Digital Mandala

1934 Chevy Coupe Digital Mandalas, Pt. II

2012-01-20T12:52:00.000-08:00

Due to the overwhelming popularity of the previous 1934 Chevy Coupe Digital Mandalas (actually there was none :-)), I'm adding two more from this series for this weeks post.

I like that these Digital Mandalas are so different from the previous ones in my last blog post. These are busier, the previous ones where simple with curvy lines and essentially only two tone, these here are mostly straight lines and many different colors around every corner you look. These two compared to the previous two from my last post are a great example of how diverse these images can be, yet coming from the same digital image.

I don't have a title for either of these yet, so if something inspires you in your observation, by all means make the suggestion. I look forward to your feedback. As always you can leave comments in the box below the images.

Peace

1934 Chevy Coupe Digital Mandalas

2012-01-05T16:42:00.000-08:00

Last Summer, as part of the Portland Art Museum's Allure of the Automobile exhibit, every Saturday they had Cars in the Park as a collaboration of sort along the Portland South Park blocks in front of the museum. Every week was a different theme, such as Fords, Chevys, British cars, Mopars, or Hot Rods. For sixteen weeks they did this and I was there most of the weekends taking pictures. It was a great way to spend a Saturday morning, it's too bad they won't have something similar this Summer. I took a picture of the engine compartment of this 1934 Chevy Coupe. The side of the car was this beautiful shade of shimmering orange, with blue flames. I managed to get part of the flames along with the very clean engine compartment.

Fast forward to early December and I'm showing my friend Donna some of the pictures I took as part of the Cars in the Park. We came across this particular image and she immediately mentioned that it would make a good set of Digital Mandalas. So I tried it out, and what do you know. I came up with some pretty amazing Digital Mandalas. Here's two of them below. The first one I'm simply calling Orange, the second I'm calling Blue.

I love the simplicity of these images. And the swirling movements as well. I hope you like them too. As always be sure to make a comment or two in the comment section. Thanks for taking the time to look.

Peace

Winter Solstice 2011

2011-12-21T12:55:00.001-08:00

The Winter Solstice changes over tomorrow (Dec. 22) morning at 5:30 am. It is my wish that you'll weather the season change smoothly. Only 90 days until Spring, but that bad weather may last a bit longer depending on where you are. But if you're South of the Equator, you may be getting a whole lot of nice weather. :-)

Submitted here is a special Digital Mandala for the Winter Solstice this year. This Digital Mandala was created from an image of a Magnolia flower taken last Spring. So, it presents a certain sense of irony that from an image taken probably during nicer weather, the Digital Mandala reminds me of an Icicle. After enhancing the colors a little bit, to bring out a little more blue and red from the original image, brings a little more life to this Icicle. I hope that you agree, and that you enjoy this Digital Mandala as much as I like it. Happy Solstice and as always feel free to leave comments.

Peace

The Kitchen Sink

2011-12-12T16:38:00.000-08:00

Here are another couple Digital Mandalas that I created from a colored leaf I found walking down a side walk one day this Fall. I call the first one here "Everything but the Kitchen Sink" because there are so many different colors here that's the first thing that popped into my head when I first saw this Digital Mandala. The second one here I may call "It's cousin" since it's got quite a bit of color in it, but not as much and the first. I hope you enjoy these as much as I have. As always, comments are welcome.

Falling Away 2011

2011-12-01T16:04:00.001-08:00

Well, believe it or not Fall is leafing us soon. Only 20 days left of this wonderful Fall Season 2001. Then Winter will be upon us, in the Northern Hemisphere anyway. The leafs in the Portland, OR area were splendid this year. I saw many a tree radiating red or glowing golden in the sunset while on my evening walk (which has to happen before 4pm this time of year). Before the leaves turned to mush, I was able to capture some digital images of them still in their fall splendor of color. Here are two Digital Mandalas I created from a leaf I found laying on the ground on an afternoon walk. the first one is called "Blue" and the second one is called "Fire." I hope you like, and as always feel free to leave colorful, but respectful, comments. Thanks for enjoying.

Peace

More Blue Water Mandalas

2011-11-21T10:32:00.000-08:00

Here are two more Digital Mandalas from the Blue Water series. These have been enhanced and colored for a little bit better display. The first one I'm calling Ripple since it really looks like rippling water to me. The second one immediately made me think of Harry Potter's Snowy White Owl. So I've named it "Snowy White Owl." Big surprise huh? I hope you like them as much as I do, and as always feel free to leave a comment.

In Peace

Emerald Series

2011-08-16T15:06:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple more Digital Mandala images fro the Emerald Series. These Digital Mandalas were created about a year ago, but subsequently "lost" on my computer until recently I was able to "refund" them. These are breathtakingly beautiful in my humble opinion and and happy they've been found again. I don't have names yet, so if something inspires you will viewing, be sure to let me know. Comments are always welcome.

