The Faith Wheel | A Fractal Rendering Project

Sometimes life leads you in circles. Like a spinning top, you may feel as though you're in a maze or circle and can't ever find the opening to escape. How did you get there? The answer is invariably different for each individual. Sometimes it may be intentional. You just need a break for a short time to regroup or decide whether to go in different direction.

Other times, you may just come to a crossroad dealing with whatever you're going through at a certain period in your life. You can't seem to move forward. Indecision or uncertainty about the future can hinder you from taking the next step.

Still, on numerous occasions, it's those outside influences or factors called "stressors" that we allow to tug at our innermost self. The result is conflict we can't resolve due to others' incessant demands on our time and attention.

Life, going through these type of conflicts, is especially troublesome when the outside stressors brought to us concern financial insecurities. In essence, others attempt to make their problems part of your life. Looking for you to find a solution to their problems, while providing less-than-accurate accounting of the issues, is a common occurrence. Their taciturnity is often the result of embarrassment.

Does it suck for others to bring stress into your life? Certainly. But we often succumb to it. Even I've fallen victim on numerous occasions over the years. The most frustrating aspect of it all is when others try to throw darts of guilt straight at your heart.

Many times when I feel the pressures of life or outside influences, I turn to writing or drawing digital images. The calmness of going through the process of creating digital art and figuring out particular designs I want to accomplish tends to block out stressors.

It's during those times I create the most awesome work. Don't know why. It just works out that way.

During a late night drawing session, I produced this digital image that resembled a ferris wheel. Since I was already thinking about life going in circles and outside influences, upon finalizing the design, I decided that The Faith Wheel would be an appropriate name.

I imagined other individuals on a even path in their lives. They're already in their life circle, making their way through.

I created this Faith Wheel digital art project in Apophysis 2.09. The design is a fractal. A fractal is a complex mathematical algorithm that creates geometric patterns. What this means for digital art is that the algorithms are visual representations of the equations.

After finishing my fractal, I decided to add some feelings to the design by utilizing filters to represent various stages of a life cycle.

The second phase is going smoothly until suddenly you encounter an obstacle. It can be a number of different stressors, both internal and external. You attempt to maneuver through them. It takes time to decide on the appropriate actions to be taken to resolve the conflicts.

Numerous scenarios and options for resolution are tossed your way. Do you consider all or just settle on the ones with the quickest resolution. Do you give in to the pressure of outside stressors just to alleviate the situation? Choices are what guides us to consider our own self interest first or those of others. Depending upon the situation, it's an individual decision. In life, the needs of others may require you to consider other alternatives. The wheels are turning for a solution. No one else can decide for you.

I've often found that some resolutions to issues seem immediately clear and apparent, while others are hazy and full of unforeseen and unintended consequences. Many times I've doubted my decisions.

The favorable outcome I desire sometimes burns bright within my thoughts. The resolutions may make sense to me, but when presented to others, they make me doubt my sanity for even considering such a wild idea. Oh well, back to the drawing board for other options.

When all is said and done, I've found that what makes sense to me in my gut feeling is usually what's for the best. The solution will shine through. Others may attempt to cloud my own judgement with agendas of their own. Usually after careful consideration of how my decisions with affect all concerned. I usually make the correct ones.

It's only been a few times my judgement has completely failed me. But then I remember what my mom used to tell me..."Everyone deserves an equal chance. Don't let one fool ruin it for others."

What I have found in my life cycle is that there will be ebbs and flows. There will be sadness and gladness. There will be disappointments and gratifications.

I try to make keep the disappointments to a minimum by acknowledging others' strengths and weaknesses and not get caught up in their ferris wheels of life.

I have faith in my convictions.