Lotus Flowers - Samantha Rochard

Brightest Star - Sun Symbols- Explore the beautiful world of lotus flowers with our stunning sun paintings and star-inspired designs. Discover the brightest star lotus today.

2014-11-21T02:02:00.002-09:30

Lotus Flower #62- Brightest Star

Many see the sun symbol as a pagan symbol, and grant is a bad connotation because of the word "Pagan"

But what is pagan? Depending on where you are from, this could mean a person who is un-enlightened, hedonistic and all around seen to be as "bad."

But "pagan" was actually a broad term given to anyone who wasn't Jewish, Muslim or Christian.

The sun symbol, has a place of importance in the pagan, neopagan and occult faiths. (I use occult as a broad term to collectively express all the Western Mystic practices.)

As the brightest star/object within view; it served as a reference/symbol for being the best there is. Nothing shone brighter than it.

And pagans being very observant of the natural cycles, used nature to find wisdom.

Become as the SUN, shine your brightness forth...but understand that even the SUN sleeps and hides for a time. Appreciate the cycles of you inner being, shine when its the appropriate time, rest when needed.
The moon cycles at the four corners of this piece speak to the cycles as well......

Peacock Symmetry - Explore the beauty of the Peacock Symmetry Mandala with the Lotus 61 design. This intricate mandala design features gorgeous peacock feathers and vibrant colors.

2014-11-02T12:03:00.003-09:30

Peacock Symmetry

We are all the same you know. We are all the same person. There is only one person, one human really. What we are is that one human, who has grown up with different experiences.
We face different directions, seek different things and explore different aspects of the one thing...the human condition.

Peacocks represent regal family ties.

Bound as we are by the spirit flower.

Lotus Flower 60 - Battimamzelle

2014-10-31T14:58:00.000-09:30

Lotus Flower #60- Batimamzelle-Samantha Rochard

With a new sense of purpose from relaxing the boundaries a little bit, I let my inner garden fantasies stretch out somewhat, and came up with this number.

I find Dragonflies magical. I believe lots of people so. They seem to transcend the boundaries of earth and water....or was it water and air? :)

I loved the organic feel to the swirls,
like vines of growth ,
stretching out
growing
testing this way and that.....

....and I am going to try this theme again, later on.
Even after doing it I could see improvements that can be made to this design.

Lotus Flower Number 59- Mehndi Lotus

2014-10-30T12:06:00.000-09:30

Mehndi Lotus- #59 - Samantha Rochard

After a long hiatus, and wondering if I should even bother with continuing the project, I was fooling around one day and thought I'd just try bigger. Increase my space, and sense of possibility.

At the same time I had been attempting to find any deeper meaning behind Mehndi patterns, and incorporated some of them into this....really intended to be just a doodle.

I was pleased with the results, and decided to explore more.

During this I thought about how removing the limitations gives one a renewed sense of purpose.
Another thing that I noticed was that looking for inspiration online isn't a good thing.

I think its better to center oneself, and reach deep inside to see what comes from you.

Fifty - Eighth Lotus Flower - Connection to inner flame

2013-07-30T12:57:00.001-09:30

There is a flame at my center. It keeps me warm in life. The are things that cause it to burn brighter, and things that cause it to die a little...inside.

I know the effects that some things bring....but I am still in the world...trying. To stop testing the effects that things out there have on your flame will surely cause it to die? Won't it?

When you stop trying, testing, experimenting....isn't that when the world falls around you and you sink into apathy?

....and isn't apathy painful?

Simply to exist, with no fire, no passion, no need or want for life.....doesn't it numb your soul?

Keep fanning the flame....reach out and test, try, experience. Yes, the flame may die sometimes, but sometimes it will grow.But to not try at all?

Well....it will most surely die eventually.

Fifty-Seventh Lotus Flower - How much growth does one need?Fifty-Seventh Lotus Flower

2013-07-30T12:48:00.000-09:30

Fifty-Seventh Lotus Flower - Samantha Rochard

Growth....spiritual growth that is.

How much does one really need until we decide "Enough."

Came upon the concept of Spiritual Gluttony the other day. It was an interesting term. I imagined someone consuming spiritual books and religious symbols and still wanting more.

