Instagram: @conceptualmandalas & @joelasherart
Joel grew up a free-range adolescence in the hills near The Dalles, just an hour drive east of Portland, Oregon. He is a 10-year veteran, honorably discharged by choice after serving as a Navy helicopter search and rescue swimmer, including: 3 deployments and 3 years as an instructor for extremely physical and mentally challenging curricula.
In 2010, he applied to The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. The college is known for its uniqueness and ability to provide a pathway for students to create individualized learning curricula with a designated sponsor. This unique learning path focused on self-knowledge and community building; exploring cultural and environmental relationships within sustainable communities.
Joel joined the Graduate Program for Leadership and Change at Antioch University in Seattle, Washington and completed an MA in Environment and Community in 2016. Inspired to learn complex adaptive systems, he began illustrating theories and references into visually stunning mandalas.
Besides private commissions and unique artwork, he performs consulting for various land projects, including the Pacific Northwest (Oregon & Washington), Portugal and south Brasil. He specializes in Natural Bioregional Building, Agroforestry, Biodynamic Agriculture, Permaculture and soil reclamation techniques.
Joel is an emerging artist that artistic exploration with the 0.5 mm mechanical pencil, eraser, ruler and compass. He enjoys camping, old growth forests, reading and tending whatever land and community he visits and keeping his Portuguese fluent through meaningful conversations.
Please visit my FAVORITE ARTISTS page.
Conceptual Mandalas 