Water and wind - the sea

 And this:

Waves - exploring the water element

 Next exploration - water and waves (and air and space)

Earth sea and sky

An exploration of earth, water and air referencing a pebbly beach, waves and rough weather.

 

Light in darkness

 An image for the upcoming solstice as we prepare for the return of the light.

Copse in the rain. Rainbows and clouds.

I didn't get around to posting anything here in November, so this is November's offering. A small quiet reflective piece created on a rainy day.

Pandaravasini and Phoenixes on Jewelled throne

 Experimental rendering of this deity. She personifies Amitabha's discriminating wisdom which sees the unique characteristics of all phenomena. Her element is fire and her jewelled throne is supported by fiery birds, the legendary phoenixes.

More Akashadhatesvari variations

 I was on a roll exploring variations on the theme of the Lady of Vajra Space, hands in the gesture of turning the wheel of the dharma, holding the stems of two lotuses bearing a Dharmachakra and a Vajrabell. Here is a selection of these images.

Pandaravasini: new variation

 I have a new version of Pandaravasini for the 5 Prajna set. I think this version works better within the context of the set of five, but it is a matter of preference.

The original set can be viewed in a post dated October 2021.

Within the Darkness

 These two images from my archive speak to the notion of wisdom appearing out of darkness. And to a sense of compassion descending into darkness.

The owl, creature of the night, is an ancient symbol of wisdom.

Kshitigarbha, compassionate Bodhisattva, descends into the deepest hells to offer help to those who find themselves in the darkest place.

Starfish, waves, sand from the archive

I found this piece in a pile of very old work.  It spoke to me of a current elemental theme of all in one and one in all as I continue to explore the elements of earth, water, fire, air and space. 

All the elements in one element

One element in all the elements 

Pandaravasini Variation

The latest version of my exploration of Pandaravasini: the red female wisdom Buddha of love and fire and meditation. 

Here are my reflections on the significance of the variations in this version: 

Giving her a white top to wear: this aspect of the symbolism connects us to the purity of an absorbed meditating mind - her name means the white robed one. 

Playing with composition and the pictorial space by introducing new elements: the vases and flowers. Experimenting with a different way of visually describing the main lotus as something crystalline and like a jewelled throne.  For me these changes bring in the sense of the earth and riches (groundedness and jewels) which links to other figures in the mandala. The vases are the clear blue of the sky with hints of other clays - earth and sky together. 

Working towards more subtlety in the rainbow colours of her aura.

Mixed media on canvas. 

Vajradakini - blue sky dancer

 First of a new series of wisdom sky dancers - Vajradakini embodying the activity of mirror like wisdom and the essence of the adamantine thunderbolt of direct understanding. She is painted on a circular canvas alongside dragons, the wise nagas, and the sun and moon. She holds a vajrabell and a vajra staff.

Pandaravasini - Red Female Buddha of Fire and Love

A current project is a painting on canvas of Pandaravasini. She is the consort of Amitabha, the red Buddha of the West. Amitabha is all about meditation and the transformation of neurotic craving into love for all. Pandaravasini is the personification of his discriminating wisdom which sees the uniqueness of all beings and all phenomena.

Here are three images I'm using as material, earlier work all about fire and warmth. (Pandaravasini sits on a lotus on a crystal throne supported by Phoenixes). The phoenix is a work on paper in an old sketchbook. The two versions of the figure are digital “paintings”.

Come back to see what emerges.

Prajnaparamita

 Here's something a little different - monochrome wisdom deity with a pop of colour for the 5 jewels of the 5 Wisdoms.

Climate Blues

 Another in the Birch tree series. 

A cold frosty palette.

With blue cornflowers to symbolise hope.

Akasadhateshvari variations

 Akashadhatesvari is the Queen of Vajra space in the centre of the mandala of the five wisdoms, consort of Vairocana and embodiment of the Wisdom of Truth. I am experimenting with different ways of depicting her. I feel I have further to go to grasp her elusive essence.  In the meantime here is work in progress.

She holds two lotuses on which sit the Dharmachakra wheel and a Vajra Bell. Her hands are in the teaching mudra turning the wheel of the Dharma. 

Mandala of the Five Prajnas

 January's offering is a Five Prajna Mandala using the format of a Celtic knot, combining two symbolic heritages: Celtic knots from Western Mysticism and Five Buddha Mandala symbolism from the Eastern Vajrayana. It is an iPad sketch which I plan to use as inspiration for a painting on canvas once I'm at the end of a current run of commissions for Buddhist Icon paintings.