Haste Makes Waste

Being an artist it's unavoidable that you will make waste, I have so many little pieces of scrap paper, bits and bobs, odds and ends. I love being able to conserve it all and put them together as little beautiful Frankensteins. Sometimes I think they come out better than my conceived and executed ideas!

Illuminati Enneagram

 The enneagram is a symbol that represents the up and downs of life. Encompassed by the circle, life goes cyclically and in a constant wave of ups and downs, without the down times we wouldn't appreciate the times we are blessed with abundance, security and comfort.

This particular image is quite personal to me. The bleeding all-seeing eye of the Illuminati stares out from within the ups and downs of life, the blood dripping onto a fully blossoming rose. Someone was taken from me just as I was coming into myself as a person and being catapulted into accepting this loss I clearly saw both myself and the natural cycle of life, it's hard, frustrating, trying but we move onward and in its ugly times; there is beauty.

Star of David

From something heavy to something pure pattern and getting lost in the details. I get so caught up in the line work and pattern, it's euphoric and meditative to noodle away at it. I was inspired by the rose windows of Catholic churches, mandalas and the beauty in symmetry.

P.S. made my first Etsy sale and I can't say how elated I am! :0)

Hand of Glory & 6

I created 6 more book forms for my Etsy shop. This time I used the paper that I hand patterned from my previous post for my end paper and I think it really is just what this series needed. My favorite piece out of this series is my Harry Potter inspired reliquary!

 image size: 3.5"x 5" total size approx. 7"x 5"

In the Chamber of Secrets Harry follows Draco into Borgin and Burkes and encounters the Hand of Glory, a severed, mummified hand that is said to give light only its beholder. A favorite talisman for thieves and other persons of shady reputation Draco uses it to escape the Room of Requirement after using Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder. (Haven't seen it? What are you waiting for!) So, enamored as I am with the hamsa symbol I merged the two together to create one creepy image.

Hand of Glory

A few more from my new series, see the rest at my Etsy store: Samskrits

 

Jewel

 

 

Meditation

 I've been working with a lot of neutrals, blacks and browns. I did this to keep everything simple at first, not sure where I would want to go after I made the first few book forms. Now that I've made a good amount I think it's time I move forward with some color!

Also, my themes will be expanding, I am (obviously) very interested in the spiritual, symbols, charms and iconography of religions and cultures. I will continue to explore this genre but spiraling out to include more of the occult and mysteries and also some main stream things. I have some really great plans for my next couple of series and I can't wait to share them with everyone!

Wolf & Sheep

It happens less than I'd like to admit but sometimes I get wrapped up into a beautifully creative mood. Where everything I touch comes together just as I had hoped, words, colors, shapes pour from me and it feels like I'm channeling some unknown muse/genius; the vehicle for their expression.

It happened while I was away in Sarasota very, very late at night while I was trying to work out some emotions. This little thing was born:

I haven't written any prose in such a long time and this just flowed from me, it was very satisfying. The more I read it and want to add to it the more I see how it is expressing very deep emotions from within. Here it is typed out to be read more easily:

This sheep in wolf's clothing. 

This skin will protect me.This fur will keep me warm/

These claws will defend me, keep me alive until dawn.

In the forest I will hunt you.

Through the trees I will speed/

Gaining faster ever closer, the space in between.

My desire growing stronger, my manners more weak/

Hunger deepens, but my resolve is meek.

I'm considering adding another stanza but of course the genius has left me so maybe when I am inspired with the Divine Creative presence again I will go back to it.

Watch this fantastic TED talk about genius by Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love, she is adorably endearing and funny.

Five For Fighting

It's taken such a very long time for me to find where my heart lies in this vast world of creating but I have finally rested upon a marriage of book form and original artwork, now it's time to get to work!

I've put up five pieces to my brand new Etsy store: samskrits Go check it out and give me some feedback!

All Seeing Reliquary Book Form

Generosity Reliquary Book Form

Vajra Reliquary Book Form

Hamsa Reliquary Book Form

Illuminated Reliquary Book Form

all gift wrapped up just for you!

Namaste!

17 Sacred Mudras

Embarking on this project of reliquaries I am now starting to ask myself, "What is sacred?"

I have always loved the hamsa. I just traveled to Israel and saw the Sephardic symbol everywhere. It's simple design is beautiful and meaningful, protection and good luck all in one. The hamsa can be found in many religions and cultures throughout the Middle East and also in Christianity.  It's folkloric appeal makes it easy to appreciate as a secular as well.

17 drawings of Tibetan Buddhist Mudras

my hamsa! (for Bubbe)