coming back

My SAQA group is doing an exchange in which we each create a set of small pieces (4"x4") to swap. I was fooling with the idea of mandala a little while ago and thought it might make a good foundation for this exchange. In one of my art books, there is the suggestion that, when sketching mandala, you could draw in one area, then turn the page a quarter turn and draw in the next area. This is proving fruitful -- sometimes the smallest thing gives the best result.

I've been carrying around one of those top-spiral bound steno books with grid paper. I like symmetry, so I like having the grid underlaying the sketching. My Blogger "skills" -- which were minimal to begin with -- are rusty, but here are some of what I have so far, rendered in smudgy pencil. I think they may be stitched on a white ground, with shades of white and extremely pastel colors and some silver. I may have mentioned before that white is my favorite color. . .

encouragement...

is happily accepted from any quarter. My newspaper horoscope today reads:
"Leave the past behind, Leo. So much good is coming up that you should not dwell on what has come to pass. Look toward the future, don't look back. You are entering a new phase."

Indeed.
And, yes, I am looking forward, as Mom wanted me to do.
"I want you to be calm and happy" is one of the last things she said to me.
There is an interesting group project afoot in my SAQA group, so there will be art soon and postings soon(ish) thereafter.

Thanks so much to everyone who has posted or emailed. I was hesitant to share this news in this way, but the kindness of your responses has been greatly appreciated.

entered into rest