Alchemists put forward that the right spiritual path changes one's spirit from mercury (base metal, base body) to gold (purer matter).

Is spiritual growth linear? Or is it some Mandelbrot function spreading out from one's essence exponentially....repeating patterns over and over and over?

Maybe I think too much?

Fifty-Sixth Lotus Flower - Does Growth bring change? Or does change bring growth?

2013-07-30T12:37:00.000-09:30

Fifty-Sixth Lotus Flower - Samantha Rochard

Not sure how or when it happens.....all I know is I look back and realize things have changed a little bit, My perspective has shifted. I am a little different inside.
But which comes first to cause the other? Or do both dance around each other.

I know newness for me brings new vision. New thoughts, new topics, new location, new people, new minds......its like my world has opened up and is a little bigger.

I seek this constantly....that feeling of expansion.

Fifty-Fifth Lotus Flower - The Worth of the Process

2013-07-30T12:26:00.001-09:30

Fifty-Fifth Lotus Flower - Samantha Rochard

A close friend of mine likens life to traveling on the bus.

I can understand. He sometimes asks about goals....when you achieve them, then what.

I believe the importance is in the journey, not the destination. When I create, the process of creating is more important than the final piece. Its the transformation that you undergo, the little things you see, smell, feel along the way that matter.
Its the renewed commitment to see it through, to stick with it. Whether it be relationship, project, goal...its the process that changes you, not the completion of the goal.

Its the willingness to pick another path on the journey to explore, and see more, feel more.
Its the things you see on the journey, not the destination.

Number 54 - Centerless

2012-09-23T04:46:00.001-09:30

Centerless - Samantha Rochard

My centre has disappeared

The "Me" that makes up my core has dissipated into the swirling activities around me. I have sacrificed myself to these energies at the expense of ME.

All my being is fractured.

There are bubbles of activity on the outskirts of happen stance, which may assist in bringing my whole. For this to happen, I have to scrape a foundation of my person back, and remove bits of me from those distracting energies.......
This journey is far more sapping than I realized, and cycles keep repeating themselves.

Number 53 - Dark Heart Lotus Flower

2012-09-18T05:19:00.002-09:30

Dark Heart Lotus Flower - Samantha Rochard

The cracks are beginning to form

on that wall which surrounds your heart.

Its protection is weakening, and soon the arrow which hovers waiting

will indeed pierce it, and cause it to bleed.

Such it is with love, whether you fear it or desire it,

with love, comes pain.

With intense love, comes intense pain.

The bitterness of one, contrasts the sweet pleasure of the other.

Both will ever be present.....

..... unless you turn you heart to stone.

Number 52- Fairy Lotus Flower

2012-09-09T09:04:00.000-09:30

Fairy Lotus Flower - Samantha Rochard

So... here is number 52. Which came with an urge to be cleansed of worry. Probably I have the notion of creating a life in my utopia?

But in any event during this drawing I was thinking about the core things that I need to be happy. And I was developing a cleansing ritual to rid myself of them. I rid by water...now to rid by fire.

Fairy Lotus Flower brings desires to live my dream....and it was necessary to re-think what was needed to make that dream happen.....which I am still developing.....
Blessed Be.

Lotus on Water

2012-07-09T02:19:00.001-09:30

51st Lotus Flower - Lotus on Water

Sometimes I wake early in the morning and just need to doodle. This was my morning doodle. No plan, no direction...just taking one line at a time.

But such a thing requires patience.

The difference with the concept of "one step at a time in life" is that you cannot see the larger whole in front of you. But in drawing, you can see the previous lines drawn and how the connect with the next. Not so easy to see in real life.........

Forty Eighth Lotus Flower - Energies Flow toward me.

2012-06-22T03:19:00.003-09:30

Forty Eighth Lotus Flower- Energies Flow Toward Me - Samantha Rochard

I pull from the four corners

And summon Air, Water,Fire, Earth.

Raphael, Gabriel, Michael and Uriel

Be my muses on this my journey.

