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How do I frame my art prints? This is a question I'm asked repeatedly. So I decided to write a blog post...then had a brainwave to do a video chat with my favourite framer Cathal of Frames etc. in Clondalkin Dublin. You can see what framing wisdom Cathal imparts in the video above and I hope you find it useful! Thanks Cathal for chatting with me!
In this post I'll tell you my favourite ways to frame prints and the questions you might consider when deciding on how to frame your art print. All of my art prints are limited edition, meaning you are getting a product that is pretty unique! They are all beautifully printed on high quality paper using archival ink. Each print is sold with a white border on the edge. This does three things: It gives the look of having a "built-in" mat around the print, making it look more like fine art and less like a poster. It gives space around the edges so when they are framed, no part of the image will be covered by the front frame lip. And lastly it gives me the white space to sign, name and number each limited edition print for you. Signed and numbered art prints are more valuable than if they are not signed and you have bought a limited edition product. You can also choose to frame over the white border if you wish to. My 12” x 12” prints come beautifully mounted, and so you can bring them to your local framer to get the surround that best suits your space. These prints will fit some ready-made frames, such as the Ikea Ribba Frames. However, Ikea now use plexi-glass rather than real glass and personally I think that detracts from the piece. But that option is there! I would recommend going to your local framer and choosing a surround frame that best suits the piece you have purchased and your room. When framing is done properly, it really adds to the look and it will last much longer than a ready-made frame. My larger pieces 20” 20” (50cm x 50cm) and unusually shaped pieces, such as the Chakra prints will need to be custom framed. There are so many options when it comes to framing. A good framer will guide you on what you need. The questions you might like to have in mind are: What material do I want my frame to be? This will depend on the style of your home or space. Wooden or painted wood frames lend to a more traditional and a softer look, whereas metal effect frames will be sharper making for a more industrial or modern look. What colour do I want my frame to be? Frames come in a variety of colours. For my work, I tend to go for a cream or white frame, though I have seen people frame them with black or wood and they look great too! When choosing a colour for your frame, consider the wall where you are going to be hanging your print. Also think about other paintings nearby which have a certain colour or shape. How will the wall, the paintings and the furniture in the room form into a harmonious whole? What kind of mount (matt) would I like for my print? Mounts or mats as they are known in the US, give space to allow your artwork to breather visually. Mounts come in any colour of the rainbow! I tend to use a cream mount when framing my prints, but you don’t have to. There are lots of options when it comes to mounts. You can also double mount, which gives more depth to the piece. You can see how a double mount works in the video above. What kind of glass would I like? Nowadays, we have more options than just plain glass when it comes to framing. You can also get non-reflexive glass and this is absolutely brilliant as you cut out the glare from other light sources such as windows or electric lights. It will cost you a little more, but it is particularly beneficial if you are going to be meditating on the piece have bought or you are using them for a meditation space. I hope that you have found this helpful and that your art piece brings you every joy each time you look at it! Here are some recommended Dublin framers which I've either used myself or have been recommended by other artists who I know! Frames Etc - Convent Road, Clondalkin Village, Dublin 22. Phone Cathal: 087 283 4150 Framing Direct - Unit 4, Adelaide Court, Albert Rd., Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. Phone David: 01-2844733 Castleknock Framers - 42 Parkdrive Close, Castleknock, Dublin 15: Phone 01-8207620 Carroll Craft Frames - Liammaire, Killalane, Skerries, Co Dublin. Phone William: 086 199 7084 Hang Tough Studio - 25 Lennox Street Portobello Dublin 8. Phone: 01 5552234.
