Mandala Magic in the Woods !!!

There is something rather Magical, about getting on a bus and surrendering all ones needs to someone else for a whole 2 1/2 days !!! That is exactly what our 14 Wild at Art Artistes did 2 weeks ago when they boarded the Wild at Art bus in Central and came up the mountain for the Mandala Journey weekend with Claire and myself.

Our location was the lovely Kadoorie Research Centre, which lies under the Kwan Yim Peak and overlooks the Kam Tin Valley. This place truly is a Getaway, there is nowhere to pop out to, the only sounds at night is the local wildlife, it is truly peaceful and a whole world away !

                        We started the weekend by reflecting on our day with a 6 word novel....

Sasha: Line Circle Dot, birth of Mandala

Nicole: Exercise website updates packing cuddles in between

Marianne: Emails avalanche, over the edge madness

Shelly : Out of my comfort, laughing begins

Sarah: Artists explore new territory together creativity

Kerry : Decision made, life is too short 

Cara: Eyes open, eyes close, I’m enough

Sue: Freedom, developing magic wings to fly

Wardy: I am here, relax and create

Roz: 16 giddy gals create a circle 

Jen : Listen and the music speaks, stillness

Deidre: Womens circles drive stories and picture

Laura : Marshmallow discovered missing, who ate it?

Lisa: Bubbles rising, feminine, polish is pink

The Circle

We spent our evening contemplating the "circle" as a "container "and people set about creating a variety of backgrounds upon which to doodle and play with circular designs, allowing free flow of ideas and the gentle sensation of play...............

               The next day, eager beavers were up and about sketching before breakfast!

           

Then we started our "Works of Art"......using collage, stencils and layers of paint....all totally unique as you can see...........

and then given a variety of strategic starting points, people took the plunge and jumped right on to begin their circular design, sometimes the background suggested the design, like this Umbrella Revolution !  

             People started in the centre or out at the edges, which ever felt comfortable for them.

                                                       Some designs began bold and strong

Some began delicately and grew slowly....the focus levels were high as people melted into the meditative rhythm of repetition and design...........

A more relaxed evening took place punctuated by Roz's birthday !! Creating fabulous artworks can be exhausting, we do take great care to make sure that all our Artistes and fed scrumptious food and have plenty of treats to keep them going !! We have our very own resident Wild at Art Caterer, the culinary legend Billy Francisco.

We were right back at it on Sunday Morning sharp!! Looking at our "Thorns and Roses", reflecting and suggesting ideas and strategies to continue forth!

And the day continued, further creative beavering took place, people were taking bold new steps, and making new design decisions about their work...........

by lunchtime it all looked like this!

and soon it all looked like this!!

                                      

      

 

People left with all sorts of ideas and plans to continue, and most artworks so far have made it onto the wall at home, hurray! A testament to the process and great creative leaps that everyone made! 

I can't wait until March and our next Wild at Art Mandala Getaway weekend !

for now though

seize creative moments my friends!!

from 

Katie

Mandala Month !

This month it has all been very busy in my artistic world as Claire and I gear up for our 4th Art Retreat in Hong Kong Mandala Journey which starts today ! We are very excited to be going up the mountain at the Kadoorie Research Centre with 14 wonderful creatives, several of whom have attended our retreats previously.We will be painting our way through a Mandala Journey weekend, watch this space for images!

Kadoorie Research Centre

Katie's Interview with the wonderful Louise Gale

This month I was also lucky enough to be interviewed by the wondrous Louise Gale one my Mandala Guru's. Louise runs a fabulous online class called Mixed Media Mandalas and she really helped me be bold.....and move out of my sketchbook and onto a canvas!

Louise Gale

I heartily recommend her classes, she will gently lead you through all kinds of accessible activities, and scaffold your artistic adventures all the way until you find you have created a masterpiece! Check here to see Louise's Mandala class  Thanks Louise!

My new Mandala Canvases...

Last of all I'd just like to mention an event coming up soon at Gecko Yoga in Staunton St, Hong Kong on Saturday November the 29th, in conjunction with Jenny Smith I will be offering a Morning Mandala Making workshop for adults and children from 10 years upwards. This a lovely space called the Vichara Studio and I may see you there!!

See the link for upcoming details:  Gecko Yoga

Yogi's on Charlotte Douglas's Yoga Retreat, Lamma Island

The creation of a Mandala and Yoga go very much hand on hand as both are practices that bring us into the here and now, as Jenny says: into "Present Moment Awareness". I know for myself that the practice of learning to create repeated and rhythmic patterns is a truly grounding and centering experience, not to mention a great de-stresser ! Vital in this busy city for sure!

Last of all, check the concentration of these amazing seven year olds who are making mandalas at HKIS in my art class, check our blog The Magic Dot. 

Thats all for October my friends. Why not pick up a pen and doodle something circular today!!

for now 

Katie xxx

Circles of Creation

Second only to the wonderful joy and relaxation I enjoy when creating my own artworks ...is the fun and rich weft of making art with other people. Over the years I have found many ways to do that, and just about everyone I meet is eager to make and create something, I always have people to work with !!! Creating in a group or Circle provides a place where creative ideas and energy can grow as people sharing methods, ideas and conversation. Wonderful community building takes place as people share ideas, stories and fun and start to take greater risks with their creativity.

"What women need is permission to go into the wilderness of their internal world. To explore and embrace everything that they find there. " Chris Zydel

Here's a few lovely Creative Circles that I have gathered with over the last year.

Helena's FanClub

Creating our own personalised collaged and doodles fans in celebration of Helena's special birthday this year , in Pak Kok Tsuen, HK! 

You are Glorious !!

Celebrating our glorious selves in cousin Berni's Hampshire garden, in England with delicious food and lovely neighbours.

Mandalas with the Family 

Obsessively drawing rotational Mandalas with super artistic nieces  !!! People of any age will get hooked on this technique !

Meet Up Sketchwalk

Early Morning sketching along Aberdeen Praya, Hong Kong Island, always many amazing subjects.....so much going on its a rich seam for sketching if you ever fancy a sketch-stroll yourself.

The Gin and Tonic Art club 

Four fabulous Artistes who have been meeting at Flowers Towers for several years now, creating all kinds of projects and particularly enjoying Botanicals in the garden.

Wild at Art Weekends

....and last but most wonderfully the Fabulous Wild at Art Retreats which I run alongside Claire, twice a year here in Hong Kong......a whole weekend to incubate ideas, surrender to the process and be lavishly looked after ......

Coming soon........

Retreat number Four!! October 2014! 

If you feel like joining our Creative Circle this autumn: 

Mandala Journey

at Kadoorie Research Centre, sign up now!

contact me

Katie Flowers

wildatartweekly@gmail.com