Actually, the class I taught at the art club last Friday was entitled
"Whimsical Watercolor Zendalas"
and to my delight
each and every one of the participants came "raring to go"!
Oh, my goodness! What fun we had!
Barb L. is pictured above,
dressed in a fabulous zen patterned top,
pen in hand with her mandala
just about to bloom into intricately inked patterns.
Love you, Barb! :)
(Click on any image to enlarge...)
Next, please meet Evelyn and Deannie...
sitting here side by side
each sharing their individual treasured "works in progress"
during class last Friday...
And then...individually...on this past Zen Wednesday
presenting their completed art pieces
in Studio One.
Above, is pictured Evelyn...
her piece was simply magnificent in both
composition and intensity...
so rich and gorgeous!
(BTW...Lise, you are missed...and I know you will
love seeing this in person later this spring...)
Evelyn is then
followed by Deannie with her completed piece to share
in the studio, also, on Wednesday.
This was Deannie's first attempt at zentangling...
WOWZERS!
What a lovely mandala...with beautiful movement.
I think Evelyn prepared her well!
Above is Bobbie, just about to add a pop of watercolor
to her beautifully inked design.
Bobbie has been in several of my classes...
and each time she brings her
big, happy, instantly contagious smile!
I love her enthusiasm.
Hope you bring your finished piece to share next Wednesday...
We missed you last week...:)
Larayne and Sid
both had completed their mandalas to share
from the first half of the class.
Perfect "partners in crime" and full of artistic spirit
I think they have taken just about every class
that has been offered.
They both eagerly tangled their hearts out.
It is so much fun for me to see art friends really connect
with this form of artwork.
Diane
had no idea that this was to be an advanced design class...
and was a bit nervous about the whole thing.
She soon felt most comfortable and
in selecting her theme...
she was drawn immediately to native American
patterns and symbols.
She filled her mandala with many healing plants,
patterns,
and sacred animal totems...
...and she happily shared her completed
powerfully themed mandala
on Wednesday.
Mandalas often become highly personal to the individuals
who design them.
Inside their complex designs often lie hidden
patterns and sections
especially meaningful to the artist who made them.
I know I often do that with the ones I make.
I know Diane did that with hers, also.
:)
Jeanne
is known for her delicate touch and refined pattern work.
"Exquisite" should be her middle name.
I think
she would make an amazing children's book illustrator...
"in her free time" hee, hee! :)
imaginary on line watercolor trips
and
has become a regular at Zen Wednesdays as well.
I just can't wait
to see her completed mandala!
Here is Michelle...studiously inking her mandala
which was initially
designed to be filled with flower blossoms and seed pods...
and the lovely delicate beauty of spring...
la, la, laaa.....
until...
she stepped back a bit and looked at her creation and
realized it had turned into a couple of fierce looking spiders!
Michelle hates spiders...
she absolutely HATES them!
Was this Michelle's "evil twin" at work???
Although it was not the intended result...
by any means...
it kept the group giggling and laughing the rest of the class.
Fearlessly,
Michelle continued to work on her piece...
adding some bees and beehive patterns
to soften its intensity a bit.
I have not yet seen the completed version.
Anticipation? You bet!
Barb W.
always graces her art, regardless of the medium,
with a highly refined and elegant look.
Her beautiful oil painted orchids just recently won the
club's coveted "People's Choice" award
and
was put on special display.
She and Jeanne have a similar style...
truly,
they are sister of the heART!
Barb's mandala design was no exception
it is dressed with gorgeous pattern and lines...
and
once blinged out with watercolor and finishing touches
it will definitely
be a show stopper when completed.
Barb's joyfulness is evident is all she does...
and is always the first to suggest an artistic get-together
complete with wine and great hospitality.
Thanks for treating us all
to an impromptu ice cream cone celebration
of your birthday
this past Zen Wednesday...
all the laughs and giggles that day were priceless.
Here
is Louanne's completed mandala
as she proudly showed it to us Wednesday.
It has a powerful and bold yet delicate and feminine vibe to it.
The four trees sprouting from its center
speak to the circle of life
and the seasons which mark our earthly time.
I have enjoyed getting to know Louanne.
Even though Louanne lives
in the way far northern reaches of Canada most of the year
we have been able to keep in artistic touch.
We first met
in a class I presented last year...
and since then our Muse's seem to have become
kindred spirits.
I absolutely love that...a lot!
Above Jeanne, Michelle, Barb W., and Louanne
smile happily for the click of my camera.
Our art club is blessed with
two inspirational, upbeat, and well equipped studios
in which to hold classes,
display our artwork gallery style for the public,
and to meet daily if we choose to "work" on projects
with our artists friends and Muses.
We are embraced by beautiful art
wherever we look:
inside from our fellow art club members...
and, outside
by the endless gallery of beauty created by
mother Nature herself.
I am thankful for all of this every single day.
Sometimes, I even have to pinch myself
because
it seems so heavenly unreal.
So...finally...
here we are all together...I am behind the camera...
and
Carolle,
my dear art friend and #1 class assistant,
is pictured smiling
in the back row...second from the left.
My class was filled to the brim with joyful Muses,
limitless imaginations,
and lovers of discovery and experimentation.
My spirit gets renewed
with each and every class I teach,
each and every smile I see...
and each and every..."Oh WOW! This is so cool.."
I hear.
Thank you, ladies!
It simply cannot get more "zen" than that!
"There are many paths to enlightenment.
Be sure to take one
with a heart."
~Lao Tzu
"Cactus Monday"
