Fern Fantasia

I generally create my botanical mandalas to serve as a canvas to which I add my drawings. But every so often a mandala stands out on its own and needs no embellishment.
I liked the elegant structure of this mandala created using Japanese Painted Ferns. My only artistic contribution was to add jewel elements using the colors of the stem and to edit the outer edges so it would stand out against a black background.

Ravenwheel

Recently, ravens have moved to our hilltop. They tend to prefer higher elevations, and 1800 feet seems to provide them with a hospitable environment.

I have been observing the crows in our woods for many years. While similar in shape and coloring, the ravens are dramatically different in size, call, and behavior. They are much larger, with a deep throaty call, and rather than flock, they are often in pairs.

With their huge size and obvious intelligence, it is no wonder they play a large part in Native American culture.

Autumn Greenman

A few months ago I did my first greenman mandala. I used leaves that I took from the botanical mandala itself to piece together and create a face. Although it was fun, and I did like the effect, I found the technique did not allow me a range of colors to work with.
To create a leaf man using autumnal colors I had to draw and paint this face from scratch. However, I was able to use only colors that I found in the original mandala to paint the face.

Vernal Equinox

The green of this oval mandala reminded me of spring. In early spring many the low lying shrubs and plants burst into lush foliage while the trees are still bare. The nights are often crystal clear and ablaze with stars. Some of my favorite constellations are high in the evening sky and I included them in this piece.

Astrolabe Mandala

Last year I got interested in medieval navigational instruments, particularly astrolabes. Their forms were intricate and exotic. I drew several of them for my "Dreamscape" series, using whimsical interpretations. Because they are generally circular I decided it would be fun to include one in my mandala series.
The constellations along the ecliptic were critical to navigation and usually inscribed in the instruments. I included them along the edge of this mandala created from artemisia foliage.

Winged Scarab Mandala

Whenever I visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC I find myself drawn to the Egyptian section. I love the designs and motifs that are both esthetically pleasing and mysterious.
The Scarab was considered sacred and linked to Kephri, the god of the rising sun. It is often depicted rolling the sun across the sky.
I drew this scarab amulet using complimentary colors from the purple orchid in this mandala. I added some bevel shadowing to make it more jewel-like.

Orchid Sunburst

This botanical mandala, made from yellow orchids, reminded me of a sunburst motif that I had seen in India. It was stunning on its own and didn't need much embellishment, so I added a few simple flame motifs drawn with some beveling to complete the piece.