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1/8/2020 0 Comments The Sri Yantra This recent piece contains the beautiful geometry of the Sri Yantra. It's not an easy geometry to create, but it is so very worth it. The Sri Yantra is often called the “queen of yantras,” (rajayantra) is the symbol of the great divine mother principle, the source of all energy, power, and creativity. In Vedic traditions, specifically the Shri Vidya school of tantra, regard the design as the representation of the universe as well as the body of the goddess related to the feminine principle of shakti or energy. Every line and triangle symbolise a specific type of shakti. There are nine interlacing triangles aligned to a central invisible dividing line cutting the circle in two. When you are creating it, it's as though you move into a different realm, time stops and for me dreams increased in vibrance. There is a huge amount of meaning held behind the piece. People use these Yantras (visualisation of a Mantra, the Sri Yantra is a visualisation of the "Om" chant) as an aid to meditation. You can gaze at it with your focus softened and allow the shapes to move in and out of consciousness. An open eyed meditation for 5- 10 minutes is powerful. You can then look away onto a blank sheet of white paper and you will see the shapes in reverse. Gaze at the white paper until the image fades from your vision. I have taken the following from an article I found on Gaia.com explaining the meaning beneath the geometry. "Starting at the lowermost outer triangle and moving in a counterclockwise circle, they are agitation, pursuit, attraction, delight, delusion, immobility, release, control, pleasure, intoxication, an accomplishment of desire, luxury, mantra, and the destruction of duality. The next circle has the same sequence and direction, starting from the lowest triangle and moving counterclockwise. The first triangle is the giver of all accomplishments. Next is the giver of wealth. The third is the energy of activities that please all. Fourth is the bringer of all blessings. The fifth is the granter of all desires. Next is the remover of all suffering. The seventh is considered the appeaser of death. Eighth is the overcomer of all obstacles. Ninth is the bringer of beauty, and the tenth is the giver of all good fortune. The ten smaller triangles in the third circle represent, beginning at the same, lowermost triangle and moving counterclockwise: omniscience, omnipotence, sovereignty, knowledge, destruction of all disease, unconditional support, vanquishment of all evils, protection, and the attainment of all desires. The fourth circle of triangles, again starting at the same point and moving counterclockwise, represent: sustaining, creating, dissolution, pleasure, pain, cold, heat, and the ability to choose action. In the final inner space, the yogi or yogini visualizes five arrows representing the world of the senses, a bow, representing the mind, a noose, representing attachment, and a stick, representing aversion. The central triangle is the giver of all perfection. In the middle of the central triangle is a Bindu, representing pure consciousness and the original state of being." So...such a lot is held within this shape. Yantras have been used for thousands of years in the east and have been the obsession of countless yogis throughout history. Given the energy that they hold, people with almost zero knowledge about these beautiful geometric art works become transfixed by them, often stopping to stare in art galleries. I often think with this work, that the mind need not understand it all, but that the energy is somehow imparted through simply gazing at the shapes. The original of this piece measures 80cm x 80cm, acrylic and metallic paint on deep edge canvas. It is available for sale and costs 1200euro. I am always open to people paying in instalments if that works best. I also have limited edition prints available of this piece. The prints measure 12" x 12" and come beautifully mounted (16" x 16") and can be shipped worldwide. Sri Yantra Limited Edition Print
€65.00 - €130.00
This piece is based on the beautiful sacred geometry of the Sri Yantra, which is such a powerful geometry to work with. It's a challenge to create, but so very worth it. The Sri Yantra, also known as the “queen of yantras,” (rajayantra) is the symbol of the great divine mother principle, the source of all energy, power, and creativity. Vedic traditions, specifically the Shri Vidya school of tantra, regard the design as the representation of the universe as well as the body of the goddess related to the feminine principle of shakti or energy. Every line, triangle, and lotus petal symbolizes a specific type of shakti. It is composed of nine interlocking triangles...sounds simple, but it is notoriously difficult to create. But the effort is so worth it. It's an absolutely amazing geometry to meditate on to expand consciousness. The smaller print measures 30cm x 30cm (12" x 12") and comes beautifully mounted (16" x 16") The larger print measures 50cm x 50cm (20" x 20") and comes safely rolled in a postal tube. EU Buyer Note! Please ensure to enable cookies on both this site and on PayPal to ensure your purchase runs smoothly! 1/7/2020 0 Comments The Hummingbird and the Moon This large painting is called the Hummingbird and the Moon, and it was an absolute joy to create. I had been working with the torus shape as you can see in this painting and in the painting below entitled 'Harmony'It is such a harmonious shape to work with. The torus is said to define the workings of consciousness, such as consciousness having geometry. The energy of the torus is constantly refreshing and influencing itself. From the inside, your heart emanates an extremely powerful toroidal energetic field, like in the painting, and it has actually been scientifically measured to go out as far as 5 miles from your heart! Imagine that! The heart’s electromagnetic frequency arcs out from the heart and back in the form of a torus field, which is the oldest structure in existence. Its shape is similar to a doughnut, with the whole centre expanding out, then folding back in upon itself, kind of like our breath. I had painted the moon in the centre of this toroid field....anyone familiar with my work for a while now will know I love the moon...I think I may have lived there once upon a time. But the beautiful moon energy seemed