Oriel Pendant Challenge -- Week 2: Be Mindful

Be Mindful

"We are the same as plants, as trees, as other people, as the rain that falls. We consist of that which is around us, we are the same as everything." -- Buddha

I have had this image of the Buddha for quite awhile. I liked the unknown artist's interpretation, and the use of the blue lotus leaves beneath him. I made this at the request of my art teacher. Although this is a very simple oriel it packs a punch vibrationally -- just like the Buddha did, I imagine.

This pendant also serves as my submission for Day 6 of the 2010 Creative Every Day Challenge

Journal Page Creations...Day 5

Journal Page Creations -- Day 5: Buddha and Bowl

So many arty things to do, so little time! This page "recycles" some journal pages (color copy) that my sister and I created together on one of our Mexico trips!

Thursday -- Say What????

Smirking Buddha Oriel

Oh my god it's Thursday already! Where did the week go to? What have I accomplished for the past 3 days?

It takes a tremendous amount of self-discipline for me to do art consistently. In defense of myself, I have been slowly finishing several oriels that had been copper-taped but not soldered. I have also been experimenting photographing them with my camera and my "photo studio in a box". I am also opening up a shop on 1000 Markets, so I am dealing with various issues -- file size of images, copy, opening an Amazon pay account.

Everyday I feel the desire to create and experiment with different tools and mediums, yet I find myself avoiding the studio except for the most minimal time. Do I need to set some more goals for myself? Here's some possibilities:

1. How about my own Illustration Friday (create a piece of art every Friday)?
   
2. Or, an Art-Every-Day-for-a-Year challenge (like it says a piece of art everyday--EEEKKKK!)?
   
3. Or, maybe a Technique Thursday (learn a new technique every Thursday).

Then post whatever I create. An unlimited time frame seems too daunting, so maybe I'll just commit to do this for a month. Hmmmmm. What to do, what to do?

What would it feel like to not hesitate? To just act? To just feel my mane blowing in the wind?

Completed 3-D Oriel (above): Smirking Buddha (the beveled glass makes his smile seem crooked. It's made with 3 panes of glass and stars are sprinkled on all levels.

WOO_WOO!!!!

Success! I can't believe it! I just took my first set of photos -- I think this is great! This is a photo of one of my newest oriel pendants: Siddhartha. I photographed it flat, on top of a handmade journal. I set up the camera directly over the pendant -- no flash, macro setting.

Look how clear it is! No glass reflection. OH MY GOD!!!! This could become addictive! It's still not exactly what I want -- for instance it appears a bit washed out. If any photo experts out there run across this post, please feel free to comment! YAHOO!!!