More Digital Mandalas to Vue

2011-07-20T11:50:00.001-07:00

Here are a couple more Digital Mandalas created from the image I took of The Vue building in Downtown Portland. To be honest these aren't my favorite from this series. However, as I've shown them around to friends they've proven to be the most popular out of this series.

When I create Digital Mandalas, I create them in sets of 8. To do this, I generate a circle from my original digital image, I take a 1/8 piece out of that circle to have 7 1/8 pieces left. So I go ahead and create another 7 Digital Mandalas.

Tell me what you think! I like the feedback and comments are always appreciated. Compare them to the previous post here (entitled "Vue Digital Mandalas"). I also haven't named these so if a name comes to your mind while viewing these, go ahead and put your suggestion out there, let me hear it.

Peace

Vue Digital Mandalas

2011-06-27T14:28:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple new Digital Mandalas for your viewing pleasure. These were created from an image of a building in Downtown Portland (see original image below, you may recognize the building if you hang out around Portland State University, perhaps for school or the Farmer's Market) I was walking by in the South Park blocks, looked and immediately felt compelled to snap this image. I've never seen the dark canopy in front of the building until this day and from my perspective it really plays with the lines of the building, I knew right away it would make some really cool Digital Mandalas. I hope you like. Please feel free to comment below. These two are my favorite from this set of 8 that were created. While they look similar, they are different, I think that's what I like about them. I don't have names for these yet, so if you feel compelled to offer some suggestions, please do so via the comment box under the last image. Also, please feel free to share with your friends and contacts. I need the exposure and support. Thanks & peace.

Fire Tulip Digital Mandalas

2011-06-03T16:48:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know it's about time I got back into posting a blog. I don't get much response from my blogs, so it's difficult at times motivating myself to post. This is my Fire Tulip post. I hope you enjoy.

I'm very fortunate to be able to both create these images, and see them on a daily basis. I'd like to share them with the world, but when I do share them and no one responds, it's hard trying to decide if it's even worth it to motivate myself to post. I set out a couple years ago on this Digital Mandala endeavor figuring they'd sell themselves however, that was a rude wake up call. I wish more people could see the beauty in these images and invite one to become a part of their life.

I call these particular tulips Fire Tulips obviously because they look like fire. They're very beautiful, and while I love tulips in general I particularly like these ones. Here are two Digital Mandalas that I created for an image I took of a fire tulip near my home in SE Portland. The original image is below the two Digital Mandalas immediately below.

Titled - Open Fire

Titled - Buttercup


Fire Tulip

Find me on Twitter!

2010-10-23T17:57:00.000-07:00

Be sure to check out my twitter blog and become a follower today...

http://twitter.com/Digitalmandala

Thanks for your support.

Peace

Dragon Bear Digital Mandala

2010-09-19T13:43:00.000-07:00

DragonBear Digital Mandala. This Digital Mandala is one of my favorites. It was created from an image I took of a Chocolate Ball Ginger plant. Come by and see the original image and this mandala looks much better in person, plus you will get to glance other great artists displaying their art in this Art Studio Building. It will be on display for the next couple months at the Dream Heart Art, Studio at 1627 NE Alberta Street. Come by during the next Last Thursday on September 30th. Consider coming by and saying hello.

Emerald Series Mandalas

2010-07-15T10:35:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple more Digital Mandalas from the Emerald Series. I call the one above Dew Drop, I posted this one on my Facebook page about a month and asked viewers what they thought it should be called. The winning answer was "Dew Drop." I think the name is very fitting.

Below is the original image that the Emerald Digital Mandalas came from. It's a large leaf Hofstra (sp) plant. Below the picture is a forth Digital Mandala in the Emerald Series. Enjoy.

Emerald Mandalas

2010-06-04T12:59:00.000-07:00

I took a picture of a large leafy bush last year while at a flower farm and though when I created the image that it would probably make some great mandalas. I subsequently forgot about the image and recently rediscovered it in the files of my computer, so I figured let's create some mandalas. I'm calling this my Emerald Series, and they are just in time for Summer 2010. The above one is titled Emerald Jeannie, the one below is called Emerald City. Let me now what you think. After a particularly rainy spring here in Portland, OR - which we really needed the rain - where it rained well above average in April and May, and so far in June already, everything's going to be very green for a little while, and hopefully the sun will come out soon. Enjoy.

Street Yoga Despacho Ceremony

2010-05-31T14:08:00.000-07:00

This photo montage was created at a yoga studio in the Sellwood neighborhood of Portland, OR. Christophe Leroy, Peruvian trained Shaman, guided the participants through a Despacho Ceremony. The youth and parents are involved with the nonprofit organization called Street Yoga which gives youths and their caregivers teh toold to overcome early life trauma. The music is a song called "Let us Dance: Song of the Elders." It is performed by Primeaux & Mike, and David Carson and is from the album Sacred Ground: A Tribute to Mother Earth.

