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Tuesday, January 15, 2008

WONDER, MYSTERY AND MAGIC

bouquet mandalaBouquet Mandala - (Circles of Wonder series) - © Sue O'Kieffe

I thank you god for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the
blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes
~e e cummings

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Even though I live on the North Coast of California where flowers are just beginning to bloom now in mid-January, finding something new to photograph is a challenge this time of year. My eyes are hungry for something different, and so on Sunday I wandered into the local high end grocery store with my camera. It has a pretty nice floral department besides deli counter, juice bar, bakery and delicious organic produce. Once I wander inside anywhere with my camera, I must admit I feel a bit self conscious or wonder when Im going to be thrown out on my ear; but no one really cared when the flash went off amidst the orchids and so I relaxed a bit. I've wondered for a while if I could use a bouquet for a source image. I loved the colors of the flowers in this collection. But even more, they contained the feel of moon and mystery I was looking for to begin with.

I have had different people comment to me about the magic of digital art. I agree so much. The math of it which creates these functions which mimics the processes of film development never ceases to amaze me. I don't want to know how it works. I'd much rather marvel at the magic.

Does knowing how something works make it more or less amazing for you?



11 comments:

Irene said...

You explain to us how you do this, but it is still a bit of a mystery to me, so I would say, yes, let it be unknown and magical.

This mandala is beautiful, so full of radiant color. It's wonderful how the colors seem to shine like a light in the dark.

lebanesa said...

Great question.
It is lovely to understand workings, to see beautiful machines in action, but it is also uplifting to have mysteries and surprises.
lovely bouquet, beautiful movement

Bobbie said...

No, not at all. Knowing how it works just deepens my respect. I find this especially true in the world of nature.

I love this deep purple mandala and these stolen images from the grocery store are just perfect. I can imagine your picture taking there :)
Once Debi took some pictures in the Chinese grocery and they asked her to stop. But ooh those pictures were delicious!

artandtea said...

When your mandala displayed on my screen, an audible oooohhh escaped my lips. This is gorgeous!
I love mystery but I do find myself saying at times, "now how did they do that?" I agree with Bobbie. Finding out how something works or was done deepens my respect and reverence for nature and art.
Taking photos in the grocery store. How awesome!
-Karen

John M. Mora said...

This one, Mandala, is wondrous - the purple is unreal and in the best way - it has a deeply religious quality I cannot quantify beyond my recollection of Lent vestments.

Purple to me equates with serene acceptance. Lock me up.

I like mystery in "some" people - but,with procedures I like to be in control. This makes me less adventuresome than I wish. More cautious than timid - too many fingers strumming waiting for mañana.

I do love surprises - part of the reason I do the print screens.

But knowing like Bobbie said, is what separates us from the mon.keys.

There is something glorious about being in deep woods, hearing bird songs, and knowing what is there. Less magical in movies where they put the wrong bird song/cry on the wrong continent.

Deb Kirkeeide said...

What a gorgeous piece this is. It's my turn to gasp!
Even when I learn the magic of how something works it, still holds the amazement of how the process was discovered in the first place.

Teri said...

Gloriously stunning!!!!!!

dianeclancy said...

Hi Sue,

Very lovely!

~ Diane Clancy
www.dianeclancy.com/blog

Unknown said...

Irene, Oh fellow Virgo, we both love mystery. We have enough details in our head, dont we?
Frances, thank you as always for your comments
Bobbie and Karen, knowing how nature works seems to deepen the mystery for sure!
John, purple is a deeply spiritual color for me as well. I am finding also that you are influencing me in little ways that I work. Linear meets non linear?
Deb, Always a pleasure to see you here. I hope your gasp did not freeze in mid air in that Minnesota cold!
Teri and Diane, thank you, as always, for your support.

marianne said...

Supermandala!!!!!!

Tangled Stitch said...

I love the process and I love the mandala. Lovely colors and looks very beautiful when I look out my window and see snow!