Mandala No 12 - The Red Trees

Mandala No 12 The red trees...

I am trying here to give the viewer some sort of dream desert ambiance.

I am looking forward to working with lots of color in an acrylic workshop next week...it will be fun!

Mandala No 11 - A Mug of Beer

The Mug of Beer - great tasting beer.  I think that beer was one of the greatest inventions of all time.  (grin).

Beer has been a staple drink of humans for many generations. 

The abuse of alcohol has been a problem for many, but the vast majority of people who drink beer responsibly, will attest to the fact that beer in it's many forms, always tastes great and is a fine drink.

Mandala No 10 - Vertical Gardens

Vertical Gardens...I was watching some TV a few weeks back where the contestants on a renovation show were planting vertical gardens.  So I thought that I might try and paint some vertical gardens, and this mandala is the result.  Do you think these gardens are "vertical" or just hanging type gardens?

Mandala No 9 The Red Parrot from Hell

The Parrot from Hell...I painted this picture when I was in a very dark mood.   

I did feel a release of tension after painting this bird.  I am in a much better frame of mind these days!! 

I think this parrot is contemplating eating the moon.

Hope you enjoy my red parrot painting.

Mandala No 8 - The Owl

This little owl is an Australian Boobook Owl.
I was out walking at night almost a year ago, when I saw a small brown bird fly over my head.  I was out at night walking for exercise.  I guess it was a small owl, so I stopped and waited to see if I could get a good look at this little owl, and sure enough I finally spotted the owl sitting on the power line.  This little owl reminds me of that night.  The owl was flying around and under the bright street lights catching the bugs that were attracted by the light.

Mandala No 7 - The Eagle

This mandala is a painting of the Australian Wedge Tail Eagle.
I used to see lots of these magnificent birds when I was out in the Australian Bush...alas I have not seen any for a long time, but I am sure that they are still out there...

Mandala No 6 - The "All Seeing" Eye

The All Seeing Eye is an old tradition in many lands and religions. 

The (USA) one dollar note has an image of the All Seeing Eye on the back. 

When I visited an eastern authodox church, many years ago, I noticed that they had The Eye painted on the back wall along with many other icons.

The Eye represents the universal presence of God...

Mandala No 4 - Earth, Air, Fire and Water

When I showed this painting to my wife, she asked me if I had any native blood in my veins. This painting is based on the American Indian Medicine Wheel.  Earth, Air, Fire and Water are the old basic elements of the universe, but if you look here, the order in the Mandala is a little different.

I enjoyed painting it, and all these current paintings are helping me “de-stress” from all the flood affects from January 11, 2011.  We hope to be back in our house in two weeks time!

Mandala No 3 - The Four Seasons

Here is an attempt at showing the four seasons:  Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

 Hope you like my Mandala No 3.

Mandala No 2 - Da Flower

I went with a stylized flower painting here.  Just a little different from what I would normal paint, when painting flowers.  This painting has a feel of yesteryear, an old colonial feel.

Remember these paintings are all just "stepping stones" to getting my painting mojo really up and working well!!

Mandala No 1 The Eye

I have commenced to paint a series of mandalas. 

The first one which I call no 1 or “The Eye” is just a swirl of colour and form.

 Maybe this is my way to see some good news in the future.  My art blog has shown some signs of the flood affects on my wife and I, as I have not posted any art on my blog for a long time.

We are not too far away from moving back home. 

I have started to paint again, and I am painting a series of mandalas, that in part have some sort of healing process, to get back to home, where the stress of the last seven months can be left behind.

Getting Back to Painting

It's been a long time since I put up a new post on the blog.  I have just been too busy with all the troubles we have had in the last six months due to our home being flood affected.

We should be back in our home by the end of September 2011 at the latest.

I have recommenced to paint, using some old acrylic paints and painting some ideas on to paper.

These exercises will at least get me back in the 'swing', and I will start painting on large canvases as soon as I can!!

I have painted a few small abstracts (on canvas) and will post them up on the blog really soon!