Revamp a thing or two

sharing pin hole sketches today along with a post about posts…ah so very meta;)

So…about a year ago I switched things up and rebuilt this website. Like all things, it was a ton more work than I ever imagined.

I hoped that this new format would be easier for me to make blog posts. The good thing is…it is!

The not so good thing is…some people think that since the rise of social media…individual blogs are now obsolete. Apparently, with so much happening online no one has time for something as old-fashioned as blogging. I guess…I’m suddenly old-fashioned…who knew!

Something…I think a lot about is the need to stay close to the creative edge. To keep stretching into unknown places. To find the sweet spots where I’m following a path but not repeating myself. The only way to be there is to experiment and let things be a little messy…a little all over the place.

I want this blog to be a way to share the paintings. I also want to create a place to collect my random creative tangents.

Anyway…I’m thinking that in the coming year I’m going to use this space even more as a place to dip into the stream of consciousness. For the most part, I’ve been holding back because of some notion I have that a blog should be focused on one thing. I hate to say it but better for marketing…and all that blah. blah.

The shifts and upheavals of the pandemic are a catalyst to revamp a thing or two.

I’m not exactly sure what is going to show up here but I’m feeling an unexpected sense of freedom in being suddenly old-fashioned.

Please feel free to dip in here from time to time but going forward I’m not going to send out an email for every post.

I’ll send out a round-up post from time to time if something especially good bubbles up!

light from the front

back Lighting

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Cosmic Lace: Cascade

Cosmic Lace: Cascade, 36” x 36”, oil on canvas

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I've just finished reading "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel. I'd been wanting to read it, ever since I saw the intense color-filled movie years ago.

It's a powerful story of being lost at sea. It has that magical mix of entangling imagination with reality and sprinkling drops of wisdom all along the way.

I especially liked this little line… "At the heart of life is a fuse box.”

It keeps coming to mind when I look at this painting from the Cosmic Lace group. I called it "Cascade" because it always felt as if it was energy on overload...just totally overflowing.

The full line from Yann Martel's book is “Blessed be that part of us that protects us from too much pain and sorrow. At the heart of life is a fuse box.”

I've lived long enough to know there are times in life when heart pain is so heavy it feels as if there is no end. Then the pain goes numb...it's like the energy gets cut off...just like a "fuse box."

And, then the miracle of time comes and ever so gently lets the energy flow again. Making life different. Still good and beautiful.

Come to think of it this painting has been grabbing my attention a lot lately…

A few weeks back, there was a car on the street out in front of my house. It was parked in just the right way to catch the sun and bounce it into a corner of my living room it never reaches. Right onto this painting, turning it into a window into another world.

Oh! to paint with light like that!

Till next time.

Be well & stay safe

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“what is stronger than the human heart which shatters over and over and still lives”

— Rupi Kaur

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Mandala Mala Project

Mandala Mala Project

Lots of you know all about my Mandala Mala Project but if it’s new to you…

The quick story is…

I’m making 108 mandalas, that instead of selling I give away in exchange for doing good deeds. I call them “tasks.” The idea is to make art a catalyst to nudge our world in a positive direction. You can think of it as a pay it forward art project.

It has taken me many years to make and give away the first 73 mandalas.

This past year I’ve made over a dozen new mandalas that are now ready to go out into the world. They are perfect for giving this holiday season.

These are little mixed media encaustic pieces that shimmer depending on how the light hits the surface. I sanded and rubbed the wax with graphite & interference powder creating a sort of satin metallic look. An artist friend of mine described them as little jewels…which I think is just right.

These mandalas are extra special because the “task” is making a donation to help fight cancer. I’ve chosen the Cancer Research Institute to be the charity. Their mission is to "Save more lives by fueling the discovery and development of powerful immunotherapies for all types of cancer."

This past year many people in my circle of friends & family have had their lives cut short or shook up by a diagnosis. I’ve never felt so grateful for the people who devote their intelligence and skills to fight cancer. These mandalas are just a little way to support the work they do.

Do you want to make a donation and get a Mandala ?

The way it works is…

STEP 1: Pick from the mandalas below

*Yes, you can do more than one…they look especially nice in sets of three!

*Yes, you can do it even if you’ve already done one of my mandalas in the past.

STEP 2: Let me know by email which mandala or mandalas you would like.

*First email gets you first dibs.

Step 3: I’ll set them aside for you & send you the link to donate.

Step 4: Make your donation

$50 minimum donation for each small, 5" x 5" mandala
$100 minimum donation for each medium, 8" x 8" mandala

*Yes, you can definitely donate more if you would like

STEP 5: Send me your confirmation email that you made your donation. Then schedule a time with me to pick up your mandalas.

*Yes, you are more awesome than the average awesome!

Be Well & Happy Thanksgiving!

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The Shimmers

Yay! this one has been claimed, Shimmer One, 8” x 8”, $100 Minimum Donation

Yay! This one has been claimed! -MH Shimmer Two, 8” x 8”, $100 Minimum Donation

Yay! This one has been claimed! - MH, Shimmer Three, 8” x 8”, $100 Minimum Donation

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The Glimmers

Glimmer One, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

Glimmer Two, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

Yay! This one has been claimed! -SM, Glimmer Three, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

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Chaos Mandalas

Chaos One, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

Chaos Two, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

Chaos Three, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

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Out of the Blue Mandalas

Yay! This one has been claimed! - EG, Out of The Blue One, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

Yay! This one has been claimed! - SM, Out of The Blue Two, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

Yay! This one has been claimed! - BD, Out of the Blue Three, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

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Calmness Mandala

Yay! This one has been claimed! - VM Calmness One, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

Yay! This one has been claimed! - VM Calmness Two, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

Yay! This one has been claimed! - VM Calmness Three, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

To learn more

check out these videos on YouTube &

visit the Cancer Research Institute

“So let us rather not be sure of anything,
Beside ourselves, and only that, so
Miraculous beings come running to help.
Crazed, lying in a zero circle, mute,
We shall be saying finally,
With tremendous eloquence, Lead us.
When we have totally surrendered to that beauty,
We shall be a mighty kindness.”

— Rumi

Moody Birds…ready to fly

Side View, “Moody Bird: Lift Off”, 16”, Mixed Media

The last two Moody Birds are finally finished and ready to fly!

I’ve loved working on these encaustic pieces for so many reasons.

The combination of pressed plant life with the “metallic-like” rubbed wax surface in the circular shape has always felt like portals into a dream world. They are moody and dark but play with the light when viewed from different angles. Plus…scratching into the textured surface always felt especially birdish!

Let me introduce you to “Lift Off” and “Look Out”

Both are available for purchase. Please contact me directly through email siobhan@siobhanbedford.com

“Moody Bird: Lift Off”, 16”, Mixed Media, $250

Detail, “Moody Bird: Lift Off”, 16”, Mixed Media

“Moody Bird: Look Out”, 16”, Mixed Media, $250

Side View, “Moody Bird: Look Out”, 16”, Mixed Media

Detail, “Moody Bird: Look Out”, 16”, Mixed Media

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“If you’ve got it...haunt it”

— Rose Pressey

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And… the whole flock together!

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Boo!

Happy Halloween!

Want a little more Halloween mood?

Click to check out last years Moody Bird Post

Moody Birds