Transformation on my mind...

The idea of transformation has been in my thoughts lately, which may be why today's digital mandala comes from the "poster insect" for transformation--the butterfly. ;o) What I love about this mandala is the beautiful six-pointed star that appears in the center. The colors and its appearance reminds me of the art of India. I also find that the melange of colors in this mandala is quite stunning and unique.

I took the original photo (seen below) last year while visiting the Butterflies Go Free exhibition at the Montréal Botannical Garden.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Butterfly Star Mandala
Digital mandala created using Photoshop
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

In Time, Being

Here is a new digital mandala and a poem I wrote for a friend who is celebrating a birthday in a few days. In this mandala, I see transformation, unity, light and shadow, all operating within the realms of time that we experience while on this earth. This idea is one the poem points to as well.

In Time, Being

Rotating and revolving,
Re-pulsing and refracting,
Reflecting and revealing—
Our paths as orbits spin
Spotted on Source’s One Light.

Each step is a union
With others in Life’s sky—
Conjunctions of Souls.
Lights connecting, blending, merging;
Each moment here, we are,
In Time,
Being.

Here is the photo from which I created the mandala. I took it the other day before most of the leaves had fallen from these bushes, leaving only twigs and branches where a sea of color once existed.

How is it possible that green leaves can turn into such glorious and vibrant shades of red and pink? Absolutely amazing! Fabulous fall...

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Autumn Transformation Mandala
Digital mandala created in Photoshop
"In Time, Being" poem
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

One of those days!

Yes, today was one of those days.

The freezer wasn't freezing ice cubes.

The refrigerator temperature is not cold enough and is running all the time, so I am going to have to throw out some food.

I have hurt my right elbow somehow, and in certain positions, it is very painful. No ice cubes makes it difficult to ice the elbow. ;o)

The birthday card I was making had to be remade, and once finished, it still was not "perfect."

Basically, it has been a day of redoing and figuring out how to resolve the challenges that kept surfacing.

Finally, I decided I needed to create something "just because," so I made the two mandalas I have posted here.

I titled the first mandala, "Hearts & Flowers" for obvious reasons. ;o) The picture I used was taken on a lovely September day just about the time the sun was setting, which gave the flower a very vibrant appearance.

The second mandala is called "Morning Glorious" and was taken on the same September afternoon.

I do love the wide open loveliness of morning glories. This perky blossom was surrounded by a sea of green leaves and other buds here and there. She seemed to be saying--"Hey! Look at me! I'm happy here, blooming in my little corner of the world!"

Making these mandalas was a challenge because of my elbow, but I loved the surprise they brought me when I finished them. Perhaps the message for me is that "one of those days" is like a slice of a digital mandala. You never know what the final result will be just by looking at the first slice.

Any today is just a slice of Life. When it is pieced together with all the other slices, then I will be surprised with the amazing results and with what hidden pictures I can see.

So the next time one of those days comes my way, I'll do my best to accept it just as it is and realize that a new "today" is just a sunrise away. ;o)

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Hearts & Flowers" Mandala
"Morning Glorious" Mandala
Digital mandalas created using Photoshop
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Mushroom Star

I am posting a new digital mandala along with the source image I used. I took this picture in September while taking a walk near our apartment. The day was lovely and I actually remembered to bring my camera with me. ;o)

What I love about the process of creating these mandalas is the unknown factor. When I pick the slice I will use, I am only seeing 1/5 or 1/8 of the final result. In the case of the Mushroom Star, I didn't know there was going to be a star until I had made 3/5 of the mandala.

The other interesting occurrence is how my perception of what I am seeing changes. For example, in this mandala, I kept feeling like I was looking shells from the ocean, which made me wonder if mushrooms are the shells of a grass sea or a dirt sea. Just a different way of "seeing."

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Mushroom Star of the Sea Mandala
Digital mandala created with Photoshop
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Walking in the Forest of Mystery

The mandala posted here is my first attempt at a digital mandala. It was so exciting to make since I pieced it together section by section. The final result stunned me--the geometric designs, the hidden pictures I see, the flower design made by a tree branch. All so amazing and such a feast for the eyes. What do you see hidden in the greenery of this mandala? What message do you hear when looking at it?

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Forest of Mystery Mandala
Digital mandala created with Photoshop
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

A Few Words about The Artist: Me! ;o)

I brought my greeting cards to sell on consignment in an angel store here in Montréal. The name of the store is Ange Neige. Along with the cards, I brought an artist card that shares a bit about me. I have posted it here for readers of my blog, so they can learn a little more about me and my art. :o)



I have also created my own set of marketing bookmarks. You can see the 5 designs I made below. I had great fun making these bookmarks. I took parts of different collages, doodles, and Life Stamps to make the individual designs. And, of course, there is one that is more traditional, featuring the logo of Blue Heron Visions and Two Chairs and A Window Greeting Cards.



--Vicky Lynn :o)

Artist Card, Bookmarks
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

All About Seeking

Here is an interesting video about "seeking" that someone I follow on Twitter mentioned. I really love what the narrator has to say about the idea of seeking much more than I like the actual video--with one exception: when the words "This Is It" show up on the screen. That phrase really caught my attention. And the phrase showed up again in my life a few days after viewing the video when I noticed that the title of Michael Jackson's posthumous new single: "This Is It."

This video inspired me to make the mandala seen in this post. I call it "Eternal Seeker" and it shows the struggle and entanglement that happens to me when I get caught in the idea of seeking and searching and striving to find the Answers.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Eternal Seeker" Mandala
Ink, felt pens on paper
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Final Versions: Angel Message Bookmarks

Here are the final versions of the bookmarks (in English and French) that I made for my friend Karen, the Angel Therapy Practitioner. I created the collage part and she wrote the words. Karen is selling these bookmarks.

You can read more about Karen and get more information on her web site: http://www.angelsconnecttospirit.com/

--Vicky Lynn :o)