OCEAN SERIES #5 - Ocean Weaver Mandala

Ocean Weaver Mandala (Ocean Story Series) © Sue O'Kieffe 2010
source image: driftwood

As I was creating this mandala I was thinking about all the stories this piece of wood could share from the moment it was first washed up onto the shore. It is worn by wind and waves, smoothed by time and full of marvelous patterns. I wonder where the tree was originally rooted and how long it has been on this beach. It is curious to me how this wood arrives at the coastline, especially after one of our magnificent rain storms - the power of nature never ceases to amaze.

I have been experimenting with a new Photoshop kaleidoscope plug in that I downloaded from mehdiplugins.com. It's been fun to play with for additional textures and patterns, and I like the way all the subtle colors of the source image as well as the foamy ocean spray all play out in this image.

Sand and sea, ocean and river, wind and water ... all these elements weave together in power and majesty. Can't you feel it, smell it, taste it, touch it? These are the stories that nature shares with us.

~Sue O'Kieffe
Sacred Circle Mandalas

Free Mandala Wallpaper

All Paths Lead to One Mandala © Sue O'Kieffe 2010
source image: honeysuckle blossom

I love offering gifts whenever I can.

I created desktop wallpaper in three different sizes for all of you who follow my blog and anyone who happens to find their way here in the future.

The original mandala, All Paths Lead to One, symbolizes a philosophy I want to embrace in my own life, when I feel conflict with another person's beliefs. I know that we are all connected and that we are all one. We are Love.

There is a great awakening on this planet at this time and great shifts are occurring. May this wallpaper remind you that we are all part of each other whenever you turn on your computer.

The wallpaper was created in three different sizes, depending on your monitor resolution. Here are the links:
800x600=http://www.box.net/shared/eyejltipdd
1024x768=http://www.box.net/shared/8zm9uxgxj4
1280x960=http://www.box.net/shared/oinn7c516n

If you aren't sure how to install wallpaper on your computer, here are some instructions

MAC OS 9
1. Download image according to your monitor resolution
2. Go to Apple menu > Control Panel and select "Appearance".
3. Select "Place picture" and locate the appropriate picture.
4. Click "Set Desktop".
MAC 0S X
1. Select the picture you want in the resolution which matches your display.
2. Save image to desktop.
3. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Personal section and select "Desktop".
4. On the "Collection" pulldown menu, go to "Choose Folder" and locate the appropriate picture.

WINDOWS 7 and VISTA
1. Select the picture you want according to the resolution which matches your display
2. Download image and save to your desktop
3. Right click on desktop and choose personalize.
4. Browse to the mandala image and click on it. Make sure picture position is set to fill screen
WINDOWS XP
1. Select the picture you want according to the resolution which matches your display
2. Download image and save to your desktop
3. Right click on desktop and choose properties
4. Click on desktop tab. Browse to mandala image and click on it

Bright blessings to you on your path this day!

Sue O'Kieffe
Sacred Circle Mandalas

AEDM 30 - THANKSGIVING IN TALENT

I spent Thanksgiving with my friend Lorlyn who lives in Talent, Oregon. She was already Talented, though, before she moved there. These are photos I took in her backyard.

This also concludes 30 days of creating art in November. My my, that time went by quickly. Wow wow. My intent for these past 30 days had been to focus more on my photography. I feel pretty satisfied with every thing I created this month...for the stretches in pushing past some of my comfort zones and just daring to do something new.

I smiled when I saw the holey stone. Whenever I see those rocks, I am reminded what a friend said to me once..."if water can bore through rock, then we can get through anything!"

I am way grateful for Leah who has managed to create such a cohesive community of creative bloggers, and for giving us all an opportunity to get to know each other a little better during these past 30 days. In my travels around the blogosphere I have seen some amazing work. Thanks to all of YOU for enriching my life.

AEDM 22 - BANANA ABSTRACTIONS

I have been photographing two banana trees I see on my daily walk for about a year now and have watched them from a point of being trimmed back for winter to growing out again. I would imagine they will be trimmed again soon...the gardener honors the cycle of life!

My intent for AEDM had originally been to experiment more with my camera. It's been challenging with all the rain we've been having lately here on the North Coast of California. Actually Im amazed banana trees even grow here. These trees must like rain!

Oh and hey! Be sure to visit my doodle blog for more Banana Madness!