magnified by the toroidal energy field. Then the flowers grew. It was the night of the full moon, and I was not aware that that particular full moon was called the Flower Moon.... a lovely synchronicity! Shortly afterwards, a hummingbird flew right into the picture and some butterflies too. I've never seen a hummingbird in real life, and it's definitely a bird I'd dearly love to see and to watch, So very beautiful, aren't they? In Native American culture, hummingbirds are seen as healers and bringers of love, good luck, and joy. What a lovely bird to fly into this painting! In Central America, they are a sign of love and will bring love to the person who spots them. The hummingbird symbolises joy and playfulness, as well as adaptability. So, I will take the energy and medicine of this bird and try in the coming weeks to have more fun and to invite more playfulness into my life. The original painting has already sold, but I do have limited edition printsavailable of it if you would like to invite that energy into your space. The Hummingbird and the Moon Limited Edition Print
€65.00 - €150.00
In Native American culture, hummingbirds are seen as healers and bringers of love, good luck, and joy. In Central America, they are a sign of love and will bring love to the person who spots them. The hummingbird generally symbolises joy and playfulness, as well as adaptability. "Birds are a miracle because they prove to us there is a finer, simpler state of being which we may strive to attain."—Doug Coupland The smaller print measures 30cm x 30cm (12" x 12") and comes beautifully mounted (16" x 16") The larger print measures 61cm x 61cm (24" x 24") and comes safely rolled in a postal tube. EU Buyer Note! Please ensure to enable cookies on both this site and on PayPal to ensure your purchase runs smoothly! Harmony Limited Edition Print
€65.00
This piece is based on the beautiful sacred geometry of the Torus which I find to be such a harmonious shape. The torus is said to define the workings of consciousness, such as consciousness having geometry. The energy of the torus is constantly refreshing and influencing itself. From the inside, your heart emanates an extremely powerful toroidal energetic field, like in the painting, and it has actually been scientifically measured to go out as far as 5 miles from your heart! Imagine that! The heart’s electromagnetic frequency arcs out from the heart and back in the form of a torus field, which is the oldest structure in existence. Its shape is similar to a doughnut, with the whole centre expanding out, then folding in upon itself. The print measures 30cm x 30cm (12" x 12") and comes beautifully mounted (16" x 16") EU Buyer Note! Please ensure to enable cookies on both this site and on PayPal to ensure your purchase runs smoothly!   “And I will fare to Avalon, to the fairest of all maidens…and she shall make my wounds all sound, make me whole with healing draughts.” – from Layomon’s Brut, translated by F. Madden In this blog post, I want to share with you a recent piece. I began creating this at the beginning of the lockdown here in Ireland. The intention of the piece is healing, light and strength. I didn't quite know what to name it. When it was completed, I lit a candle and asked the question....'What should I name this piece?" And out of nowhere the answer "Avalon" came to me. So Avalon it is! For me the deep blue and the turquoise colours are both very healing and protective energetically. They are often colours that I see in meditations and also in dreams, which have been off the charts lately - so much so, that I can't even begin to write them all down. I do with the strongest ones and trust that the others are doing their job in the background. Often the healing colour of turquoise appears as a healing lake in the dreams as you may have seen from previous pieces if you've been following along. So... Avalon.... And I will fare to Avalon, to the fairest of all maidens…and she shall make my wounds all sound, make me whole with healing draughts.” – from Layomon’s Brut, translated by F. Madden In the above quote, the legendary king, Arthur, addresses the fact that he’s been grievously wounded in battle. His solution is to visit the island of Avalon, renowned for its community of healing sisters, where he will be restored to health. The manuscript goes on to describe how a boat then appears nearby, and several beautiful, mysterious women carry Arthur off with them across the water to the sacred isle. It is believed, even to this day, that Arthur survives in this enchanted place,and that he will return in the hour of need. It is thought that Avalon was located in modern day Glastonbury and that it was once a lake district. Always the lakes in my dreams are places of healing and of succor....it's almost hard to put words on it, but when I get there in the dreams, there is an overwhelming sense of peace and healing and something very sacred. So perhaps the title for this painting "Avalon" popping into my head out of nowhere represents the great Goddess, the Divine Feminine energy connected to the Lady of the Lake in her watery realm of Avalon. There are more images of this painting below the mail, taken at night in the lamplight....I always love how the pieces change with the different light. Like a lake in the moonlight! The original measures 70cm x 70cm, acrylic on deep edge canvas and is available to go to a forever home. It costs €790 and I am always open to people paying in installments if that works best. Just pop me a mail and we can discuss it. Limited edition prints are also now available of this piece and can currently be shipped within Ireland, and worldwide after lockdown. Stay safe and well Namaste, Patricia Avalon Limited Edition Print
€65.00
