The beautiful artwork of Digital Artist Sue O'Kieffe has inspired and aided in the healing efforts of many who admire her work. Her ongoing passion in working with the Mandala form and also in the healing properties associated with Auralite crystals definitely piqued my interest - prompting me to find out more about this wonderful artist and her spiritual and artistic world. Enjoy!
~ diane fergurson
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| Transcendent Harmony |
MBS: Can you tell us a little about yourself? How did you get started in art?
Sue: I have been creative all my life. I'm sure I came into this lifetime
having been creative in many others. And I bet I will be creative in
future space-time continuums as well. I expressed to my mother around
the age of five that I wanted be an artist when I grew up, and my
creativity was encouraged to a certain extent, but there was an
underlying message also of not being good enough. Having talked to other
creatives, I know that this has been a common theme for many.
My journey as an artist has seen me embracing many different media
-- starting with embroidery, knitting and crocheting. In my 30's I was
captivated by beadwork and beaded embroidery, jewelry making, and bead
making with polymer clay. All of these media had similar things in
common. They were all tactile, they all involved working with pattern,
and they all involved working with wonderful colors. In my late 30's and
into my 40's I began learning more about the healing power of colors
and incorporated that knowledge into my art as well. Somewhere along the
way, working with teeny tiny beads began to take its toll on my eyes
and my body and I began looking for new ways to express myself.
In the mid 90's I became involved with a group of women interested
in the medium of collage. We met twice a month with the intent of making
collage as process rather than product in a safe non judgmental
environment. It was what I would see now as my first experience of
creating art within the confines of sacred space and the Divine
Feminine. These bi-monthly meetings were magical to me. I loved the
respect and safety of the group. We met for four years and eventually
even had a couple of group shows. One of the women in the group had a
computer and an early version of Photoshop. I went to her house to play
one Saturday afternoon, and the moment I put my hands on the keyboard, I
knew that creating digital art would be where I would go next. It took
me a while to get there, though. In 2005, I went back to school to learn
digital media and all things Adobe. I took a couple of classes in
Photoshop from an art instructor who encouraged process and learning
over perfection and product. By the time the classes were over I was
finally calling myself an artist. I was 55.
MBS: I've talked to so many women artists over the years who
have come into their creative life in their 40's or 50's - I've also heard many reasons why. What finally clicked for you once you become older?
Sue: Wow, that's a great question, Diane!
The first thing that came to mind was Anais Nin's quote :And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
At this point in my life both
of my parents had passed. I didn't need to be concerned with taking care
of them any longer. I had no children to finish raising either. I only
had me to finish raising! I think the journey of menopause was also an
ingredient. I remember reading in Christiane Northrup's book The Wisdom of Menopause that this is the time when women either heal the wounding of their past
and move on to who they want to be or they run the risk of many health
issues later in life stemming from these unhealed places. I just felt
driven to create like I'd never felt before. I was on fire! And I felt a
creative freedom I'd never experienced before either. I loved working
digitally. It was magic. Everything was lining up. I was coming home.
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| Soul Harmony |
MBS: What is it that you find so satisfying and engaging about making art digitally?
Sue: The only way I know how to answer this question is that
creating digitally is what I love. I go with what fascinates and with
what I find compelling. Who knows why this is? I just know that when I
sit down at the computer that I feel a oneness that I don't feel with
other approaches. And I especially feel that oneness, as well as a lot
of magic, when creating mandalas digitally. I'm entranced!
MBS: A lot of your work revolves around the creation of Mandalas. How did your interest in the Mandala form come about?
Sue: As a little girl I loved rubbing my eyes and enjoying the colors and
patterns created behind my closed eyelids. My earliest memory of what
might be an introduction to mandala making was playing with a Spirograph
that my mother had saved from her own childhood! Fast forward another
15 years or so to discovering a mandala coloring book and coloring the
designs, which I loved. But my first real experience with mandala making
occurred around 1997. I participated in a workshop led by a woman who
had been trained by Judith Cornell. Cornell created a lovely and very
powerful approach to mandala creation based on the concept of drawing
with light by laying down layers and layers of white prismacolor pencil
on black paper before adding subsequent layers of color. That weekend
was powerful and transformative and one of my first conscious
experiences of connecting with the Divine through art making. I loved
creating within the container of the circle.
