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Mahakala, the Protector

Posted by Angelinabeadalina on 1/5/2007
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These are a touch scary and ugly! All the better for protecting against all things evil, don't ya think? I googled Tibetan art and found Mahakala, chief dharmapala (protector of Buddhist teachings) and the ferocious face on masks hung in Tibetan homes as protection against evil. Talk about scary and magnificent at the same time! You've probably seen these masks-- absolute wonders of art packed into a face full of symbolism. His wrathful expression comes from the energy released as he cuts through powerful obstacles. The five skulls in his headress represent victory over five emotional obscurations. His third eye symbolizes the wisdom of omniscience-- and adds to the u-g-l-y factor. Google images of Mahakala, and see for yourself, okay? I can't possibly begin to tell his story. Just like I discovered I can't possibly begin to recreate those masks. . . but I kind like what I did get when I tried!

Images

Mahakala #1 Actually, this is about the third one I tried, but he definitely deserves to be called #1! Maybe Mahakala was protecting my studio area that day. Everything just came together to let me make this, one of the biggest pieces I've done. 449 x 500 px (46 KB) 1 Comment		Mahakala #1 With a Minor burner and one iffy oxycon, of course, I knew I wanted to use either ivory, turquoise, or nile green if I attempted to go big. Ivory just looks better to me the longer it's worked. 443 x 500 px (53 KB) 0 Comments
Mahakala #1 Nile green and tuquoise always give me red streaks and patches because of the reduction that just naturally happens in my set-up. I really need to swipe hubby's oxygen tank instead, but this is one effect I do like. 400 x 500 px (43 KB) 0 Comments	Mahakala #1 So, I lost track of exactly how many rods of turquoise I used for this baby. I'm pretty sure I used about 2 or 2 1/2 to build up the base and face. Then another one to finish all the flowing rows around it. 500 x 414 px (50 KB) 0 Comments	Mahakala #1 Oh, yeah, and the eyes on this one are pulled upward and outward. Then, I layered the eyebrows on to build up that scowl. 420 x 500 px (44 KB) 0 Comments
Mahakala #2 Yep, this orange one really is #2. Here I tried to make the five skulls in his crown. That's gonna have to wait a while longer, though. I couldn't keep the bead warm all over and the crown cool/stiff enough at the same time to sculpt the ivory blobs. 393 x 500 px (26 KB) 0 Comments	Mahakala #2 The orange streaks came out to play a little in this one. The ivory fangs were meant to make him look ferocious. The four dots represent the energies of pacification, attraction, magnetism, and repulsion. 363 x 500 px (19 KB) 0 Comments	Mahakala #2 Well, if you know me, you know by now that I have a thing for red on orange. Couldn't resist writing his name in red. 434 x 500 px (30 KB) 0 Comments
Mahakala #3 Aha, you get to see the first one! Did him in dark brown. I think he looks incredibly worn. . . which is another thing I like. The brown streaked a bunch in the heat, and even turned gray a few spots. Then I've etched that boy about 3 times so far! 431 x 500 px (35 KB) 0 Comments	Mahakala #3 I had a blast making the crown pieces. None of these look like the Tibetan masks I was inspired by, but this one has the "feel" of a wrathful protector, doesn't he? 369 x 500 px (25 KB) 0 Comments	Peek at Ang's S But, please, don't laugh at the lack of proportion or the assymmetry where symmetry is needed. Bad, but good for me in a couple of ways: Katie and I sat up after the boys went to sleep and colored. It helped me plan the glass versions. It was fun! 500 x 486 px (74 KB) 0 Comments
Mahakala Bloope Hey, I think he's singing the Beatles'. Is that "I Am the Walrus" I hear?? 375 x 500 px (28 KB) 0 Comments	Mahakala Bloope Bead release broke (again). Nowadays, I just keep playing for the practice, just don't go near the top or bottom where the release is breaking. This time it was the top, but I just decided I'd work on funky eyes and eyelids anyway. 375 x 500 px (22 KB) 0 Comments	Mahakala Bloope Well, doesn't he look like a flip-flop from the back? 375 x 500 px (19 KB) 0 Comments
Mahakala Power Group shot. 500 x 375 px (49 KB) 0 Comments	Katie's Mahakal Yes, I'm just a wee bit proud of my 4 1/2 year old daughter's art. She was looking at the same Tibetan Art book as I was when I sketched my blue Mahakala. I love how she captured all the arm in the actual picture. . . and all the waves in his crown. 375 x 500 px (57 KB) 0 Comments	Mahakala #1 wit I wish I could keep this one laying here on the desk, but that's not a good idea. My sketch is on the desk pad, so all I need to do is trim Katie's and tape it down. Remind me to show you the back of my work table sometime-- lots more sketches, etc. 500 x 439 px (70 KB) 0 Comments

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angelinabeadalina's Gallery

Artist: Angelinabeadalina ( )

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Thanks for stopping by to visit with AngelinaBeadalina! I'm really just plain ol' Angie or Ang, but the catchy name does suit me in the sense that I'm a motormouth who loves to play with words almost as much as I love to play with glass! You can find me here at BeadArtists.org, in my Etsy shop, or in my daily blog. You can get links to those places at www.angelinabeadalina.com (click on it above). Please pardon the use of my "official" website as a traffic control signal at the moment-- at least, that's what it makes me think of when I look at it. . . lots of directions to other places where there are updates on a daily basis. Tech-stuff would not be one of those things that I love or that comes naturally to me ;) Well, enough rambling for now, come on in, look around. . . have fun exploring my glass experiments and ideas. Peace, Ang

Angie Garren
Southern Illinois, the Little Egypt
of the MidWest
IL 62848 US
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5223637

Profile Page: http://www.BeadArtists.org/Angelinabeadalina

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Comments

HOLY MOLY!
Naos Glass: WOW! That first mask is HUGE! You go, Girl! ~high-five~
1/5/2007 12:36 AM

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