~ Goddess 2000 Project ~

Merry Meet and Welcome to the Fun!
You can think of this as "Sacred Play" celebrating the Goddess' Life Force manifesting in You, and in all the others who work on your Panel. This is a fun and easy way to get the whole community involved in celebrating the Goddess and Nature. Pagan Gatherings are a terrific place to make these Panels of the Goddess.

Panels can be made by a single person, a family, a coven or by many people at a Gathering. No matter what your Panel is going to become; there are a few simple steps to start with that will insure that it will last for a long time.

A number of Panels can be hinged together to make a "Portable Temple Space", or folding Goddess Screens, or a permanent backdrop for Coven or personal Rituals.

Want to build Pagan Community? Hosting a Panel at a local Pagan Gathering is a wonderful way to build community and give back to others. The cost would be for wood, paints and any other materials you want to use, but it doesn't cost much, especially if 2 or 3 people host the panel together. Tell gathering organizers that you want to hold a G2000 Panel Project at their festival, most of them will be delighted. You will also connect with other pagans in a really magical and powerful way as you share this experience of making a Panel.

Getting Started:

The first think is to get your basic Panel material. It can be either Plywood, or Masonite. If you are making a "brace" for your Panel, it should be on all sides, and be equal to or just slightly smaller than the Panel you are making. Do not worry about what you will paint yet; just start by making the Panel strong and solid.

Using Plywood:

Plywood works well for Panels, it is cheap, strong and can be easily hammered into. If you use wood strips on all edges and down middle and across center you can use plywood as light as 1/4" thickness, but 5/8 or 1/2 inch is better. Panels can be made without wood slat bracing, but they may twist or warp.

Using Masonite:

If you use Masonite, you must use wood strips for strength and to keep your Panel from warping or cracking. Paint on the "rough" side of the masonite, it will hold the paint much better than the smooth side. Screw wood strips (3/4 to 1" thick) flush with edge or up to 1 inch from edge of masonite on all four sides.

Tools:

Hammer
Screwdriver
Paint brushes
Saw (optional)

Materials:

4x8ft sheet of 1/2 or 5/8 inch Plywood or Masonite (thinner)
or 4x4ft sheet of 1/2 or 5/8 inch Plywood or Masonite (1/2 sheet)
Wood strips for bracing, 1x1 is good (optional)
Hinges (if you are making multiple panels)
Gesso or paint for priming wood
Paint, Magic Marker, Chalk Pastels, (spray lacquer for chalks)
Nails or screws
Containers for water or paint thinner

Other Materials you may want to use:

glitter, leaves, beads, glass bits, broken pottery shards,
cement, plaster, glue, fabric, wooden branches, found objects etc.
cut out wood shapes, sponges or stamps.

Preparing Panel:

Nail or screw the strips to the backside of your Panel, making sure that the points do not come through the face of the Panel. Place wood strips (3/4 to 1" thick) flush with edge or up to 1 inch from edge of the Panel on all four sides. This will keep the Panel from warping. Panels can also be cut in the shape of a Goddess or GreenMan, please see Goddess Wall Art for "How To" do this. Backing strips will have to be adjusted for shape. There are also some great ideas at the Goddess 2000 Project "How To" webpage at www.spiralgoddess.com/HowTo.html

Hinges:

If you are planning to do multiple Panels add the hinges now, screw them into the stripping. Be sure to measure carefully when putting hinges on second Panel and all additional Panels. Also be sure to check that will swing in the right direction. I recommend hinges that can be easily separated by lifting Panel.

Prime Panel:

Before you begin decorating the Panel give it a solid undercoat of Gesso, primer, white paint, black paint or other color. Gesso and primer work best to make sure that nothing in the wood seeps through the paint, but paint is Ok too. *You can use either oil or latex paints, but if you use latex, you will not be able to do the artwork in oil paint. Prime the Panel with the kind of paint you plan to use for the Panel's artwork.
Oil over oil, latex over latex.

If you are planning to transport the Panel, like to a festival or gathering Latex is recommended because it dries fast, has few fumes, and cleans up easily with water. It is also safer for people of all ages to work with.

Setup for Festivals:

Panels can be laid on the ground or propped up against a tree for people to paint on them. Stakes can also be put on back of Panel and they can be hammered into the ground. Paints and other materials work well laid out on a large sheet or other piece of fabric. Paint can be in paper cups, but make sure they are covered so paint doesn't dry out too fast. Assemble as many materials as you can and let people figure out creative ways to use them.