The intention of the piece is healing, light and strength. I didn't quite know what to name it. When it was completed, I lit a candle and asked the question....'What should I name this piece?" And out of nowhere the answer "Avalon" came to me. So Avalon it is! For me the deep blue and the turquoise colours are both very healing and protective energetically. They are often colours that I see in meditations and also in dreams, which have been off the charts lately - so much so, that I can't even begin to write them all down. I do with the strongest ones and trust that the others are doing their job in the background. Often the healing colour of turquoise appears as a healing lake in the dreams as you may have seen from previous pieces if you've been following along. So... Avalon.... And I will fare to Avalon, to the fairest of all maidens…and she shall make my wounds all sound, make me whole with healing draughts.” – from Layomon’s Brut, translated by F. Madden In the above quote, the legendary king, Arthur, addresses the fact that he’s been grievously wounded in battle. His solution is to visit the island of Avalon, renowned for its community of healing sisters, where he will be restored to health. The manuscript goes on to describe how a boat then appears nearby, and several beautiful, mysterious women carry Arthur off with them across the water to the sacred isle. It is believed, even to this day, that Arthur survives in this enchanted place,and that he will return in the hour of need. It is thought that Avalon was located in modern day Glastonbury and that it was once a lake district. Always the lakes in my dreams are places of healing and of succor....it's almost hard to put words on it, but when I get there in the dreams, there is an overwhelming sense of peace and healing and something very sacred. So perhaps the title for this painting "Avalon" popping into my head out of nowhere represents the great Goddess, the Divine Feminine energy connected to the Lady of the Lake in her watery realm of Avalon. The print measures 30cm x 30cm (12" x 12") and comes beautifully mounted (16" x 16") EU Buyer Note! Please ensure to enable cookies on both this site and on PayPal to ensure your purchase runs smoothly! 24/3/2020 1 Comment Return of the Sidhe Original post written February 27 2020 In this blogpost I want to share with you a recent painting which was quite a different experience for me. Something playful in me wanted to experiment, to become freer with the painting process - to play really! I began this large canvas quite tightly, with small detailed shapes, but it just wasn't feeling right at all. So I allowed myself to cut loose completely. I began painting with wide brush strokes, then layering the paint on the canvas, allowing it to drip down. Then rotating the canvas and allowing it to drip another way. It was so beautiful to watch the colours merging, interacting and almost communicating with each other. It was utterly mesmerising and time slipped by unnoticed. I stood back, made myself a cup of tea, then looked again...I could see figures, many figures in caverns beneath a mystical Celtic landscape, the sea, the cliffs, hills.... I went back to work and began to highlight the elements that I could see, accentuating them, bringing them out of the mist. Below you can see progress shots as I worked. Can you see the figures? I could also see two figures in a cave, one figure stood over a kneeling figure, as though an anointing or blessing was taking place. Or a sacred wedding with all of the guests arriving....there beneath a Celtic brooding landscape. I was very much reminded of the tales of the Sidhe Fae. Sidhe (pronounced 'Shee') literally means "a mound". The Tuatha de Danaan are a Celtic mythological race meaning "people of the goddess Danu," Danu being a Celtic land or Mother Goddess. Other associated names for her were the Welsh "Don," Irish "Anu" or "Ana," "Mor-Rioghain," and "Brighid.
The Danaan people were associated with mounds, barrows and tumuli (small hills), they became known as the People of the Sidhe. Their association with the wind came from a belief in the Danaan presence in a whirlwind, "sidhe gaoithe," literally, a "thrust of wind." In the finished painting above, you can see a whirlwind type cloud in the sky, that has almost the shape of a man or woman. It feels like the Sidhe energy rising. The more common, widely-known name of "fairy" came from the unwillingness of people to call the Sidhe or Danaan folk by their name, for that was considered bad luck. Euphemisms such as "hill folk," "the gentry," "wee folk," "good folk," "blessed folk," "good neighbors," or "fair folk" abounded, and "fair folk" was shortened to "fairies." The Sidhe folk were associated with many supernatural abilities. Believed to live side by side with the human world, both beneficial and harmful interactions would take place. Fairies were often thought to be interested in stealing people, especially babies of new mothers, and if someone became ill, they could be accused of being a "changeling," left by the Sidhe in place of the original healthy person. Fairies, however, were also very welcomed when they helped the poor, did chores, left money for people or bestowed on them great talent, so they weren't always considered mischievous! I feel this figure in the cave are bestowing a gift upon the other, amidst great ceremony. I could feel a mischievous playful energy in the painting process of this piece itself - a return to a freedom that had been curtailed through schooling and society. I enjoyed embracing it. How might you embrace that playful energy in yourself this week? It certainly made me feel lighter in myself so perhaps allowing it back into your life can lighten you too! I can also feel a very serious anointing, a bestowal of a gift or talent and the great ceremony around it in the painting. This week, I have been tending to my creative spiritual space by making a beautiful altar in my room, embracing the ritual of being with the symbols that emerge in dreams and in paintings, allowing this creative energy to flow more freely and without shame. I've had some interesting dreams in that regard since doing that. I know the mail is getting long, but I want to share one particular dream with you! The Attic I am a small girl and I am in the room with a bespectacled bearded man, he is perhaps 60. He seems friendly and erudite, the walls are lined with books. I am drawing a picture. He suddenly grabs me and shoves me up into a dark attic. I am frightened and terribly sad. I am left there for a very long time. The dream cuts to a woman, an artist. She has come down from the attic and has been told not to paint. It is forbidden. The world is full of zombies/vampires - if they come at you and lick you or bite your neck, you turn into one! One needs to be very careful. It feels like a dark dystopian world. I seem to be undercover as a maid and I paint in secret. There are good men who move my paintings around for me at night. I know there was much more that happened in this bit, but I cannot remember the details. The