Tag: artist

I Did It

by susanbradfordart, posted in Mandala Art

After many delays and a few false starts, I sat down and made seven garlic baskets in just a few days.  They are sweet and satisfying baskets to make.  Each one uses the exact same material, a lightweight rush often used in caning chairs.  The spokes in each basket are all cut to the same length, as is the one long weaver.  And yet each basket feels unique to me.  Each one develops its own personality as I work on it.  Some end up longer with a more narrow neck.  Some seem to want to be short and squat.  Each one has a mind of its own.  I just weave and listen.  They all bring me pleasure as I sit on the deck to weave, or talk with a friend, or watch a movie on Netflix late at night.

You’ll be able to see the results this Saturday, June 11th at the Cherry Valley Day Festival, held at the Josie Porter Farm from 10 am to 5 pm.garlic baskets All the beautiful items from the members of Mandala Design Works will be shown and Wellspring Holistic Center will be offering mini-treatments.

I love the idea of bringing them to a farm where beautiful, organic garlic is grown.  It seems like such a perfect match.  So when the garlic is ready to harvest this year, you’ll know where to go to fill your basket with the freshest, tastiest garlic around.

The event this Saturday is free!  And there will be music, crafts, educational demos, food and lots of fun.

What to Do?

by susanbradfordart, posted in Mandala Art

It’s that time of year again.  The days are getting incredibly long.  The sun is shining with splendid warmth.  The flowers are brilliant and vegetables are rapidly emerging from the ground.  All I want to do is be outside and get my hands into the dirt.  I want to plant and prune and pull weeds, and I want to bask in the results of my labor.  Such concrete and immediate results!  And there is so much to be done!  But there are also baskets to be made, bracelets to create, mandalas to design, and of course, paintings to emerge.  There are craft shows coming up and a group show in Pennsylvania in September.  There are unfinished paintings and new ones ready to start.  And I want to do it all.  I so love it all.  If only, there were more hours or I worked more quickly or I could split myself into two or more people.  If only…but for today… the sun is shining….

One Red-ish Drawing

by susanbradfordart, posted in Mandala Art

After posting last week on my inability to handle red in my work, I decided to try to rise to my own challenge, and to work with red this week.  The results are here for you to see.  A circle, but not quite a mandala.  Not a terrible piece, but not quite red.  Only red-ish for now.  It’s a start.

Of Tulips and ipads

by susanbradfordart, posted in Mandala Art

I love all the color in this photo.  Especially all the red.  The brand new ipad with its special red cover was waiting for me when I got back from PA this time.   The vibrant red tulips and daffodils picked from our garden.  The ipad happened to get set down next to the flowers and it really hit my eye.  The promise of Spring and the challenge of learning about something new.  When I took the photo, I didn’t expect that the red-patterned cover on the bench in the background would show so much.

Why do I love red so much in the world, but not so much to wear and rarely to paint with?

learning a new thing

by susanbradfordart, posted in Mandala Art

OK, so older (not old) kitties (not dogs , for sure) can really learn new tricks.  Yes?  But I must admit that it it isn’t so easy or so fun.  Or maybe it will be soon. At the moment, it’s just a little nerve-racking.  But we are all here together, and that always feels so good.  But Anita is showing off a little and I love her for it.  Marci is so patient, and Stan is so wise.  And I’m learning to add a blog.

Creative Process