Mandalas as Maps

2010-05-23T13:06:00.000-07:00

Mandalas are the maps to our souls. Meditation is the vehicle used to travel this map.

A map is defined as one-to-one correspondence between two different things, or places. A road map represents a path between two different locations. Your brain carries the critical map of your body’s inside – it’s a visceral map representing neural pathways branching out to the various organs within, otherwise known as the Body Mandala. By focusing on these pathways through meditation you allow access to your organs through the brain and these neural pathways. Starting from the brain and following the light to each part of our bodies the Body Mandala is revealed. When we meditate with an open mind, and truly invoke an intention, a healing symbol can come to us through these neural pathways, ultimately evolving into a mandala.

Mandalas depict our inner condition in a way we can understand fairly easily. Through interpretation of healing symbols, and colors used, we can diagnose the condition experienced as revealed by our subconscious. Visually looking at a mandala with our eyes – the prototype mandala – we start at the outer edge and automatically move to the center of the mandala. Our naked eye simply looks at the mandala and it knows the path it wants to take already. The sacred journey to the center begins. It’s a journey to meet our subconscious, a journey that allows healing to begin.

Digital Mandalas are created from digital photographs of various objects found throughout the universe. The mandala created from the image reveals and inner piece (peace) of the object not easily seen with the naked eye. Much like our own bodies, which require special equipment, or a meditative focus, to see inside, the mandala truly serves as the maps to seeing the inside spirit of the object being examined.

After having been a photographer for 20 years, I began using my photography to create Digital Mandalas over five years ago. Until last year I was only a digital artist using my computer to create beautiful artistic images. In 2009 I attended a retreat allowing me to incorporate meditation with drawing mandalas using colored pencils. This retreat allowed me to connect more fully with the healing aspects of the mandala, while allowing me also to connect more fully with the artist inside. The side effect was that I became connected with the idea of using mandalas for healing purposes and as maps to the inside of our bodies, and all things of which I take a picture. I create mandalas daily and I facilitate workshops guiding participants through meditation, creating intention, and leading them toward connecting with their body mandala and creating their own maps to the soul.

~Vincent Ferguson
503-241-0170
May 2010

Simplicity

2010-05-12T16:58:00.000-07:00

I'm calling this Digital Mandala "Simplicity." It's kind of simple in design and beautiful at the same time. It was created from an image taken of a tree, see below, from the Madrone family (I think). No bark, just smooth skin. It was probably about a 20 year old tree and the shot taken was an extreme close up of the trunk.

Red Hash Mandala

2010-04-18T09:28:00.000-07:00

I call this Digital Mandala Red Hash because it looks like the leaves of a certain medicinal plant. It's actually a collage of leafs fresh after changing color in the fall. The predominant leaf is Maple of the Japanese persuasion. There are also some Ginkgo leafs and a few unidentified types. The rich fall colors really add to the beauty of the Digital Mandala.

Green and Red Mandala

2010-04-13T09:56:00.000-07:00

I really like this green and red series of mandalas. They are created from an image of some type of clover that grows in water. The image was taken from a little stream at the Elk Rock Garden in SW Portland. The pond in the stream where this plant grows was covered with this green and red plant. You can't even see the water.

Couple More of my recent favorites

2010-03-30T08:44:00.000-07:00

These are four of my favorites from a group that I created recently, but forgot about them. Upon re-finding the folder on my computer where they are located I'm very happy to have reconnected to these beautiful Digital Mandalas created from a beautiful Iris. I'm calling this series the Purple & Gold series.

New Digital Mandalas

2010-03-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

Two of my favorite mandalas from the latest set of Digital Mandalas that I've created.

Fire Ceremony

2010-02-12T10:12:00.000-08:00

Fire Ceremony

2010-02-12T10:02:00.000-08:00

These are some digital images that I took at a fire ceremony held in Tigard, OR on Feb. 6th, 2010.
Fire must be my natural opposite, meaning I might have a lot of the element air in me because historically I've been unable to take good pictures of fire, or to even be able to draw fire. But lately I've been improving and these pictures can probably attest to that. Maybe that means that I'm learning how to "bend fire?" Or at least take a good picture of it. Let me know what you think, I'm always open to feedback.

Steps

2010-01-06T17:41:00.000-08:00

This Digital Mandala seems to be as appropriate place as any to start this new Digital Mandala Blog. Welcome! I call this Digital Mandala "Steps" and it has been created from a digital image of the KOIN Tower building in Downtown Portland, OR. I'm taking steps toward creating and maintaining a new blog, not only to help promote these images that I create, but more importantly to relay information regarding Mandalas in general. With this blog, approximately once a week, I will post a new Mandala, both digital and drawn in an effort to easily share these images with family, friends and fans of Digital Mandala. Thanks for being a part of history and welcome to the new Digital Mandala blog.

Peace