final scene of the dream, again takes place in the attic. The small girl emerges from her attic bedroom into the attic kitchen where the woman is. She is her mother. Both are me. There had been two separate rooms, but now the rooms are joined together and the two are united. The kitchen is warm, cosy and nurturing. It is safe to be creative here. I love this dream....it feels like two parts of myself coming together at last. The attic in a dream often represents the subconscious mind or the higher self. There is more to feel into in this dream, more courting of the symbols to do. I got to thinking...so many of us have parts of ourselves that were not allowed. Parts of us that were shamed and shoved up into a symbolic dark hidden attic, safely kept away from the world. But these parts are the parts that we need to retrieve, the parts that will make the world a better and more authentic place, rather than a mediocre place. This week, I urge you to create a simple sacred space. Collect items from around your home that symbolise something to you. Gather candles, incense, a piece of art or whatever else feels right. Feel into the question of what part of you has been hidden away? What part of you is ready to be revealed? Meditate on this Sidhe painting, the anointing and blessing and ask for it to be returned to you with joy and ease. Allow yourself to be yourself. This original painting measures 80cm x 80cm and is available for sale. It has been created using acrylic paint on deep edge canvas. It costs €980 and I am always open to people paying in instalments if that works best as I understand it is an investment piece. 11/2/2020 1 Comment The Red Egg of Mary Magdalene I've been in hibernation mode these past weeks, turning inward and tuning in since the winter solstice. It's been a quietly fruitful time and I know that much is shifting and purging within and also in the outside world. If you too have been feeling this way, be sure to take time for self care and introspection along this journey. In this post, I want to share with you a piece that I have just finished. If you've been receiving these blogs for a while now, you'll know that the alchemical egg has been featuring very strongly both in my dreams and work. Over the past month or two I have had an extraordinary urge to paint the egg red. I didn't consciously know why and so I took to the oracle of the day, Google, and typed in 'red egg' and 'alchemy'. And to my surprise, up popped a beautiful story which I hadn't come across before. Mary Magdalene is an energy that I often find with me in meditation, so it was a beautiful surprise. Mary Magdalene and the first Easter Egg - On a visit to Rome, Mary Magdalene is purported to have told Caesar that Jesus had risen from the dead. To explain his resurrection she picked up an egg. Caesar said that a human being could no more rise from the dead than the egg in her hand turn red. The egg in Mary Magdalene's hand turned red immediately. This story is said to be the origin of the idea of the Easter egg. I sat with this story during the painting of this piece, and the painting feels like an homage to this story, and to my own journey of rediscovery, and to all of our unique journeys of rebirth/resurrection. During our lives we have many small deaths and rebirths, and if we are on the journey of awakening these occurrences become more frequent and more conscious in our lives. Sometimes these deaths are small, but they add up. At other times it feels as though the self that you knew is literally being annihilated. But after each death is a rebirth into a clearer and more refined level of consciousness. We have become somehow better because of it, and that inner growth trickles out to all around us. We are all doing this, some consciously, others unconsciously. When we are aware and conscious, I believe the momentum gathers and the process speeds up. I also believe that each individual journey, the work that each and every one of you does, adds up and contributes to a collective healing. A healing in the wider world. And interestingly this week, this wonderful article was shared with me which I think says it more beautifully than I ever could: "Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach. Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely. It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom, will cause the critical mass to tip toward an enduring good. What is needed for dramatic change is an accumulation of acts, adding, adding to, adding more, continuing. We know that it does not take everyone on Earth to bring justice and peace, but only a small, determined group who will not give up during the first, second, or hundredth gale. One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Soul on deck shines like gold in dark times. The light of the soul throws sparks, can send up flares, builds signal fires, causes proper matters to catch fire. To display the lantern of soul in shadowy times like these -- to be fierce and to show mercy toward others; both are acts of immense bravery and greatest necessity. Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it. If you would help to calm the tumult, this is one of the strongest things you can do. There will always be times when you feel discouraged. I too have felt despair many times in my life, but I do not keep a chair for it. I will not entertain it. It is not allowed to eat from my plate. [...] In that spirit, I hope you will write this on your wall: When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But that is not what great ships are built for." --Clarissa Pinkola Estes The soul heals and lights up through our inner journeys, our inner deaths and rebirths. Then the light shines forth to others. Sometimes we do this alone, and other times we gather in circles with kindred souls. After a couple of months going inward, I will be be beginning to hold circles again in March - mandala creation and meditation. It is always powerful to do this work together. I'll be in Glendalough, Galway, Cork, Wexford and Kilkenny. I hope to add another Dublin date and also a Sligo date soon. So if you feel to be a part of it, check out the workshop page on my website. I think I will call this piece simply "The Red Egg", the symbol of the womb of the Goddess and of our rebirth. The painting is available for sale at €890, and measures 70cm x 70cm on deep edge canvas. Please message me if you're interesting in giving it a forever home and as always, I am open to people paying in installments.  