posted on
May 13, 2013 in in art, mandala
You will need some pens (my favorite pens lately are uni-ball signos), a compass and some white paper (I use plain computer paper, but if you are planning to paint your mandala afterwards, I’d suggest using a watercolor paper).
You can begin anywhere in the circle that you’d like. I often start from the center or from an outside edge. Start by making a mark. Experiment with circles, lines, or any other shape.
At this point, you can decide whether you want your Mandala to be symmetrical or not. If you want it to be exactly symmetrical, I suggest using a ruler. I tend to just eye-ball it because I kinda like the symmetrical-but-not-exactly look.
- If you get stuck, look around you for inspiration! Do you see patterns in a wood grain or plant leaf? Use what you see in your design!
- You can also add concentric circles within your circle to help contain aspects of your design.
- If you make a “mistake,” see if you can turn it into a new aspect of your design. Sometimes my mistakes take my designs into whole new unexpected directions that end up being really neat!
- Create shading elements using dots or cross-hatching. This will add lots of texture and interest!
So, that’s about it! Now it’s your turn to give it a try!
I’d love to see what you create! Send me a picture of your Mandala experiments at artasana@gmail.com and I’ll post them here on the blog on Friday.
Happy Mandala Making,
