Maureen Frank

I began creating mandalas in early 1999 after a 10-day trip to Egypt. Through much of that region of the world patterns and symbols decorated just about every structure I visited, whether ancient, old or new. My analytical mind loved the geometry of the Islamic art and the Egyptian hieroglyphics. My heart and soul loved their elegant and symbolic beauty.

When I returned home, I began seeing patterns and symbols in everything around me, even in my dreams. I proceeded to translate these intriguing ideas into mandalas. In early 2000 I learned to use meditation as a way to access the depth of these mandalas, fully exploring their therapeutic and metaphysical natures.

Symmetry Mandalas
It starts with the circle; whole and complete. In meditation, I draw a pattern repeatedly around the circle. Often a whole new pattern emerges, as if a gift for taking the time to encircle the pattern. With the symmetry mandalas comes a message, inspirational poem, or affirmation. The words usually come while either drawing the mandalas or while coloring/painting them.

Asymmetry Mandalas
It starts with the circle; whole and complete. In meditation, with little if any forethought, I draw whatever I see in my mind’s eye. Usually it begins with a simple idea and then grows as if drawing itself. The true essence of this mandala style comes when coloring/painting; taking a simple drawing and bringing it to life with color and dimension.

Happenings
The “Happenings” come about as spontaneous surprises. Starting with watercolor paper, I pour ink, or watercolors onto the paper or over objects (such as vegetation, tape, or pebbles). I then let nature take its course. When dry and while in meditation, I take the painting wherever it wants to go, using whatever appropriate media to complete it. Sometimes the paintings stay as is, that the happenstance of the pouring and drying made them whole and complete without need of any enhancement. In all, these paintings bring to light magical worlds, of places we can only visit in our dreams.

Media
Acrylics, Color Pencil, Markers, Watercolors

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