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Sunday, June 08, 2008

Weekend Snapshot: Number 40


The big news where I live is the heat. I'm not going to complain; after all I live in an air conditioned house and have air conditioning in my car so I know it could be worse. I will say that after pleasantly chilly weather in late May, we have had record breaking heat in June. In the space of a few days the temperature rose by 40 degrees. It has been this hot before in July or August but I don't remember it ever being this hot in June. Therefore, it was a good weekend to play inside. I have a ton of art supplies left over from various times I've felt like playing as well as ones I have left over from when my daughter was growing up. I need to start pitching some of the old ones I'll never use like the markers with heart and star tips. Great for children but a little silly for a 50 year old with no children at home.
Dee who blogs at Dee's Updates mentioned how she was coloring in a mandala while she was in the waiting room before receiving her radiation treatments for metastatic breast cancer. You can see her mandala on her post here . She mentioned how coloring was bringing down her blood pressure. I thought coloring in the waiting room was such a great idea and mentioned how I could use some coloring therapy myself. Jeanne who blogs at The Assertive Cancer Patient also liked the coloring idea. Dee told us that a person who designs mandalas has a website at Maiah Creations . You can see some of her elaborate designs there. She also has a free download as part of her Mandala of the month (MOM) and explains how you can participate. I'm putting a copy of the blank MOM below so you so see what I used as a starting point.
The MOM is a basic design but you can create more designs within the lines which is what I did. The one I'm showing below is my first try and I'll be doing others because it's so much fun.As a matter of fact, I had so much fun I decided to design my own blank that I could color in. My design below isn't a mandala by any stretch of the imagination. When I was reading about them on the web, one site said that they represent wholeness and can be seen as the model for the organizational structure of life itself - from "Mandela: Journey to the Center" by Bailey Cunningham. My design might be seen as disorganization at the Carver level. First I'll show you the blank design I came up with.

Next I'll show you what happened once I started coloring it in. I didn't even stay within the circle, I got so carried away. In case you haven't figured this out about me yet, I am able to draw and color at a kindergarten level quite well. I am free and uninhibited and don't have any trouble letting my inner child out. As a matter of fact sometimes it would be good if my inner adult could get a chance to develop.
I always find it easy to do programs like the Artist Way which in part help you to get in touch with the childlike freedom and creativity which is so often submerged as we become adults. I don't have any trouble getting on the floor and playing. I even keep a big jar of bubbles by my door so I can go outside and blow bubbles when the fancy strikes me. However, I have trouble taking creative pursuits to the next level and developing the patience to work on a craft. When I was coloring in the Mandala, I grabbed a book to use to bear down on without even looking at the book I selected. After I finished my Mandala and lifted it off the book, I realized I had been using the Michelangelo book to bear down on. Talk about being brought down to earth with a big thump.
Fortunately my watercolor and charcoal pencils didn't go through to the art book. For the mandala I used all of the supplies in the first photo with water to dip the watercolors in. For, Carver Playing in a Circle I just used the markers and charcoal pencils. Does that mean my works qualify for mixed media?

You can find other WS posts on technorati here -

On Monday participants post links at the home of WS where you can find out how to participate here - Weekend Snapshot

28 comments:

Smalltown RN said...

Heat wave....oh gosh I wish....I just want two sunny days in a row...it has been awful here...I hope this isn't going to be a repeat of last year....we really didn't get any summer....oh I hope the warmer weather will arrive soon....

You are very creative...I love the one you made up...good for you...

Dee said...

Wow, Carver! You really went to town! I love Carver Playing in a Circle! I think that's way cooler than Michaelangelo's works! It's certainly more fun.

One of the Mandala Lady's mandalas has a saying to the effect about how it's the process that counts not the end product. The act of coloring brings me to a calm spot that I like quite a bit. I can't wait to get to the one I just started yesterday. I also will post two more than I finished yesterday when I get a chance - I still need to download the pics.

Carver, is your cable modem fixed?

maryt/theteach said...

Great idea about coloring in mandalas, Carver! I've always loving coloring! It's the kid in me! :D

SandyCarlson said...

I enjoyed reading your post from the comfort of my naturally air-conditioned basement den. The heat is on up and down the coast, eh Carver! I love what you've done with the mandalas. Thanks for these links, too.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed reading your entry,Carver! Seems like fun! Love the one in charcoal! :) Have a great week ahead!

Napaboaniya.Elaine Ling said...

It looks like a fun project. Brings out the imagination of one with colors to play with :)
Have a good week Carver!!

Sweet Jasmine said...

Hi, Carver...love your colouring ...but I am not good in art. It looks kind of fun and relaxing too.

Will add you on my links..

Have a nice weekend.

Michele said...

Oh these are neat... very creative. I think you did awesome and what a fantastic idea with the Mandalas. What a fun post... I need to go back and click on links... this is awesome!!!!
The Rocky Mountain Retreat

Natalie said...

That looks like a fun thing to do in hot weather. I'm not a big fan of the heat. I was 9 months pregnant during the worst of the heat last summer...I spent A LOT of time inside...wish I'd been as productive and creative as you.

eastcoastlife said...

We are having really hot months here in Singapore too. I'm not using the air-con because electricity price has risen due to record high oil prices!

I prefer painting to colouring but that is a fascinating mandala you made, using the computer.

Anonymous said...

Yes creativity is great. Happy WS!

DeLi said...

i know that humid and hot hot season....and its best to keep self with a project

Theresa said...

What fun I love your circle.
Your comment of coloring on Michaelangelo's work bring to mind a quote by Barysknikov that my sister-in-law has on her blog which is "I don't try to dance better than anyone else, just myself" and I think you did yourself proud with your circle :)

Juliana said...

in here also so HOT....:D

Please visit mine also Thanks

Anonymous said...

nice full of color :D I am not really good with coloring hi hi...

My CC in here Thanks

Jean Chia aka Ms.Yummy~licious said...

hi carver! GREAT JOB ON THE CARVER PLAYING IN A CIRCLE! I love it! :)

Carver said...

Thanks for visiting my WS post. I'll visit as many as I can but won't have computer access for much of this week so if I miss you this week will see you next.

Anonymous said...

that's great. thanks for sharing those ideas.

happy monday Carver!

~Mommyallehs~ said...

It's like a kid things to me... fun and enjoyable idea. i love playing in a circle looks cool. Thanks for sharing it.

Anonymous said...

That is great carver..

abie said...

wow, what a great and fun projects...

mine is up. hope you can drop by:

Toys R' Us
Fun Times at the Little Gym

Anonymous said...

i know i shouldn't complain about the heat, we were praying for this for months! haha! looks like fun!

marcia@joyismygoal said...

i love coloring and it is hot here too

Anonymous said...

this is a very informative post, carver! it looks so much fun to do! :)

btw, is it okay if i add your link to my blog? thanks :)

Carver said...

Thanks to everyone for visiting. Christine (strawberrygurl) yes feel free to. Thanks.

MaR said...

I didn't know a thing about mandalas so thank you for those wonderful links!!
I loved coloring books as a kid but my son didn't. It's something I could try again :)
Loved your creative coloring!

Jeanne said...

interesting post!

Visit also My WS Entryhere

ipanema said...

oh i love the photos of the coast. hope you had a great time.

thanks for the visit! :)