful train ride down to Cornwall and see the ocean.

Pen & ink single line drawings. For other, better drawings, check out inspire me thursday.

Might for Illustration Friday

"If only I could figure out how to show Trixie I have a soft side", Howard thought. "Oh well, this new miracle balm for crustaceans might just help."

Jar reads "softening balm for hard shells...try a little tenderness".

Soft Balm is available from Crustacean Health Clinics everywhere, no prescription required. Contains all natural organic ingredients. No harmful side effects reported.

Pen & ink.

Stillness for Photo Friday

Three images of stillness from St Ives in Cornwall. The first, deserted sand dunes at Lelant in February. The second, the reflection of the sun on a sandbar in the ocean off Porthminster beach. The third, a shot from Barbara Hepworth's studio, kept in the same condition she'd left it since her death.