MY BACKGROUND
As a young girl, I always made my own greeting cards and wrapping paper...just seemed like the best way to show my love...and one of the few ways to express my creativity throughout my life as a closet artist. Much of my adult years were spent in the world of computer graphics, and then producing computer and video games for kids.
After retiring from hi-tech, I was sitting at my computer one night, and said to myself..."try to draw something". That was it! I had found my medium. I naturally gravitated toward the mandala form, and soon had my first six designs, which were then redesigned into all the different products on this site.
So now I have stepped out of my artist closet to combine my skills from years in hi-tech with my spiritual and creative journey to present these little pieces of beauty and inspiration. Pretty wonderful, don't you think?
THE PROCESS
The creative process is a long meditative experience that grounds me, nurtures me, and always surprises me. I do my best work at night. When I wake up in the morning, I look at the work and say "that needs different colors...or that little bit is off-center...or it just needs something more...or what was I thinking?!? After days and weeks of refinement, I inevitably come to the moment when I say "now it's complete."
The next step is to translate the mandalas into all the products, and then sort out how to manufacture each item. Lately, I've also spent much time with marketing, which has been a lot of fun because I'm getting a great response. Unfortunately, I'm also learning how to keep books, send invoices, balance accounts...arrrgh!
MY INTENTION
These mandalas represent qualities that I strive to attain. My hope is that by seeing them, you will find inspiration in your own path. I continue to design new products, and continue to create new mandalas all the time.
I am also dedicated to "sacred activism", working to heal ourselves and the planet. I have dedicated this site and my work to this intention. The link on the home page -- Heal the Planet -- , will take you to an evolving resource of important events and news that I hear about. Check it out from time to time, because it is always changing. If there is something you would like to add, just let me know.
A few little bits of news...
A letter from a breast cancer awareness group that is displaying one of my mandalas.
Four Ravens Designs was born in September 2006 with the launch of this website. In March 2007, stores in Taos, New Mexico started carrying my products. Soon after, Santa Fe and Albuquerque were added, followed by stores around the country...even Canada, Japan, and most recently Australia.
This is truly a "cottage industry", meaning that everything is made in my little cottage studio in Taos, New Mexico. All of the artwork is created on my computer, but unlike computer-generated imagery, mine is designed tiny little bit by bit. A single mandala can take an average at least 60 hours to complete. Everything is hand-crafted and assembled here, printing is done in Albuquerque, and I try to purchase as much as I can locally.
The line continues to expand with new mandalas and products. New Plans for 2010 are in the works
