Spiritual Art Blog - *Ed P

Contemplation in colour

I've decided on a colour scheme for Contemplation and here it is. While talking about it with Anke last week at the art fair she correctly suggested that there should be calm colours around the 'female Buddha' as she called her. As this is what happens during contemplation. The mental confusion and emotional turmoil are all calmed down so you get a better viewpoint of the events and situations going on in your life.

I do a contemplation exercise every morning. It helps me get ready for the day. During that period I often get answers to questions that came up the pervious day. Sometimes I will be shown a situation from a different angle so I get a better understanding of it. To me, my contemplation or spiritual exercise is more important than my breakfast. If I have to choose between them I'll do the contemplation.

Would you like to try doing a contemplation? Here's a simple method I use.

Sit in a comfortable position, back straight. You could even lie down if you prefer. I use a mantra, HU. Pronounced hue or like the name Hugh. If you have your own one use that if you wish. Sing HU on your outgoing breath about 6 times. Then rest and repeat again as often as you like for a maximum of about 20 to 30 minutes.

While singing HU and in the quiet periods, with eyes closed, look to see if there are any lights on your inner screen. If there are just watch them gently, don't focus on them directly, if you do they tend to disappear. Also listen within your self to hear an inner sound. Some people hear thunder, tinkling bells, bees buzzing, a high pitched noise and some a note of a flute, which is what I hear.

This doesn't all happen the first time you try it. It will take weeks or months even years. Try it for at least 6 weeks and see if you notice any benefit. I'd be surprised if you don't.

Best of luck with it.

Art Ireland 2007

It was a busy show. There were a lot of visitors and I was thrilled by the interest shown by people in my work. From kids to pensioners, nuns to atheists, poor to rich, they all had positive comments on the work. That's the stand in the picture with laptop and all, not that I got much of a chance to use it.

Visitors include lots of family, clients, friends and a few bloggers including Paul O'Mahony of Siopa Eile, Karen from the Irish Craft Update and Ellen McDermott.
It was great to see you all.

Also there was a very good artist friend, Anke Petersen, who has her own studio/gallery in Sneem, Co Kerry. Anke produces some lovely abstract pictures with a spiritual feel, if you are in the area you should call out to her gallery. There are signs for 'Sneem Art Gallery' which lead into the countryside about a mile or two. Anke was able to give me some guidance on adding colour to Contemplation. Hopefully I'll have some results to show you next week.

Double Winner

Last week I got news that my picture Outside the Box had come joint second in the competition entitled Outside the Box run by the Manifesto Gallery in Waterford, Ireland. It's a lovely gallery selling art, sculpture, jewellery and other stuff. It's a nice space, an old Georgian building, possibly older, with high ceilings and big rooms. It's a well run professional operation and worth a visit if you're in the area. The address is 2 Georges Street, Waterford.

The other win was to be included in Paul O'Mahony's artisan group blog. I just got an email from Paul of Siopa Eile who is helping 10 artist get started in blogging. If it wasn't for Paul you wouldn't be reading this, he got me started.

The picture here, Sacred Steps, is the first acrylic painting I've ever done. It has turned out quiet well, I think. It is based on the digital version which I created last year, it's on the web site here, Sacred Steps- digital. It’s about 4’ x 3’, 1.2m x 1m. I’m trying out the acrylics to see if people like them and if they will sell. I hope to do an acrylic of Outside the Box as well and in time for the Art Ireland exhibition this weekend.

Art Ireland Invitation

Art Ireland, a major exhibition of Irish art, is taking place in the RDS main hall in Dublin from Friday 16th to Sunday 18th of November. This will be my third year at the fair. It costs €10 to get in but if you click on the image here you can print the invitation and get in for free. Print as many as you need and when you come along call over to see me. I'm at stand R1 which is in the hall on the right off the main hall.

I've been getting things ready for the fair so I really haven't had a chance to do much painting. Hopefully I'll get something up next week.