Above is a painting which I finished recently called 'Unearthed'. It came during a series of beautiful and powerful dreams, dreams with a quality of guidance and presence. This dream came the night I had begun this piece: A soft landing I am with A and we are in the most beautiful soft landscape. Earthy browns, oranges and golds. The land is boggy and soft. There are hollows, lots of them and a ridge of hills behind. We see a seat made of sand between two hollows and we make for that. When we get there, we can see down into a soft deep boggy hollow, almost like sponge. We think it would be exhilarating to jump down and bounce in it. Just before jumping, I notice a sharp piece of broken brown glass sticking up. I climb down and remove it, placing in behind a stone I see in a small nook. Now I know it will be safe and nobody will harm themselves on it. We jump down into the soft hollow and it is indeed exhilarating. Climbing back up and looking over the edge, we see that the hollow will soon fill with water as the tide is rising. It’s okay though as we can ascend up onto the ridge of hills behind, which we do. We see stunningly beautiful vistas as we walk along. Another woman joins us and leads us to a dimly lit warm and cosy room. There are other women there. I am separating the yoke from an egg to make paint. I am showing them how...or they are showing me...I am not quite sure The dream felt guided, and as though by removing the piece of broken glass, a way opened up. A safer way forward. There was a feeling of camaraderie and of knowledge being shared. A more discerning path was presented through the removal of the glass. As the painting progressed, I noticed that the beautiful golds and rusts of the landscape had made their way in. To me, it feels like a protective shield unearthed from an ancient ethereal landscape. The painting sold to its new forever home in San Diego in the US. Limited Edition prints are now available if you would like the energy in your space. I then began a second painting...this time using egg tempera. Everything about this medium feels beautiful. The ritual of separating the yoke from the white at the beginning of each painting session embodies the notion of separating the self from the mundane world and entering into a mysterious and creative realm, where ideas and inspiration can flow. Here is the beginnings of this egg tempera painting of the dreams...I still have a long way to go with detail and with the intended forest on the right. But I want to share it now in conjunction with the dreams above as I feel the dream below and the dream above are deeply connected.  I had decided to try to capture the landscape of the dream in egg tempera. I had painted in the three women and also the building on the hill where I felt we had been led. That night, the following dream came: The Library of the King and Queen We are in the very grand entrance hall of a museum. There is a spiral staircase going up and one going down. We go up. There is a part of the staircase cordoned off as some green Connemara marble has cracked from the domed roof and fallen down. I tell the others I am with that they must see the library of the King and Queen. We go up to an exhibit room and I view a piece about the Celts. There is a guide telling me that in ancient Celtic times, men and women were very equal, and that there was very little difference between the sexes. There was no fear or conflict. I am shown a sculpture...it’s a woman...or is it a man? The sculpture has a spiral tail. It’s very beautiful and feels powerful. Moving on to another room, we are now up in the actual dome of the building. It feels ancient and special and is softly lit with bare earthen stone bricks. We return downstairs and cross a cobblestone Courtyard surrounded by grand buildings and go towards the library of the King and Queen. The dream felt as though I had been brought inside of the building I had painted the night before! I got a glimpse inside what I had painted. The next day I returned to the painting and inserted the sculptural symbol I had seen in the dream onto the rock at the front. Two figures appeared organically and unconsciously in the paint beside the lake, they looked as though one was initiating the other. It felt right to let them stay. The taller figure anoints the smaller figure with the symbol of the egg, of infinite potential. The idea of the library of the king and queen really speaks to me, representing the inner alchemy of uniting the feminine and masculine aspects of self, the inner marriage of the Anima and Animus which Jung referred to as the Hieros Gamos. The sculptural symbol speaks of the same concept of the balance of masculine and feminine, with the spiral tail of the journey within. I will call this painting 'Initiation' and look forward to completing it and sharing the finished piece with you soon. More powerful dreams have come since and I will share soon and see where they lead me creatively. In the meantime, dream well, dream with reverence, and ask to receive the wisdom you are ready for. Namaste Patricia To make sure you don't miss a blog post and to receive offers and information on my work, subscribe to my mailing list here: Unearthed Limited Edition Print
€65.00 - €130.00
Meditating on this mandala brings you into a grounded energy, a place where you can connect deep within and to the protection of the land and of the ancestors. I loved creating this piece. This piece was painted during a series of very strong dreams. It feels like an old protective shield unearthed from an ancient landscape. To read more about the dreams, see my blog post about this work. The smaller print measures 30cm x 30cm (12" x 12") and comes beautifully mounted (16" x 16") The larger print measures 50cm x 50cm (20" x 20") and comes safely rolled in a postal tube. EU Buyer Note! Please ensure to enable cookies on both this site and on PayPal to ensure your purchase runs smoothly!  