Paints:

For making Panels at festivals you will need at least one brush for each color. You can use acrylic paints in cans or tubes. This can be done cheaply by buying a few colors (Red Green, Blue Yellow, White and Black) and adding pigment tints to get other colors. Or by mixing colors together. These colors can be mixed in paper cups or old cans. * If you are using latex paints, keep paint out of direct sun and covered with saran wrap or foil so they don't dry out.

red & yellow = golden to orange a little yellow makes red "hotter"
red & blue = violet to purple the more blue, the "cooler" the color
red & white = pink
red & green = brown to muted greens
blue & yellow = green
blue & green = teal to turquoise
blue & white = sky blue
blue & brown = dark browns to black
white lightens all colors, but cuts down intensity
black darkens colors but can get "muddy" if you use too much.

If you have any old makeup around, this is great for using like paint. If you use lipstick, it should be rubbed in really well and coated with spray varnish. Old eye-shadow can add shimmer and interesting colors and shading. It can also be mixed with paint sand used that way.

Chalks, pastels, crayons and markers can be an inexpensive alternative, but you must spray them with several 4 to 5 layers of lacquer to make sure they don't rub off. I prefer paint myself, but crayons markers, and chalks can be great fun. Oxides like red ochre and iron oxide can be mixed into paint, so can earth, plant juices, and other organic materials to create an "earthy" look and feel. Oxides can be purchased from paint stores or any pottery supply company.

Sponges & Stamps:

Goddess or Nature shapes can be cut out of cheap sponges with regular scissors. These are great for dipping in paint and pressing on Panel to make a border or recurring image. Rinse sponges thoroughly before using for a different color paint. Stamps can be made by using a pairing knife to cut Florist Foam. These Stamps hold a crisp edge and are good for things like spirals, pentacles, leaves, Goddesses etc.

Patterns or Stencils:

Patterns can be made easily by drawing or tracing a design onto newspaper and cutting it out, then tape the pattern to the panel and trace around the outside with a pencil. If you want to make a regular shape that is the same on the right and left, fold the paper in half, then on the fold, draw 1/2 the design lengthwise, cut the folded paper, and when you open, your pattern will be perfectly balanced and symmetrical.

Stencils can be made by using an exacto-knife, pairing knife or an athame if you like. Draw your design on an empty file folder, or thin sheet of soft plastic or cardboard. Cut the design out, (remember you want the hole shape to be perfect, so cut toward the center of the whole, not outward, it could damage your edge.) Place Stencil on Panel and use a small sponge or brush to "dab" color onto Panel inside the cutout area.

Be Creative:

Dare to do what your imagination suggests to you. Don't worry about whether or not it is a "crazy idea". Just Do It ! Have fun with this, the more fun you have the better it will turn out. You may surprise yourself! Think of this as "Sacred Play" it celebrates the Goddess' Life Force as it manifests in you!

Panel Themes:

There are many good approaches to designing Panels. You can make a Panel dedicated to a specific Goddess or God, a Season or Pagan Holiday, the Elements, Peace, Animals, Mysteries, The Earth, Oceans Mother, Trees, or almost anything you can think of ! Panels can also represent stories of the Goddess, Maid-Mother-Crone, Rituals under the Full Moon, a Crone's Journey or Inanna's Return. You can paint a Night Sky Panel and get everyone to add stars and comets.

General "Goddess Panels" or "GreenMan Panels" are probably best for Festivals, especially if you are only doing one Panel there, since it will be less intimidating for most people if they feel free to add what is special to them.

Stained Glass Panels:

Wonderful "stained glass" Panels can be made easily by drawing the design on a white painted Panel with pencil and then going over the lines with a "Wide Black Magic Marker". Make sure that the design is "open" enough to still look good after the wide marker line is added. Then let people choose the color paint they want to use to fill in each section of the design, leaving the black marker lines visible. You can go over the black marker lines with black paint if you like. The result will be beautiful and most people feel confident enough to "color inside the lines".

Can you imagine how beautiful it would be to a Stained Glass Panel for each of the Elements? These would be great to use for marking the Quarters for ritual circles. Whatever you decide, be prepared to accept any change in direction the Panel may take as it takes on a life of its own. Art is an organic, fluid process . . . let it be! Trust the Goddess.

3D Panels & Layers:

You can also cut out shapes out of plywood with a Jigsaw and nail them onto the Panel before you prime it. These can be goddess shapes, leaves, animals, stars, or whatever. If you plan on using these you will want to design the Panel's artwork before nailing the pieces to the Panel. Or for Panels that will be painted at Festivals or Gathering, just place the cutouts on the panel in a random fashion and trust that what should happen will happen. If you like you can spackle around the edges of the cutouts. See www.spiralgoddess.com/WallArt.html for more instructions. Branches can be nailed onto the Panel, Plaster can be added and formed into spirals or pentacles, spackle can be used for texturing the surface in places, so can Bondo or caulking compound. Fabric can also be glued or stapled onto the surface of the Panel and then painted.

