Mandalas of Light
Mandala means "circle" in Sanskrit. They can symbolize the universe, the natural perfection in nature, and universal harmony. Tibetan Buddhist monks create their traditional Mandalas with colored sand. I create my Mandalas with light. A technique involving lights, camera, photoshop for post production, and my trusty rusty tripod. All the images on this website are the copyright of Terry Long, who produced them. Prints may be purchased, and workshops are available. Call Terry at 909.648.6646
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Solo show at the University of Redlands
Transformation Mandala is one of 50 mandala artworks that was on display in my solo show at the Art Gallery, University of Redlands, California this year. This artwork was partly influenced by Tibetan art.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Friday, December 9, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Spiritus
With the exception of stained glass, it is hard to get the glowing and translucent effect that painting with light gives you with any other art medium. I tried to capture the art deco style that was prominent in the 1920s and 30s for Spiritus.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Iris Star Mandala
I have always loved the luminosity of stained glass windows, although I have never tried working in the medium. Painting with light gives a similar effect, because the light is directed at the viewer or camera that is recording the drawing and painting process.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Night Flight
Night Flight was one of my ten mandalas that was on display at the University of Redlands faculty art show just recently. I am pleased to say that it sold, along with seven others.
Mystic Garden Mandala
The title of this piece sounds like something from the 1960s. That was the time when I was at art college in London, but I was not part of the hippy scene which was popular back then. Fads fade, but great art stands the test of time. I hope my work will stand that test!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Rondo Mandala
I find music can be the most expressive of all of the arts, and abstract art sometime comes close to it. The paintings of Wassily Kandinsky are a good example. My mandalas are in part an attempt to also get close to the sensation that you can feel when listening to music.
Minster Mandala
When on my travels, I like to visit buildings that have interesting fan vaulted ceilings, mostly in houses of worship. Sherborne Abbey in England is a good example. There is an amazing sensation when first looking up to see the ceiling from the center of the building. The same feeling can be had when looking up into a large tall tree. I try to create this sensation in some of my mandalas, including this one.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Dandelion Fairy Clock Mandala
This mandala design was not based originally on a dandelion. Thats what it reminded of, after I had finished it. Sometimes, I have no idea of what I am going to create at first. It can be very exciting to use a more random approach, until something starts to emerge. It is important to have an open mind, be playful, and have fun with it.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
The Crystal Universe
As an artist, I am fascinated by design, and the incredible designs found in nature. Wilson Bentley, a self taught farmer from Vermont, USA, was the the first person to photograph a snow crystal (snowflake) in 1885, and spent the rest of his life recording them. According to Bentley, no two are alike! His book "Snow Crystals" contains 2400, and yes, no two are alike. Designs and patterns abound in the universe, and we are part of that pattern.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Lindisfarne
The island of Lindisfarne is located off the Northumbrian coast, England. It is also called Holy Island, and was a primary pilgrimage site for Celtic Christians. Whatever your religion or believe, Lindisfarne is a spiritual and mystical place where you can find calm and solace. Although we may not have a physical place like Lindisfarne to go to, mandalas can act in a similar way, bringing peace and tranquility to our lives.
Om Mandala
It has been said that there is harmony, peace and bliss in the sound of Om. It is the most important word in Hinduism and is held sacred, the expression of spiritual perfection. A short but powerful word that starts with O, which is also a circle. I have tried to capture a sense of sound and power in my mandala.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tropic Morning Mandala
Tropic Morning Mandala was not created by painting with LED lights, which is how I create most of my mandalas. I photographed real leaves that were simply backlit by the the morning sun, and then I played with the design and composition in photoshop. I have to admit that it was not photographed in the tropics, but at the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena, northeast of Los Angeles.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Dakota Mandala
"Everything the Power of the World does is done in a circle. The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves.“ |
- Black Elk, the Dakota elder |
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Lotus Blue.
The psychoanalyst Carl Jung called the mandala "a representation of the unconscious self." I am not sure if this mandala represents my own unconscious self, I just know that creating it was most enjoyable, and that I was pleased with the end result. My intention was to create a design that was both harmonious, balanced, and a place for self reflection. Out of all the mandalas I have created, this has the most calming effect for me.
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