When I purchased my first computer a couple of years later, I spent
lots of time searching online for and being inspired by mandalas created
in the digital realm. I discovered Komra Moriko's work on earthmandalas.com
and knew deep inside that I would create mandalas based on the beauty
of nature. She was so generous to provide a step by step tutorial on her
website. During the summer of 2005 I immersed myself in this learning
process and haven't stopped. Being out in nature and filling my eyes
with her beauty, capturing it all on my camera, and then bringing her
gifts home and transforming it all in photoshop is a deeply nourishing
and fulfilling process. I know that I came into this lifetime to be part
of some amazing planetary changes and to create mandala art to assist
humanity with these changes.
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| Fierce Transformation Mandala |
MBS: Your work is very spiritually oriented. How does
spirituality play a role in your artwork and for you as an artist?
Sue: As far back as I can remember I have felt connected to
Spirit. Sometimes I forgot. Often fear would get in my way. I have
always been a seeker. There have been pivotal moments in my life when I
clearly came in touch with the Divine, far too many to talk about
here. I have always listened to the promptings of my soul and followed
them, even when I didn't realize that's what I was doing. Spirituality
has always been entwined with my art so I really can't imagine
creating any other way.
Currently, a big part of my journey is developing a deeper
co-creative relationship with my inner guidance in my art making. In
meditation I've been asking what most wants to come through at that
moment, wait for imagery and listen for the words Spirit shares. And
then I interpret what I see and hear in mandala form. I am learning that
this listening takes a bit of patience, as well as faith. My ego
natters at me about making it all up. But I love creating art in this
way, taking a step away from the limitations of my creative mind and
allowing Spirit to guide me and speak through me. I look forward to
creating these intuitive mandalas for others as well, using the same
process, as a testament to the receiver's spirit.
MBS: I've noticed recently that some of your work has been based off of Auralite Crystals. What is an Auralite Crystal, it's properties...and how did you become introduced to them?
Sue: Auralite is conservatively estimated to be a 1.1 billion year old crystal found only in a remote region of Ontario, Canada. It is comprised
of amethyst, clear, smoky, and citrine quartz, along with more than 23
other mineral inclusions (including gold, silver, platinum and copper)
and 35 elements that have all been confirmed by geological assay. I
first learned about this crystal in 2006, before it was even being
called Auralite. I had just been diagnosed with a non malignant tumor
that was wrapping itself around my carotid artery. Through the magic of
the internet (and Spirit), I had serendipitously connected with the man
who is now the mine's project geologist. He wanted to talk about this
crystal and I was very happy to listen. The photographs of the Auralite
he shared reactivated my childhood attractions to the mineral kingdom.
The energies from the crystals helped assist me during this somewhat
challenging time. This was the beginning of my spiritual awakening.
Fast forward to early 2011. My geologist friend and I reconnected on
Facebook. He asked if I wanted to help sell Auralite, and I said yes.
Over the past year I have come to understand that being an Auralite
advocate and caretaker is also part of my life calling. Because this is a
new crystal to humanity, those who are connected to Auralite are the
ones discovering its properties. I ask people to share their experiences
with me. It's fascinating to hear these Auralite stories. My belief is
that Auralite is coming to the surface now to assist humanity during
these challenging shifts in energy as we move into higher states of
consciousness by clearing out lower energy levels that no longer serve
us. My personal experience with Auralite is one of amazing unconditional
Love. It creates a magnetic bond with those it connects with. I've seen
people not able to put it down. And I've experienced tsunami waves of
Love wash over me from this crystal.
