by Jo Barnes | photos by Leah Gray –
Have you ever discovered something that you instantly fall in love with and it completely captivates you? That happened for local artist Jessica Glover. In fact, you could even say she’s “dotty” about it!
For Jessica, owner of Mystic Mandala, it was mandala stone painting – the art of painting intricate patterns of dots on stones. She not only developed her own mastery of it, but is now teaching and inspiring countless others to learn this unique art form.
“I came across stone painting on Pinterest, and it really appealed to my eye,” shares Jessica. “I started painting stones and eventually made 500 of them. Customers were placing orders and asking if I taught classes. There was a very big reception for this.”
This type of detailed art requires time and patience. Jessica attests to the way it can reduce personal stress. “You need to be centred and patient and allow yourself to breathe. This art calms you down and helps you enjoy your time and being present.”
Initially, Jessica began to create with supplies she could easily access. She collected stones while hiking and used paints she already had in her home. Her enjoyment of the craft increased, and she began to source tools, paints, stencils and ideas further afield. “I sourced out tools through Happy Dotting Company in Australia and later from DIY Mandala Stones, a Vancouver supplier,” relates Jessica.
By 2015, her hobby was gradually transforming into a profitable venture. “I wanted to try to do a market, so I signed up for the Sidney Market,” she says, adding with a smile: “I had made 500 stones. It was a real assembly line!”
Her success at the market and the positive feedback she received was just the kind of nudge she needed to expand her artistic activity. Jessica began hosting home parties and classes at McTavish Academy of Art, and now offers classes at her home studio as well. She teaches groups of up to 12 people, and all supplies are provided including a stone, pattern, tools, paints and clear step-by-step instructions.
Along the way, Jessica has discovered her affinity for teaching others. “I never considered myself as a teacher,” relates Jessica. “I love helping people get to the point of understanding what they’re doing. When they have that ‘aha’ moment, it’s so satisfying.”
The process of mandala stone painting involves many stages. Mandala, a Sanskrit word, means circle and completion. It represents the universe and is used as a guide for meditation and mindfulness. The technique used is pointillism, whereby dots of colour are applied to a surface to eventually create unique and striking geometric patterns. Rather than an artist’s brush, unique dotting tools are used. “You use flat rods that are various sizes and specialized ball-ended dotting tools,” shares Jessica.
It’s precise work, and the length of time to complete a stone can vary. “It usually takes a couple of hours for beginners to do a stone,” says Jessica. “I can do one in a half hour to 45 minutes, but I have done so many.”
Like any art endeavour, it takes practice to master the skills. Sometimes a dot is askew from the pattern or an accidental colour choice is made. It’s all part of the process, as Jessica shares. “You start working on your rock, and sometimes things happen. I don’t say they are mistakes; they are lessons. I relate dot art to life. Life is what you make it; it’s a process.”
As Jessica has discovered, the joy in art can happen during the journey. One unplanned act, such as an unintentional dot of paint, can change the artistic direction and produce something special. “One time I found out that the centre mark I had made was not centred, so there was significant room on one side of the stone and not the other,” she relates. “I started dotting a half crescent in that space. Now, you don’t even notice the mistake. It’s my favourite painted stone.”
Sharing this art with others has meant the opportunity to build community, something she wants to build upon for the future. “I’m passionate about connecting people and community in a positive upbeat place to learn,” she shares. “I want to have a storefront space not only for my own classes on stone painting but for other artists to share their art.”
Stone by stone, person by person, Jessica is building her own skills, those of others, and creating a community of artistic learners. Now that’s connecting the dots.
Those wanting more information or to sign up for a class can visit www.mysticmandala.ca or www.facebook.com/sidneymysticmandala.
