Joy Pompeo

Joy Pompeo creates intricate mandalas using acrylic on canvas. All of her mandalas are painted freehand, beginning in the center and moving outward. She does not plan out the design in advance, but paints one new detail and recreates that detail in a circular motion until the circle is complete. Then she begins again, focusing only on one movement, repeatedly, until the next layer has been added. Many of the more complicated shapes you see in her mandalas are made up of several rounds of the more simple shapes. Joy uses this method because it focuses her mind and allows her to meditate while she paints. "Painting mandalas is my favorite form of meditation. Sometimes I paint them in silence but it's even better if I am listening to a song on repeat that really resonates with my mood. The repetition of sound makes the experience so much richer. I also love getting lost while looking at mandalas, clearing my mind and focusing on the present moment. It gives me a strong feeling of connection to life. I hope others find the same feeling of connection when they look at my artwork."