OM SHAKTI NAMAH

This is a mantra I learned from the meditation app I use (Insight Timer).  It means, "I invoke the Higher Strength in me. I am enough.  I trust the process of my life."  This is beautiful and spoke to me so much that as soon as I heard it, I knew I had to make a piece of art with these words.

I designed the mandala in Photoshop.  Years ago, when I started making art, I was doing something in Photoshop, and my son asked, "Isn't that cheating?" I laughed and said, "I don't think so.  I've put in my Photoshop 10,000 hours." 

Which made me think about the different types of art.  I love mixed media because I can incorporate ANYTHING - that's what mixed media is.  I guess there are people who think it is important to distinguish between "fine" art, digital art, mixed media, etc., but I think it comes down to the saying that the earth without "art" is just "eh."

The story of this piece:

I taught myself how to make the fancy energy swirl letters.

You can watch a video on my blog about how I use a Gelli plate to make the papers that the other words are printed on.

I used many layers of acrylic paint, primarily gold and Quinacridone magenta - my favorite paint color. (Quinacridone means that the pigment used is high performance.) I love this combination.

I used a stencil to make the sun, but stenciled over it many times with various shades.  The grey energy swirl in the middle was made with the back end of a paint brush.  The gold circle around the swirl was made with a metallic gold fabric paint.

There is a side view of the mandala, below, so show that it is multiple layers and 3D.

12" x 12" x 7/8" on birchwood cradleboard.