WONDER, MYSTERY AND MAGIC

Bouquet 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?

IMAGE - IN

Magis Pray to the Light of Inner Knowing - (Circles of Light series) - © Sue O'Kieffe 2007

I enjoyed the evolution of this piece. First I took this picture of succulents that grow outside my apartment. I've taken lots of pictures of these plants over the past couple of years. This is one of my favorites.

When I create a mandala, I dont really have an inner vision of a possible ending; I just let it take me wherever it wants to go. I suppose that is true of other art forms; I have experienced it with collage at times, but really I do have a greater sense of the mandalas, in their early stages, guiding me to their end. Then, when the circle is complete, I finish editing it in Photoshop (levels, curves, hue/saturation, sharpening) add more layers, play with filters, finish with circles of outer/inner light -- voila!

With this particular mandala, about halfway through, the figures began to emerge. They struck me as monk-like and wise, perhaps more like spiritual magicians. Recently I finished reading Christopher Moore's novel, Lamb, in which Moore imagines Jesus finding each of the Magis, during the years of his life not mentioned in the bible, who taught him the needed skills to become the messiah. It was, in fact, a fun and fascinating read. With this mandala, I image-in access to that same inner light that I think Jesus both knew we all have and taught us to embrace.

Let your Light shine!

Hey, I sure would like to read your thoughts about my work.