Moon, Stars, Trees, Doug Stanley
Moon, Stars, Trees, Doug Stanley
Blue Heron Eye, Marc Anderson
Wildlife Waterways, Marc Anderson, Indy Do Day, Indianapolis, IN
Blue Herron Beak, Marc Anderson
1341 W 29th St
indianapolis, IN 46208
United States
This image was taken when the mural was being created during Indy Do Day in 2016. The mural was painted on a wall facing west on a company called "Go Green Auto Recycling."
The Harmony Mural, Yellow
Jamie Locke is best known for her intricate, hand-carved mandalas—pieces she creates on everything from wood and metal to glass and leather. She’s a self-taught artist, and one of the things that seems to drive her most is simply the need to make things. To see an idea in her head and somehow coax it into the real world.
That process doesn’t always go exactly as planned. In fact, that’s part of the fun.
Jamie loves experimenting with different tools, materials, and techniques, knowing that a piece can take an unexpected turn somewhere along the way. Sometimes the original idea gets completely reworked, and somehow the finished piece ends up being better for it. As she puts it, “For me, the process of creating a mandala is always one of inspired revelation, elemental surprise, and pure bliss.”
Whether she’s carving, drawing, or painting, Jamie’s hope is pretty simple: to put something positive into the world. Her work is meant to inspire, encourage, and hopefully lift someone’s spirits—even if just for a moment. Much of what she creates is one-of-a-kind work made specifically for individual clients.
Visitors are welcome at Jamie’s studio by appointment. To arrange a visit, contact [email protected].
From Mehndi to Mandalas
My journey with mandalas started back in 2007, although I certainly didn’t have some grand master plan mapped out at the time. I was a self-taught artist who loved trying different things, and I became fascinated by the traditional Indian art of mehndi and its intricate designs.
At first, I worked with henna on skin. Then came ink on paper. Eventually, I started carving those intricate patterns into wood, metal, glass, and stone with a handheld rotary tool. And once I discovered I could actually carve all of these materials, well... I wanted to try everything.
I’m still that way.
Give me a new material and I’ll probably start wondering whether I can carve it. There’s not much I wouldn’t at least attempt to etch or carve, which has gotten me into some interesting creative experiments over the years.
What started as an exploration in 2007 eventually became my full-time career in 2014. Since then, my work has traveled much farther than I ever imagined. My carved mandalas now live in homes, offices, and galleries around the world, and honestly, that still feels a little surreal.
It’s a strange and wonderful thing to spend days—or sometimes much longer—working on a piece and then know that it’s going to become part of someone else’s space and story. I never really get tired of that.
Bringing the Work Into the Community
My work has also taken me beyond individual commissions and into public art here in Indianapolis.
One example is The Harmony Mural, created in partnership with the Department of Public Words, which features my mandala designs along the Monon Trail. More recently, I was part of #IndyAngelWings, a collaborative mural project with artist Megan Jefferson and Indy Mural Fest.
Collaboration has become a particularly meaningful part of my work. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some pretty wonderful organizations and creative partners over the years, including Emmy Award-winning Salt Project, Platform Beer, Dremel, Sun King Brewery, the Indiana Pacers, Monon Skate Co., Bohall Design, Indy Parks Foundation, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, the Indianapolis Arts Council, and Breckenridge Brewery.
Each project brings something different to the table. That’s what I like about it. You never quite know what an idea will become once other people, other perspectives, and a new space get involved.
Ultimately, I want to keep making art that leaves people feeling a little more inspired than they were before they encountered it. If someone purchases one of my pieces and it brings them joy every day, that means a lot to me. The same goes for someone walking past a mural and stopping for a minute to take it in.
Making a living as an artist matters, of course. But I also want to keep finding ways to bring my work into public spaces—through murals, installations, and collaborative projects with other artists. There’s something special about creating work that belongs not just to one person, but to a whole community.
And then there’s teaching.
One of the most rewarding parts of being an artist has been helping other people discover what they’re capable of creating. I love mentoring, encouraging creative growth, and giving people the kind of positive feedback that helps them see what’s working in their own work instead of focusing only on what they think they did wrong.
Sometimes people just need someone to say, “Keep going. There’s something here.”
I’m fortunate that my own creative journey has given me the skills and experience to help others find that spark. If I can encourage someone to pick up a tool, try a new technique, make a mess, start over, and eventually create something they’re proud of—that’s a pretty good reason to keep doing what I do.
https://www.jamielockeart.com/
Kurt Vonnegut, Indianapolis, IN
Monon Love Train, Green Wall
46220
United States
Irvington Seasons, Morning Fall
In Indianapolis, IN, there is a large mural located at the Irvington Flea Market at 6301 E Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46219. It can be tricky to find, since the mural is on the back side of the building, facing the Pennsy walk and bike trail. The mural was created by Doug Stanley in 2011 for the SuperBowl mural program called "46 for XLVI".
The mural delivers a panorama of flora and fauna that features four seasons in an Indiana landscape. The art pays tribute to the Pennsylvania Railroad system that used to run next to the spot where the mural is located. The tracks of the railroad wind through each section of the mural to connect the natural beauty of Irvington’s tree-line streets with its storied history.