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| Timeless Light and Peace |
I like what my friend. crystal healer Adrienne Goff has discovered about about Auralite as well:
I
am such a fan of Auralite, because I have seen what it can do. It forms
a very personal connection with the client and immediately targets what
parts are out of alignment, working to clear blockages. I have seen it
cause emotional release, instant activation and clearing of the chakras
in less than five minutes, sudden insights, activation of the client's
blueprint, and the ability to clearly tune into spirit. It is very good
at treating emotional and mental ascension symptoms as it unwinds areas
of constriction, bringing relief of stress, anxiety, tension, anger, and
other lower emotional states. Auralite naturally awakens the third eye,
helping both you and the client tune in and achieve a higher meditative
state. It also strongly resonates with St. Germaine and the Violet
Flame energies. Therefore, it is perfect for transmuting any lower
energy into pure light. If you could only have one crystal in your
healing tool box, Auralite should be it!
I began creating mandalas from photographs of Auralite not only as a
way to honor the crystal, but also as a way to share the crystal's
unique energies in mandala form.
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| Markings of Time (Auralite Mandala) |
MBS: What is a typical work day like for you?
Sue: Like many artists, I also have a part time day job. I approach that
with the intent of being an embodiment of Light and Love. Really, we can
all spread joy and light wherever we go. This isn't about being
Pollyanna. This is about being present and available to the best of my
ability and engaging with people with consideration and respect. This is
how I do my art when I am not "doing my art."
There really isn't a "typical" work day for my art. I do what most
needs to be done, whether it is creating new art, being in nature with
my camera, working on a commission, or maybe even trying out a new
recipe. Staying properly nourished for my body's optimum health is
important to me these days.I have recently decided to return to a
vegetarian diet.
When I am focused on making art, I block out a period of time to do
just that. I meditate for a period of time to see what most wants to
come forth, and then I sit at my computer and listen to my guidance. I
shared a bit about my process on this blog post recently. And then, of course, there is time reserved for Facebook.
MBS: What are you currently working on?
Sue: My immediate focus is preparing for an art opening on January 5 at Humboldt Herbals
in Eureka, CA for our community's monthly Arts Alive. I've also been
invited to show one or two of my mandalas at an international art show
of mandala makers in September 2013 at Nails in the Wall Gallery in
Metuchen NJ. In between this, I am planning on writing an article for a
local metaphyiscal newsletter about my True Self Mandala process.
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| True Self Mandala |
MBS: What are your True Self Mandalas?
Sue: Over the past couple of years I have been developing a process
for creating portraits of the True Self in mandala form.In 2009, when I
wanted assistance in creating commissioned mandalas, I sought out the
counsel of a local shamanic practitioner, who journeyed with her allies
and came back with the suggestion to connect with the True Self, ask
specific questions, and then interpret the information received in
mandala form. My first assignment was to create my own True Self
Mandala, which took me, for various reasons, about a year to create. How
could I create for another without knowledge of my own True Self? Since
then I have had the honor of connecting four other women with their
True Selves and creating their individual True Self Mandala using this
very soulful process. It is a powerful and healing process for the
receiver as well as for myself, and such a lovely way to honor your
spiritual journey in a very intimate way.
MBS: I see that you sell your work on-line. What has your on-line experience been like?
Sue: The first week after I opened my Etsy shop in 2009, someone placed an
order for six of my mandalas. It was a great, encouraging way to get
started. Overall, though, online sales have been fairly sporadic. In
2013, I want to look at other venues besides Etsy as well as finally put
up my website.
MBS: What advice do you have for anyone who wishes to (seriously) pursue an artistic path?
Sue: Ask yourself what you want to be doing in the next five years. Look for
business support within your community. I have been happy with the
local Small Business Development Center, which has provided me with a
business coach and many classes about different facets of business, all
at no cost. Find someone whose wisdom you respect to assist with art
marketing practices. Talk to lots of other artists, whether it is in
online groups or in your local community, for advice and support. Get
your art out there. Be willing to be transparent and share yourself with
people. Be patient. Be grateful for those around you and tell them that
on a regular basis.Love and appreciate what you do. No one else does
what you do. The world needs you.
I like this quote from Earl Nightingale :
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.
Thank you Sue!
Contact information for Sue -
Email contact: sue.okieffe@gmail.com
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