A few weeks ago, I attended a wonderful workshop on egg tempera painting given by the very gifted artist Fergus Ryan. I enjoyed the weekend immensely and tried to absorb as much as I could. During the workshop we copied from one of our favourite paintings. I chose Baron Arild Rosencrantz, which you can see above. It's a painting that resonates with me on many levels. We learned so much from Fergus about preparation for painting egg tempera and technique and I am so grateful for all of it. I particularly love the alchemical nature of making egg tempera. Even preparing the surface (known as the ground) is an alchemical process. Tempera needs to be applied to a rigid surface such as wood, as on canvas or paper, it would simply crack. It dries very quickly and so different techniques are used to build up layers of colour. This gives the painting a translucent and ethereal quality...exactly what I am after in order to paint my dreams! Egg Tempera can be found as far back as ancient Egypt and was also often used in the early Renaissance period and is known for its enduring nature and pearlescent quality of light given through layers and layers of thin paint. In order to begin this technique of egg tempera painting, it required that I get all the necessary tools and equipment together...wooden boards, rabbit glue and gypsum to size the boards (2 coats of glue, front, back and sides) which prevents the boards from warping. Then 8 coats of true gesso made from the glue and gypsum. A rotating sander to polish to a smooth finish. I am still working on the gesso coats! In religious icon painting of the Orthodox tradition, and in alchemy, this gesso process is known as Leukosis/Albedo or whitening...and correlates to a cleansing and purification of the Soul in preparation for the painting. I am still whitening my boards...it’s physically tiring, but enjoyable and dreams have been strong. I have no idea what will be painted on these boards...whatever comes through me! In the cooking, mixing and preparation of both the glue and the gesso, there are stages of solid to liquid to solid and back to liquid. I love this movement between states. When I was a child, I was always making potions and perfumes from flowers...and anything I could find! That enjoyment flooded back to me and it all felt very familiar. I truly believe that we arrive into this world knowing who we are until we are conditioned out of it...what did you used to absolutely love to do as a small child? Why not try a bit of that now? To keep the glue and gesso at an even temperature when cooking, a Bain Marie or a double boiler is used. Like how you would melt chocolate in a bowl in a pot of water. The name comes from the Medieval Latin term balneum (or balineum) Mariae—literally, Mary's bath—from which the French bain de Marie, or bain-marie, is derived. The device's invention has been popularly attributed to Mary the Jewess, an ancient alchemist. In the writings of Zozimus of Pallonis, Mary is described as "one of the sages". Her work sought to make the masculine and the feminine one. Alchemical union, hieros gamos. That is where the gold lies, the secret of transformation. This resonates so deeply with my work and seems to come through almost unconsciously at times. So who knows what will be created on these boards...or if it will work? There is a huge element of trust and faith in transitioning from one method of painting to another...because of the exact nature of the egg tempera technique, it’s all or nothing! I might fail at this and have wasted a lot of time and money, or I might succeed and absolutely love this...I am in transition and I don't know where it might land. I feel the latter, once I get through the many learning curves, failures and bumps that will teach me how to do it better each time. Is there a transition in your own physical, emotional or spiritual life that feels to be coming? What would happen if you went all in? What’s the worst that could happen...and what is the best that could happen? I will share my journey as I go....and I'm really looking forward to sharing with you soon about the pigments...oh the pigments....they are simply beautiful and so so much history and meaning behind each and every one!  In this blog post, I want to share with you a large piece I recently created called ‘The Gifts’. It is based on a very strong and healing dream which I received and is done in the style of Vittorio Zecchin, an artist who I really admire for his sensitivity, composition and detail. Firstly let me recount the dream: Dream: The Gifts I am on a small boat with a group of other women drifting towards an island on a lake. Our boat bumps into a smaller craft, a raft of sorts. Ther are personal items on the raft, a jacket, clothes, food and a fishing line is set up. There is nobody on board though. Where is the person? One of the women in my dream is Norwegian Astrologer Karianne Stenshagen with whom I have connected in real life through a dream group. We land on the beautiful and lush small island. When we go ashore, on the centre of this small island, we see a man through the trees. Curious, we move closer to him and realise that this man is almost dead. He mouths to us for help. We gather around him, protecting him from a group of other visitors to the island. It feels right to respect his dignity and privacy.We call for other hel as we assist him. We think he will survive. It feels like a healing On waking, I felt restored and felt that the dream held something profound in terms of healing. I mulled over the dream, and what it might be asking? It feels like a masculine aspect/energy asking to be seen, nourished and assisted. That the balancing of the yin/yang energies is being called for both within and without. I meditated on the dream and asked myself if I came across this man, what would I give to him? What gifts would I bring to him? Pure clean water and Light came to me immediately. The next day, I messaged my friend Karianne Stenshagen who was in the dream with me and recounted the dream to her and asked her what gift she would bring and why? She said a Fish - the Piscean energy. The Christ energy. Karianne says “As an astrologer I often associate characters or themes with astrological archetypes. Its my reference point trying to understand life. As a dream colleague of Patricia I will give some input on the pisces or Neptune energy. As I think its very relevant for this particular dream. Neptune is the planet associated with the astrological sign of Pisces. We all have a Neptune in our astrological chart, meaning it is a universal archetype. Neptune is associated with our inner mystic. Your inner mystic is a soul aspect that is connected to a dimension beyond the physical. It is connected to intuition, to dreamtime and to the