PIGEON PAINTINGS

Good Morning.  Just a few moments before I leave for work.  These paintings were inspired by Picasso's PIGEON

COOP paintings. He lived in a villa on the Mediterranean sea. The pigeons must have loved their view of the sea! The first painting below is by Picasso.  Mine follow. Please enjoy the view. My paintings are approx. 24x36" mixed media. 

MUSIC PAINTING

Good morning.  For many years I was a music teacher at the school where I work.  I had started learning to play the guitar in high school inspired by a girl who I was dating.  In college ( LIU) my friend, Lou, gave me lessons in folk music and "blues." I taught him how to handle his Austin Healey car. He scared me when he drove!

From my earliest days of working with "special' children I realized that music was, for me, the most powerful way of connecting with them.  Through the years I often used songs and movement to impart basic concepts to those who could learn at that level,  and those who couldn't would enjoy the sounds and rhythms and maybe a hold a simple instrument like a maraca or bell.  Always the smiles would come to their faces.

Guitars often are the subjects of my paintings.  This painting was done many years ago as a mural for my classroom.  The photo wasn't too clear but I hope you enjoy looking.

SILLY CAT VIDEO

I must confess!  I love silly cat videos (and silly cats) (and all cats!).

STUDIES from BASQUIAT

These paintings were inspired by the works of  Jean-Michel Basquiat (December 22, 1960 – August 12, 1988).   I won't speak to much about this painter except to say he was a brilliant flame in the world of art who tragically burned out much to early.  There is much to explore about his life online http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Michel_Basquiat .  And there were two wonderful movies based on his life.  I highly recommend both: THE RADIANT CHILD  http://www.jean-michelbasquiattheradiantchild.com/ , and BASQUIAT  by Julian Schnabel  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115632/ .

My paintings are mixed media on heavy paper.  24" x  36".
                                        

SUNFLOWER PAINTING

Good Morning.  The school where I teach has beautiful gardens and a field of flowers .  Each year the most magnificent sunflowers bloom at the end of Summer. Over the past few years I have painted many pictures of sunflowers.  I'm thinking of Sumner on this cold Winter morning.

RAMANA MAHARSHI

Happiness is your nature.

It is not wrong to desire it.

What is wrong is seeking it outside 

when it is inside. 

"There is no greater mystery than this, that we keep seeking reality though in fact we are reality. We think that there is something hiding reality and that this must be destroyed before reality is gained. How ridiculous! A day will dawn when you will laugh at all your past efforts. That which will be the day you laugh is also here and now." — Sri Ramana Maharshi

SOME COLORFUL PAINTINGS

This morning I thought that I would post a few still life paintings of mine to brighten up the morning.  For me, painting is a way to express the silent ever present wonder of life.  We all have that inner freedom which loves to be expressed in some way.  Some sing, some dance. some cook and bake, some simply sit still each day in silent reverence for existence, some smile, some shout  " I am!" " I exist!" Namaste.

                                                                         

RAINBOW

Wednesday night was a windy stormy one here on Long Island.  On my way to work  yesterday morning (on the north shore) this awesome rainbow graced the sky!  For those of you who know the roads, I was riding on Bethpage Parkway going north.  If you look closely you can see a second rainbow.

                                                                    

                                                                     

FLOWERS VASE SUN painting

Thanks for viewing my blog.  This tempera painting is 24" x 36". 

                                                
" If you let go a little you will have a little peace. If you let go a lot you will have great peace "  a Zen teacher

FLOWER PAINTING

I am working on a post for my "cave paintings."  Its not ready yet but I wanted to put a painting up this morning for your eyes to see.  This is a large 25" x 36" watercolor painting on heavy paper.  I hope it brightens up your morning! More soon. Roy

                                                                                      

FLOWING STREAM

This is a slow motion video that I took at a stream in a nature preserve near my home.  Enjoy.

Although its light is wide and great,
   The moon is reflected even
      In a puddle an inch wide.
The whole moon and the entire sky
   Are reflected in dewdrops on the grass,
      Or even in one drop of water.
Dogen (1200-1253)

BIRD on ROCK

People tend to think that meditation practice is about getting something. Quite the contrary.