~sue

AFTER THE STORM - Day 4 AEDM

After the Storm - © Sue O'Kieffe 2008
so this guy i know at work walked up to me when i was out taking photos this afternoon.
"you taking pictures of leaves?"
"nope. raindrops."
"raindrops!how come?"
"cuz i've never tried it before"

ART EVERY DAY MONTH

A year ago I rose to Leah Piken Kolidas' challenge to create every day during the month of November and tried my hand at some non-digital art; out of that came a new found fascination with lines and color. (Hey, did you even know I have another blog, dedicated to doodling? ) Another year has come and gone, and once again Leah is encouraging us to think about new ways to be creative. I re-upped. I would support you all to join us in this no-pressure challenge to try something new. You can do it! Being creative is good for you.

This year I have decided to focus more on new photographic techniques and will be posting my excursions here and there, since I do imagine playing with my camera as another way of doodling.

Dancing with Flutes - © Sue O'Kieffe 2008

I've begun experimenting with new ways of using aperture and shutter speeds. Mostly I'm trying not to rely so much on Photoshop and just use simple digital darkrooom techniques. I did enjoy the watercolory, batik-like results of this image, though. Some habits are too much fun to relinquish altogether.

Stay tuned for further adventures!

~Sue O'Kieffe

END OF SUMMER

I have begun experimenting with other forms of digital art-making recently through my involvement in the Coach Creative Space. It's been fun to play around using different approaches to making art. I used the photos above to create the image below.



Curves and Splatters - © Sue O'Kieffe 2008

Many thanks to Kim of Laketrees for honoring me and so many other fine creatives on the web with her very thoughtful award.





It's gratifying to be recognized during a time when I am searching ever deeper for inspiration in my art. More about that at another time.

Summer is winding down. On the North Coast of California, autumn is our best time anyway. The light turns golden, the harvest is readied, it actually turns warm and windless. Just a few more weeks. Huzzah!

Many blessings to all of you who come to read, feel inspired, seek to find comfort and healing in your lives, reach for ease and joy and contentment.

May we all be blessed.


Sue O'Kieffe
Sacred Circle Mandalas

SACRED LIFE SUNDAY - RIVER WALK

As a way of honoring Sacred Life Sundays I like to post photographs of the beauty I find in my world. These photographs were taken on a walk with my friend SueZen on a walking trail not too far from where I live. The Mad River runs parallel to the Pacific Ocean. I'm not sure how it got its name because most of the time the river is pretty calm. One year, during a heavy winter storm, the ocean broke through the sand bars and the river changed course, creating a new mouth. I was fortunate to witness that geological event. Seems SueZen was with me that day, too.

In the summer in late afternoon, you can never be too sure if the day will be foggy or sunny. At 4:30 when I left work the sun was still out. By the time we got out on our walk 45 minutes later, we were engulfed in damp yet cozy fog. There is something about the mystery of fog that I find comforting.

The bumblebee on the thistle had gone dormant from the cold. Im sure when the sun came out again he warmed right up and flew away. I saw two bees in this state of suspended animation on our walk.

Nature is so amazing.

SACRED LIFE SUNDAY - FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH

On Sundays, I like sharing the beauty I have witnessed over the past week with all of you. I am grateful for the opportunities I have to see such a variety of shapes and colors, especially now, after having focused so intensely on the meaning of different shapes in art for the past week on my postings here.

I'm not sure what kind of plant those mandala-like green leaves are. Maybe later, when the blooms appear, I will be able to tell.

(For those of you who view my blog in a reader, you will need to come to my site in order to see the slide show and hear the music I try to tie in to all of my posts.)

Have a joyous Sunday, everyone.


Sue O'Kieffe
Sacred Circle Mandalas

MANDALA FOR THE CELTIC NEW YEAR

Transistions Mandala - (Seasons Series) - © Sue O'Kieffe 2007
Source image: lilac leaf

Sometimes I am lucky to be able to watch a plant in different phases of the growing season. A friend of mine has a luscious garden. This year her lilac bush flowered for the first time since being planted, and the photograph I took of its flowers gave me this mandala.

I had no idea how beautiful their autumn leaves were until this year. It is such a pleasure, as an artist and participant in nature, to be able to witness this beauty and soak up this energy like some animals store up food for winter.

This time of year is significant to me. Two years ago I started blogging here. In Celtic tradition, the end of October and beginning of November mark the end of harvest time and the beginning of the descent into winter. It's a good time to take stock and review all that we have accomplished. This time last year I was facing major surgery. Today I am in start up phases of a new art business and nurturing life long dreams. I am grateful for all that life has shown me so far and will continue to show me moving forward.

I've been amiss in visiting most of my readers of late. I will come by and say hi as soon as I can.

Happy New Year, everyone!
*Tossing dried leaf confetti in the air*