ability to see beyond the physical world. It is also associated with Christ consciousness. By Christ consciousness I mean a soul love that is beyond the personal. We can experience this feeling when we have a divine or numinous moment e.g. watching an otherworldly beautiful sunset and feeling our being filled with love. The planet Neptune is currently in the astrological sign of Pisces, from 2011 to 2025. People have during this time period been talking about a second coming, meaning that Christ will return. A way to interpret this is that many of us are starting to open up to the Christ consciousness within. Some would call this moving into a crystalline form. Many you may have heard the term ‘crystal children’. The point is that if you are reading this the chances are big that you are also on this journey open up to the Christ consciousness within yourself. Opening up to this quality sometimes can take us to our deepest wounds, on the journey to opening up our hearts. I guess one of the most painful feeling for us humans is loss. Opening up to this Neptune energy is a way of finding healing and comfort, when connecting to this dimension beyond the physical. Neptune can give a feeling of being connected to everyone and everything. Its a reminder that we are all God. The boat, the island, the fishing line, the need of privacy in the dream reminds me of the quality of Neptune and Pisces; a sensitivity and highly intuitive, transcendental quality. Pisces is a water sign, meaning its energy is hightly sensitive and deeply in touch with emotions and intuition.” Thanks so much to Karianne for sharing this beautiful insight and for engaging in dream work with me. It never ceases to amaze me the connections that happen during dream time….this otherworldly connection that brings us together. Bridging the dream to my own waking life, I felt that the masculine side within was asking to be nourished. Allowing him voice. For me that looks like having better boundaries, saying something that needs to be said rather than being afraid to and then having it blow up at a later stage! It means taking action on the ideas that I receive and seeing them through into manifestation rather than letting them gather dust. What might nourishing your masculine side mean to you? (Remember, this is not to do with gender, but rather the Yin (feminine) and Yang (masculine) energies that we all hold within us.) On a collective level, I can’t help thinking with all of the talk of “toxic masculinity” in recent times, that perhaps less judgement is needed and more nourishment given to the masculine side within each and every one of us, man or woman. When we heal within ourselves, we begin to see that healing reflected all about us in the physical world. As within, so without, as above, so below. So before we cast judgement outside of ourselves, the call is to heal and nourish what is inside. Wishing you a lovely weekend ahead! This piece measures 100cm x 100cm and is acrylic and metallic pens on deep edge canvas (so does not require framing) It is available for sale at €1,200 and as always I am open to people paying in instalments as I understand art is an investment. I will also have prints available of The Gifts soon.  Karianne Stenshagen, Astrologer 4/7/2019 0 Comments Potential: The Alchemical Egg I've been really drawn to painting eggs lately. The geometry of the egg is beautifully simple and elegant, yet profound in my mind and soul. The egg is a universal and self-explanatory symbol because it holds the seed from which the whole of manifestation will spring. The notion that the universe was born from an egg is shared by nearly all ancient civilizations and cultures. Primordial man/woman also originates from an egg, The egg also signifies the polarization of the Hermaphrodite, the union of the masculine and feminine energies in alchemical terms. The egg is a primordial reality containing the seeds that will give rise to multiple beings.
In The Upanishads, an Indian text, the Egg springs from the Non-Being and gives birth to the Elements: the two halves of the shell, one of gold and the other of silver, become, respectively, Heaven and Earth. The outer membrane gives birth to the mountains; the inner one becomes clouds; the veins give rise to the rivers and the ocean stems from the liquid. According to Tibetan tradition, the egg is the origin of the ancestors. In Chinese tradition, before Heaven and Earth became separated, Chaos resembled a hen’s egg. After 18,000 years – a number reflecting a long, undetermined length of time – the egg broke open; the heavy elements formed the Earth (Yin) and the light ones became the Heavens (Yang). The egg represents the creative power of Light. It confirms the promise of resurrection as a return. In Beotia, figures of Dionysus holding an egg in his hand have been found. Orphic tradition prohibited the eating of eggs. Eggs were offered to the dead as food and token of rebirth. The egg is also linked to the symbolic qualities of quietude like the home, the nest, the shell or the mother’s womb. The egg is also associated with the idea of the seed of spiritual life, by the alchemical tradition of the Philosopher’s Egg, a hermetically sealed flask containing matter proper to terrestrial work. Lately I have been very drawn to painting the egg. It feels as though there is a rebirth happening in my work, and life. I think it's interesting that I lost the mailing list just when I was about to post about the egg! As though something had to leave in order for something new to be reborn. It also feels like a sign to go within, to nest a little bit and become one with creativity in that quiet space. What does the egg symbolise to you? What seed of potentiality in you is waiting to be hatched? Meditating on the egg is quite a beautiful thing to do, and brings up much awareness within. This painting measures 80cm x 80cm, acrylic on deep edge canvas. I love working on deep edge canvases as they don't necessarily need to be framed. It costs €690 and as always, I am open to people paying in instalments if that is something that works best. If you are interested, just mail me at peace@healingcreations.ie |
Patricia Fitzgerald
Mandala Artist and Healer based in Dublin, Ireland. www.healingcreations.ie Archives
October 2020
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Telephone00353-87-6329125
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