Forty Seventh Lotus Flower - Elven Lotus Flower

2012-06-10T07:41:00.001-09:30

Elven Lotus Flower - Samantha Rochard

Yes ELVEN....as in Elvish....the fairy like creatures.
My daughter has been excited about fairies in the new yard we have. There are a lot of trees, and we are celebrating the space.
Her excitement had me looking at Fairy Gardens, Fairy Art, Celtic Art.....feeling like a kid again with the excitement of possibility.

The new space; space for a herb garden, a flower garden, and space to create has expanded all of my family's horizons. It is here I made the conscious decision to continue where the previous tile took me and keep the pieces at the larger size. I may even go bigger after a while.
With the expanded size, my creative ability is also expanded. (I seem to see an "As above, so below" theme happening here :))

My thoughts as I created :

Within Confinement, imagination can bring forth immense beauty, and when the parameters are loosened; the excitement of possibility bursts forward. Green and gold....an acknowledgment of the refined self growing closer to its gold (goal).

Forty-Sixth Lotus Flower - Egyptian Tile Lotus Flower

2012-06-10T07:18:00.000-09:30

Egyptian Tile Lotus Flower - Samantha Rochard - 100 Lotus Flowers

During the time I was almost artistically unproductive, an Egyptian gentleman saw one of my Lotus Flowers and asked if I could design a tile. The above piece started out as being just a tile. I don't think his client was too pleased.

first draft

Nevertheless, it was a stepping stone to new ways of looking at the project. The design for the tile came from the Egyptian way of rendering the Lotus Flower.

used the flower in the top right corner.

Of course I took creative license with the shape a bit so that top and base will touch. After leaving it alone for months, I finally picked it back up and finished into the piece at the top of this post.

My thoughts as I was finishing?

Interaction from persons and events may simply happen to gently nudge you in a different direction. Never think that any event, occurrence, meeting, happening is a waste of time. It is simply a point in time. Many outcomes can develop from the experience of that one point in time. Flow..........

Pardon Me Muses

2012-06-03T08:48:00.001-09:30

Pardon me Muses, for I have erred...its been six months since my last Lotus Flower...........

I eve wondered if the project was dead... because I could not seem to find a direction to take it forward. But, in deciding to change the parameters of my self imposed limitations, I found a revival to....well....possibility.
I have three to post on the blog, and will be doing so soon.

In a symbolic gesture to my moving into a bigger space, I decided to make them bigger....as simple as that, but the space on the page now affords new designs, and styles. There is a marked sense of expansion in my life....and the new ones seem to celebrate that.....

Will be posting soon.

The Pictures shown here are some of my favourites so far. I have also been looking at the less refined pieces in an attempt to improve on the design....should I number them in succession, or simply leave them as the second version? Not sure yet, but it does not seem right repeating a design and counting it as an additional flower....

Keep posted to this blog.

Forty-Fifth Lotus Flower

2011-12-02T03:22:00.000-09:30

Dolphins and Lotus - Mixed Media Samantha Rochard

Funny journey this, this 100 Lotus Flowers. Like any journey there is a time to rest and enjoy the scenery. Which is what I have been doing these days, more like mentally hanging around really. I have been trying out various scenarios that are presented to me to see how they can fit in my life. I have also been experimenting behind the scenes with different styles in painting. More on that later.

What is my goal during this period? To assess what is important to me, the things I need; the lifestyle I wish to live- to come out of this time with the knowledge that I am settled in the course I wish my life to take.

It may not be a journey which comes out daily like a soap opera, or weekly like a syndicated series....but it really is my journey....

Dolphins and the use of water elements acknowledge to healing process that is needed in all of us. I am looking at my mind and its thoughts and processing the elements that I focus on daily........

Fourty Third Lotus Flower

2011-10-17T04:27:00.000-09:30

Lotus Flower number Forty Three - Mixed Media - Samantha Rochard

Its hard to build a wall, when you have no foundation

Its hard to fly, when you can't see the ground.

Lost........where is home?

Fourty Second Lotus Flower

2011-09-27T03:38:00.000-09:30

Clarity has left me

I return to a point again

.....and no- this is not an issue of making the same mistakes over and over again. This is a feeling of having lost my way. Or have I lost my mind? Is it possible, to get sucked into other people's issues so much that you lose your sense of self? I believe this is what is happening to me. Psychic vampires.I need to rethink and look for an exit strategy.

