I never was a hippie. I just looked like one. I began painting mandalas (magic circles) during my final year as a graduate student, in 1967. I painted them exclusively until the mid 1980’s. At that time I had the internal need to become involved with other forms of imagery, both figures and landscape. In 2006 Jenny and I visited the Turkish Republic. I saw a great deal of tile work and rugs that renewed my interest in geometry and inspired me to return to the art of the mandala, though when the spirit moves me I still paint figures and landscapes. I call my work "Art of the Mandala" because though it is spiritual-based, it's about color, composition, and a sense that I've created a space using the universal symbol of a circle. Through my history of painting I've always followed the spiritual wisdom of John Gruenwald: What's the difference between an artist and a dog? Eventually, the dog stops whining.

© 2016 by Henry Sultan