Sep 1st, 2022
Art Retreat in Hawaii!
"Art From the Heart"Visionary Art Intensive with Vajra
Come paint in paradise with Vajra. In this week-long retreat, students of all levels will gain valuable insight and develop their technical skills as artists. The intensive is broken down into three parts.
During the first three days, we will explore abstraction as a means of storytelling. Starting with decalcomania, we will begin focusing on light, color and texture, without expectation or symbolism. Students are encouraged to “see” something in the chaos of paint and pull a narrative out of the abstract potential of their canvas, solidifying the story with their brushes. This approach to painting is easily accessible to all, as it doesn’t really require drawing skills, just imagination.
The next three days will focus more on refining technical skills. The purpose of this chapter is to learn how to bring your visions to life. It begins with an illustrated PowerPoint presentation where Vajra will explain his entire process, from conceptualizing a project through finishing touches. We’ll then begin as a class, working on an approachable, but elegant design. Vajra will provide the board and drawing so that we can all learn together and follow along as he demonstrates how to make a painting in his unique style. Students are encouraged to follow along, as the skills demonstrated will help you on whatever you wish to paint in the future.
Classes are from 11am to 7pm for the first six days, but Vajra will be available until 10pm for students wishing to paint longer. Then on the final day we’ll paint from 11am-5pm, concluding with something special.
During our last day together, Vajra will answer any remaining questions, then we’ll spend the afternoon finishing up what we can in the time we have together. Later, we’ll complete our journey with an open house! Hawaiian Sanctuary will open its doors to the community for a special Bee Dance featuring Imagika Om and special guest. Students are invited to showcase the art they created during the workshop and paint live if so called, or just dance and have fun ;)
Materials will be provided, but students are encouraged to bring their favorite paints and brushes.
The intensive is November 12th-18th at Hawaiian Sanctuary in Pahoa, HI, a gorgeous permaculture and community center. The price is $1,444 and includes double-bunked cabin accommodations with queen beds, fridge, and bathroom. Single rooms, with fridge and shared bathroom available for an additional fee.
All guests have access to free yoga each day from 9-10:30am (donations accepted) as well as a full gym and spa with hot-tub and sauna 24 hours a day.
Vegan lunch (12:30pm) and vegetarian breakfast (8:30am -no dairy, but eggs from the free-roaming happy hens of the property) available for $10 each, pay as you go.
Early bird registration open $1222 until October 7th. Kama’āina rates available - message for details. Pahoa town and markets are less than a ten minute drive away. Class size limited and intimate, with lots of time for one-on-one instruction and mentoring. Registration closes October 29th, reserve your spot today!
Check in is at 2pm and onwards on Friday, November 11th, allowing you time to settle in before the retreat, or explore or shop if you want to. Checkout is 11am Saturday the 19th (day after the workshop)
here is the link to buy your spot today!
https://shop.altaroftheheart.com/products/early-bird-registration-art-from-the-heart-visionary-art-retreat?utm_source=copyToPasteBoard&utm_medium=product-links&utm_content=web
Jun 20th, 2020
Mighty Pan
A year ago today my cat Pandora passed on to whatever happens next. She passed laying on my chest, looking into my loving eyes on Summer solstice; I always called her my solar kitty, so this made sense in a very special way. She was my studio cat extraordinaire, always on my lap while I worked, purring and rolling about cozily. She was a huge inspiration and joy every day and I will hold her forever in my heart.Pandora inspired my first painting ever, pictured in my gallery “Pandora’s box.
She came from the pound where someone had “night dropped” her. I have no idea what her history was but the first few days after coming home, she hid in a hamper. As I worked on the drawing “Pathfinder” she hopped out, meowed at me once in a tiny voice and hopped next to me on the couch, curled and purred.
In the ten years I knew her she transformed from a timid little kitty afraid of flies into a mighty boss of a cat who once tried hunting a four-foot rattlesnake. Here is a painting I made in the three days after her passing called “Mighty Pan” based on a photo of her looking rather boss in my former studio.
If you’re thinking about getting an animal companion, please consider adopting a shelter pet, she was the best friend I could ever have hoped for. Thanks Pan, for every moment we shared, every purr, all the fur and joy and laughter. Forever and ever in my heart.
“Mighty Pan ” <3<3<3
2019 Acrylic on wood 16”x20” ~ collection of the artist
May 1st, 2020
vajra now offering online private art lessons
Early this year, Vajra began offering in-depth art lessons through ZOOM, in these classes he’s able to demonstrate valuable techniques, critique, and “work on” student’s paintings through screen sharing and photoshop, and answer any questions you may have as your own private art instructor.Students will receive recordings of their sessions to be able to refer to again and again, a 5 hour video presentation, as well as a 30+ page document Vajra created that explains not only how, but why he paints, conveying both technical skills and philosophy.
Click here to the conversation or sign up
Apr 30th, 2020
Pins, Puzzles & new products available through MANYVISIONS
Vajra has teamed up with Many Visions Apparel to create a whole new line of products featuring, pins, puzzles, pant’s jackets and moreClick this link to see what they have to offer
Apr 1st, 2020
Covid Care
HI Ya'll my wife and I are both performers who depend on live events for our livelihood. Since we all are on hiatus while the coronavirus does it's thing, and all support would be greatly appreciated. You can of course just shop my site for some artwork, but if you feel like contributing to our cause, you can do so hereThere's a number of rewards for different levels of support including some original paintings I made just for the times. Thank you, much love,
Vajra and Imagika
Mar 17th, 2020
Oddcast Podcast: The art of Magic
My friend Tom Foolishness recently interviewed me on his podcast "Oddcast"Click here to listen to me ramble about art and magic, LOL
Mar 15th, 2020
OptiMystic
Over the last year, I've been blessed to serve the role of the visionary art coordinator on Optimystic - a consciousness themed talk show featuring a different visionary artist at the beginning of every episode.It was on the pilot, linked below, that I met my wife Imagika Om. We got married in the same house the show is filmed at ~ Mystic Manor. The show is super fun and features some amazing art, speakers and music. Check it out!
here is just the excerpt of me talking about my painting "allegory of the cave" which is what the show is all about - sharing your truth no matter how crazy you might seem ;)
Here is my beautiful wife, Imagika Om, performing her song "Dreams are real" on the night we fell in love and her song came true.
and Here is a link to the full episode
Dec 5th, 2019
Thomas Fire Update
On December 5th of 2018 I lost my home, studio and many of my original paintings in the Thomas fire. It's been a year now since the event.My partner at the time, Sarah, and I barely escaped with our lives and pets.
Adapting was difficult and in many ways I still have yet to recover.
if you would like to contribute to my gofundme, you can click here
I took this as an opportunity to restructure and rebuild my life better than before. Since then, many amazing things have happened, and I've recreated many of the lost paintings using ash from my former home mixed in.
Life is truly amazing, sometimes, hard, sometimes beautiful, but always worth it.