Prairie Color Mandala

Prairie Color Mandala © 2021 Bo Mackison

Art making inspired by prairie walking.


I find walking in nature and paying attention to the details awakens my desire to create. Thankful that there is a daily walk in my pandemic routine. Thankful that some of the time I actually get out my paper and pencils and let the flow happen.


What inspires you? And what do you create from that inspiration?


I invite you to consider what might happen when you combine 1) a walk in nature with deep attention and 2) the intention to create a patchwork mandala.


I went for a long, unhurried walk through the University of Madison’s Arboretum, the nature preserve that pioneered prairie restoration in the 1930s. I noticed the layering of colors, rather like a patchwork of greens and purples, reds and yellows, and took a photo so I could consider the elements of the composition once I returned home.


Paper and colored pencils and a few hours in the company of Netflix…and this happened. October Prairie is not my normal type of mandala — I like fast and no plan — but I am well pleased with the results.

When creating the mandala, I let myself be guided by the patchwork of muted color with less emphasis on the details. I do hope you might be inspired to give this sort of practice a try. Take a walk in nature and then create a patchwork mandala, the marriage of attention and intention.

We create all sorts of mandalas in my online workshop Contemplative Creatives Journey. If this sort of creative practice appeals to you, you may want to check out my seasonal offerings. We begin at the turn of each season and create together in an online community for 13 weeks.

Evening Phenology, Owen Conservation Park in Madison Wisconsin

 

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Trail Through Virginia Bluebells ©2016 Bo Mackison

May 5, 2016

Owen Conservation Park, west side of Madison, Wisconsin

Start: 6:00 p.m. (sunset 8:04 p.m.)
sunny 68˚F
wind 5 mph NW
barometric pressure 30.00
humidity 29%

In the woods:

Virginia bluebell, in full bloom along the woodland trail.
False solomon seal emerging
Wood anemone in bloom, moderate show
Woodpeckers, species unknown (lots of rat-a-ta-a-tatting high in the hardwoods)
Fiddle heads, many fully opened, common in open wooded areas.
Honeysuckle, beginning to flower
Robins, common
Lesser periwinkle (vinca) in full bloom, common
Dutchman’s breeches, only a few still blooming

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Forest of Bloodroot ©2016 Bo Mackison

Bloodroot, emerging foliage, common in the under-story.

Yellow bellwort, bloom done
Columbine emerging
Creeping charlie (ground ivy, spreading mint) in dense bloom, disturbed ground near trail
Wild geranium (potted geranium) profuse bloom, common
Dandelions
Common blue violets (wood violet, wooly blue violet) in bloom, profuse
Trillium, Grandiflora, two bunches
Wood sorrel
Small white violets, uncommon

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Tree Canopy ©2016 Bo Mackison

White oaks, leaves emerging; Red maples, silver maples, leafing.

Arrow-leaved violet, uncommon
Garlic mustard in bloom (invasive weed threat)
Golden alexanders, full bloom
May apples, emerging foliage, no bloom.
Sumac, 6 ft high “sticks” with emerging red leaves
Maple tree shoots, six inches high, cover the forest floor.
Crabapple trees, several varieties, in moderate-full bloom

Finish:

6:35 p.m.
64˚F sunny, few high clouds to the south
wind 5 mph NW
humidity 28%

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Twice a week phenology reports in woodland; once a week reports from prairie and pond. Owen Conservation Park, Madison Wisconsin

Phenology is the study of plant and animals and their cycles influenced by climate and seasonal change, i.e., birds nesting/migrating,  flowers blooming, trees leafing.

Flower Mandala — Symmetrical Cosmos

Cosmos © 2015 Bo Mackison

Cosmos © 2015 Bo Mackison

“The beauty of a living thing is not the atoms that go into it, but the way those atoms are put together.”  ~ Carl Sagan

Flower Mandala – Pink Zinnia

Pink Zinnia ©2015 Bo Macksion

Pink Zinnia ©2015 Bo Mackison

Flower Mandala – White and Yellow Peony

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“Come out of the circle of time
. And into the circle of love.” ~ Rumi