Monday, June 21, 2021

Mia's Mandala

 

I recently downloaded and colored a mandala that was one Mia offered for her blogiversary.  I thought I had more time, and didn't realize I had missed the cutoff until after it was too late to join the party.  That was OK, because that meant I could now take my time with the remainder of the coloring.
 
This was not an easy thing for me.  I don't really enjoy coloring within the lines. 
 
There are lots of reasons, including the fact I don't have proper tools for the job, my hand cramps and I have to stop and massage the dominant hand, and the fact I really don't enjoy coloring.  Add to that the fact my arm smudged the blue outline I was so careful to color first.  It went downhill from there, I fear.
 
For this I used mostly Crayola crayons and water soluble crayons.  

Mia's theme at Art Journal Journey is Butterflies, so of course, I had to honor that, too.  
 
This is a very dimensional page. 
 
There are a couple of dimensional elements on this page. 

For this page, I began with several colors of Staz-on reinkers I combined with 91% isopropyl alcohol.  I used a chip brush to create the swirls on the page.  I was hoping to show movement.
 
After spending DAYS and DAYS on the mandala, it was finally ready to be attached to the prepared background using a glue stick.  Next came the large and small butterflies.  The small ones had been gifted to me.  They were created using a punch on scrapbook paper.  Because I thought it looked a bit plain, I added the lovely dimensional floral piece I had picked up at either JoAnn's or The Dollar Tree.  For some reason, I thought it matched Mia's mandala. 
 
Thanks for dropping by today.  I am really grateful for your visit and also hope to see you at Art Journal Journey with your own take on Butterflies
 
 

15 thoughtful remarks:

Elephant's Child said...

Your beautiful butterfly just adds to the beauty.
I am awed at sand mandalas in particular - all that work, and then they are just swept away...

Iris Flavia said...

Sorry about your hands. I have the same with my toes. Numb.
Love the butterfly! And the whole page, but especially the butterfly.

P.S. ... Sehusafest... A post is to come on what we are in each weekend, TV-wise.
Jutta... Germans in that time did not think of KKK.
100% there is no relation, but I understand you freaked out.
Boy how dumb are we in the world today! Time to change her outfit, especially as all this comes sadly up again!

I will tell my Brother. He has no real influence, but maybe... (The ordinary German does not think of KKK seeing her. She´s but a good soul)

My T still has my book of Whats-App fails (German) - one guy wanted to say to his new girl friend he goes to KFC and the darn thing made KKK of it, she quit. That´s how "Corinna" came to the world, we call it "Corona" and Whats App... "Corinna"...).

I need a mandala to calm me down ;-)

Valerie-Jael said...

Hi Elizabeth, well done on colouring that mandala. This is something I absolutely refuse to do, I hate colouring in between the lines! You did yours weel! Love the butterflies, too. Have a great week! Hugs, Valerie

My name is Erika. said...

This is a great idea. And very very nice for Mia's challenge. Use her mandala and some also some butterflies too. The 2 overlapping butterflies are very cool. I like the top one with some sparkles on the edges. Happy new week and happy Monday! Hugs-Erika

CJ Kennedy said...

Beautifully done and perfect for the first full day of Summer. Happy Solstice

Divers and Sundry said...

Lovely! My husband uses pens/etc. that have larger diameters. He has trouble with the regular-sized tools, too.

Mae Travels said...

Coloring mandalas and other repeated designs is fun for me. I have finished a few coloring books though I don't do it every day or even every week. I have a couple sets of markers, some with medium points, some narrow. I don't get compulsive about staying in the lines, though I usually manage. Also, sometimes I don't do exact repeats of the colors. Yours looks like fun.

best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Annie said...

That top butterfly with the gold wings just draws me into this page. It’s a beauty! I’m with you about coloring. I don’t find the fascination that so many others find in it. But I think your butterfly goes well with your mandala and brings it to life. I would imagine that coloring in your own style and ignoring lines might produce an interesting artistic effect that no one else has discovered yet.

Jeanie said...

This is very pretty, Elizabeth. It looks wonderful on your background.

DVArtist said...

I color to relieve stress. This is very nice indeed. Who cares about the lines.

Neet said...

Now I have read about the problems you have had to overcome i realise why you do not like colouring. Yet you have done a beautiful job with this Mandala. It is so delicate in its colouring which to my mind, requires a skill in itself.
Love how you have introduced the butterflies to link in with Mia's challenge.
Thanks for sharing.
Hugs, Neet xxx

Lowcarb team member said...

So beautifully done ...
Very well done :)

All the best Jan

craftytrog said...

It's a beautifully coloured mandala Elizabeth! If it's too perfect no-one will realise it is hand coloured. I love the butterflies and the little bit of bling too.
Our hands are so important to us artists aren't they?! Take care.
Alison xx

Meggymay said...

Well I think you have coloured this page beautifully, don't be hard on yourself, I'm sure many of us have things that we don't feel happy doing. I know I have many issues myself. The butterflies look lovely with the mandala, its fabulous inspiration for Mia's AJJ theme.
Yvonne xx

Mia said...

Wow Elizabeth! What a gorgeous idea to combine the mandala with the butterfly! Oh thank you SOOOO MUCH for coloring my mandala and A HUGE thank you for creating this adorable page for my theme at AJJ. You make me VERY happy, my dear friend. I send you big big big hugs and many many kisses!!!
PS: Please take care of your hands.