These pictures I took at the beach in Seacliff, N.Y..  I was driving down the road along the shore and I was captivated by this bird on a rock in the water. I pulled over and captured these images. If you "click" on the pics they get larger.  Enjoy.  Roy

DREAM COLLAGE

Good morning.  Please check out my mixed media/collage below.  It has a very dreamlike, surreal feeling to it.  Its 18" x 24"  on heavy paper.  That's Louis, the cat, assisting me in it's creation. Please feel free to comment.  Thanks, Roy .  roymitch73@gmail.com

SUN BUDDHA PAINTING

SUN BUDDHA PAINTING 5' x 5' painting on unscratched canvas, wall hanging



" HAPPINESS IS THE DWINDLING OF CRAVING"  Buddha

LATEST PAINTING

Recently on my holiday break from my day job (special ed. teacher) I went to visit my sister and her husband in Pennsylvania.  This is always a great way to spend my vacation.  We often go to art galleries and museums and just hang out a lot.  Both my brother-in-law and sister are wonderful chefs and every meal is, to me, gourmet!  On this last visit I got to spend a few days house/cat sitting while my sister and her husband were away.  I spent a lot of time working on a few paintings.  One of which was a portrait of their living room.  I also took photos of the room so I could finish the painting when I got home to Long Island.  The painting is 18" x 24" mixed media. When the painting was finished I mailed it to them.  Here are some pics.  I hope you like them.
 My brother-in-law is a wonderful photographer.  Check out his photos here:   http://howardbatchelor.com/

PICTURES FROM A MANDALA WORKSHOP

I am happy that so many people are interested in seeing this blog unfold.  This morning I lead the meditation session at our ashram .  I spoke about "the two minds" of man.  The one being the ordinary conditioned mind filled with all the thoughts of who we think we are and what happened and what will happen.... worries and concerns.  This is what most of us consider ourselves to be.  This is the mind that, when we believe it or cling to its notions about how things are,  drives us crazy!  But there is another "mind" always present;  always full and complete, unconditioned, ever free, watching. When we can dip into the uncharted waters of this unconditioned mind we experience the fulness, happiness and peace that are inherent within us.  This is always a possibility for us.  Meditation practice facilitates our becoming aware.

Mandalas are traditionally symbols of this unconditioned sacred aspect of life.  In our Mandala Workshops we create group mandalas as well as individual ones.  At home you can create your own within the confines of a drawn circle or you can purchase books which contain mandala patterns to color in.

Here are some pictures from a workshop. Thank you so much for your support.  Thanks also to my friend Steve who inspired me to do a blog. (Steve's blog:  http://comments4today.blogspot.com/  )

MANDALA WORKSHOP

From time to time I conduct  "MANDALA CREATION WORKSHOPS" at the yoga/meditation center to which I belong.  Here are a few of the posters for past sessions.  The text for the workshops reads pretty much like this:

   "The Sanskrit word "MANDALA"  means circle.  Mandalas are circular patterns and designs that are universally recognized symbols of the unobstructed wholeness or fulness of life.  Mandalas are used to help us on our journey towards awakening to our inner peace and freedom.

We will begin this workshop with a brief meditation period and then we will work together to create a mandala on a large sheet of paper.  Then we will work on individual mandalas, either coloring in pre made patterns or developing our own mandala within the confines of a circle.  If anyone wishes to work only on their individual mandala, that would be fine. Participants in this workshop will explore their inner creative realms through the meditative art of mandala creation.

Mandala patterns and some markers, oil pastels, and colored pencils will be provided.  Please feel free to bring any pencils, markers, etc. that you may wish to use.

Instructor:  Roy Mitchell.   Artistic ability is not required or expected."

During some workshops we create a "SAND MANDALA."  I will show examples of this in the near future.  It is always so interesting for me to watch the creative process unfold.  After we sit still in silence for awhile each person picks an area to color in on the mandala pattern which I drew before the workshop.  Then from the inner depths of each individual the creative process unfolds.  Some draw symbols seen within, some colors, some shapes, sometimes words are written representing the inner space.  In the silent moment of the present the mandala is created.  At times difficult emotions are brought forth to be seen and processed in the creation.  Whatever is expressed becomes part of the whole mandala which takes on a life or coherence of its own beyond the individual. Roy