Kids' Panels:

If you are hosting a Goddess Panel at a gathering, it would be a nice idea to have a Panel "just for kids". This would be a real fun thing for them and it would be a place for them to let their creativity go wild. Of course kids can also paint on the regular Panels too. Do not leave kids under 5 alone with the paint, because they might try to eat it, so watch them or see that they are supervised, not in what they paint, but in what they eat.

Working with People:

If you are hosting the panel making for your coven or any group, remember that people are more important than things and that everyone has something to contribute. Try to relax and don't be controlling about what people do. The act of working on something like this brings out the best in people, trust them. The diversity of ideas, color sense and skill levels will only add richness and life to your Panel.

Not Judging Others' Contribution:

Many people lack confidence in their artistic abilities, help them to see that you need their energy and ideas added to the Panel. Try to encourage rather than direct. Support rather than criticize. Go with the flow rather than trying to get others to conform to your vision. Half the magic of the Panels in their creation, the more relaxed the process is, the better your Panel will be. Trust the Goddess to guide you all in celebrating Her.

Designing a Panel:

A few moments spent doing a small ritual or meditation before you design your Panel will ground you and upon you up to inspiration. In your ritual focus on asking for Inspiration and insight. Surrender you ego & expectations and let the Goddess work through you, and with you. Open your mind to all possibilities and ask your body to help you manifest the energies that will flow through you. Affirm to yourself, that you are the hands of the Goddess, as are many others. Accept this and let you hands have the freedom to express themselves, unshackled by your expectations. Then relax and begin the Sacred Play and the designs will come. When they do come, make small rough sketches and notes to yourself so that you will be able to recall them clearly later.

When you feel you have finished, walk away for a little while and let the designs and energies roll around and percolate in your mind. In a few hours or a few days, go back to the designs, make any major changes you want and begin to draw your design on the primed Panel with a pencil. Once that is finished, you are ready to paint, add 3D elements or texture. Remember the less texture or raised elements you use, the easier it will be to carry the Panels around for Rituals without damaging them.

Letting a Panel grow Organically:

Even after you have drawn a design on your Panel, be flexible, let it grow, and change. All things evolve and grow from their original form to something even more powerful, especially Art!

Using the Panels:

The Panels can be used to decorate your home, Coven ritual space, gardens, or local metaphysical shops. They can also be used to raise awareness at local mainstream functions.

The Panels can be used at Hand-fastings or weddings, Rites of passage and funerals in the Pagan community. Panels can also be brought year after year to pagan Gatherings. Imagine a festival with dozens of Goddess Panels set up around the area, all different, all wonderful! The Panels can also be used and displayed as symbols of Pagan Unity on any number of occasions for both celebration and grieving. I like to think of the Panels as "Windows on the Goddess."

Building for the Future:

When you make a Goddess Panel you are creating a permanent piece of Goddess Art that will last well into the future with a minimum of care. Over time your Panel will most probably be used for numerous Rituals, Pagan celebrations, holidays, or Goddess Theater productions.

The more open you are in making your Panel available to the community, the more it will be used in sacred ways. However it is used, your will inspire other Pagans and feed their spirits.

The "Right Way" to Do It:

There is No one right way! Art grows in many forms. The freedom you can help others experience in expressing themselves though working on a Panel will result in an authentic tribute to the Goddess. Some Panels will be very "slick and professional" others will be more eclectic and exuberant, some will contain poetry or blessings, some will hang together better than others will, but ALL of them will be wonderful bits of Goddess Culture! Trust the process and it will go smoothly.

If you have specific questions please send them to WillowWebs@aol.com

"Remember, make an effort to remember....and failing that, invent"
Monique Wittig

The ~Goddess 2000 Project~ is coordinator for a Grass-roots Pagan Community effort. Our function is solely to facilitate communication between local Pagans, celebrations, and community events marking the coming millenia. We aid in this process by providing contact lists, information relating to organization, artistic ideas and by provoiding a central point of contact for shared ideas and a clearing house of relevant information.
We bear no liability for the the actions of individuals, celebrations or events scheduled within the Pagan community, or any injuries or harm resulting from same. Coordinators, contact persons and participants agree to hold the Goddess 2000 Project, and its Sponsors blameless for harm or injury which may occur as a result of their participation in this project.
The right to use the name ~Goddess 2000 Project~ by any group or individual, or in association with any event is at our sole discretion, and may be revolked if we deem conduct is improper in any way, or does not conform with the stated purpose of the ~Goddess 2000 Project~. No products of any kind may use this name or the Logo of the ~Goddess 2000 Project~, or in anyway imply endorsement by the Project.