I am losing who I am.

Thirty Sixth, Thirty Seventh and Thirty Eighth Lotus Flower - Should I continue?

2011-08-23T04:37:00.000-09:30

Thirty Sixth Lotus Flower- Mixed Media - Samantha Rochard

Thirty Seventh Lotus Flower - Samantha Rochard - Mixed Media

Thirty Eighth Lotus Flower - Samantha Rochard - Mixed Media

Okay.... I must admit that I feels like I have explored the Lotus Theme enough. At this point I am a bit bored with the theme and trying to come up with new images for it. In addition, I believe my resource for the Lotus flower symbol has sort of been dried up.......I have explored most of the themes.
Here now, I am at a point where I need to make some decisions. Do I change the parameters of my restrictions like size etc etc. ? Do I try different materials? Do I chuck it all together?

The purpose of this exploration was to get rid of the artists block that I had....which it did. Various other themes are screaming at me now for attention.....and I really want to hop over to them and check them out. Or should I reject the idea that my flighty mind has currently and stick it out till the hundred?
My concern is that each piece would begin to lose originality and look more like another previously done.

I find myself also thinking of placing them in three's and refining things for a show........ hmmm..... suggestions anyone?

Thirty Fifth Lotus Flower

2011-08-15T04:53:00.000-09:30

Thirty Fifth Lotus Flower - Samantha Rochard - Mixed Media

Be Aware

True enlightenment may not fit

into your current definition

"The golden lotus has two meanings, one is the symbol for the achievement of enlightenment and the other points towards a real flower which is beyond our normal perception."

http://platinumlotus.com/lotus_legend.html

We seek enlightenment, but never really ask ourselves if we know what that means? Perhaps it is beyond our ken?

Thirty Fourth Lotus Flower

2011-08-01T10:12:00.001-09:30

Thirty Fourth Lotus Flower - Samantha Rochard Mixed Media

Our creation stories speak,
Of the emergence of Light from the darkness,
Is this the creation of the Physical,
Or the creation of ourselves.

In the Creation Myth of the Egyptians, the Lotus Flower grows from the murkiness, and blooms. From this bloom pours the Sun which rises and returns to the Lotus Flower at night. We must travel through murkiness of the mind, before final having the courage to open our petals and let forth our Sun, (our radiant talent)

Thirty Third Lotus Flower

2011-08-01T10:00:00.002-09:30

Thirty Third Lotus Flower - Mixed Media Samantha Rochard

We seek this concept of purity
To which each has a different meaning
Is it purity as defined by others?
Or a purity of our true nature

In Buddhism, the white flower represents the state of spiritual perfection and total mental purity (bodhi). However, the concept of mental purity clearly is an individual one. No two states may be the same. Mental purity can only be defined as our nature in sync with our goals...or can it be our goals in sync with our nature.

Thirty Second Lotus Flower

2011-07-20T04:26:00.000-09:30

Thirty Second Lotus Flower - Samantha Rochard - Mixed Media

We endeavor to change
Because we endeavor to better ourselves
All that is noble, patient,
For Royalty, glory and the strength to be.

Change is constant. When we refuse to change we stagnate, we rot, we become a spirit controlled by fear. The beauty within us is meant to be shown off.
The Peacock is also a symbol of spiritual evolution. It is associated with Lakshmi, and Kwan-Yin (Japan)
I am drawn not only to its iridescent beauty, but also to the energies it symbolizes.

Thirty First Lotus Flower

2011-07-17T06:29:00.000-09:30

Thirty First Lotus Flower - Samantha Rochard - Mixed Media

Look around you,

The tools you need to be what you wish to be,

Are already accessible to you.

Its an almost difficult concept to imagine, let alone believe. That in reaching from point A to B the knowledge, equipment and contacts that you need are already available to you. Its an idea that requires a leap of faith sometimes. So lets reinforce the idea into my mind that I have everything I need...or that everything I need is accessible to me. The only thing I have to figure out is how to get it! It sometimes requires a more creative approach to looking at the "problem"... but rest assured the solution is there.