Mandalas
What is a Mandala?
In Sanskrit 'Mandala' means a circle, it is often made up of geometric shapes which repeat and radiate out from the centre. In Hinduism and Buddhism the symbols represent the universe, mandalas are also found in many different cultures and in nature.
You will need:
Nature Mandalas
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Natural materials such as leaves, twigs and flowers
Mandala Drawing
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Paper
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Ruler
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Pens or pencils
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Compass or plates to draw round
Method
Nature Mandala
1. Collect an assortment of different leaves, twigs, flowers and small stones.
2. Choose whether to work outdoors on a paving slab, or indoors on piece of paper or card. If working outdoors, avoid windy days and be sure to take a photo of your completed work, before it disappears!
3. Starting from the centre of your design, arrange some leaves, twigs or flowers in a circular design.
4. Continue to build the design outwards symmetrically until you feel it is complete.
5. Photograph all finished work, as it may not survive for long. Designs done indoors on paper or card could be glued down and pressed flat with a pile of heavy books, to enable it to be preserved.
Try a spiral design, starting from the centre and going outwards (see the centre image below). These mandalas were all done outside on a paving stone, though they could be done on grass or another surface.
Method
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Simple Freehand Mandala
1. In pen or pencil, mark the centre of the page of a square piece of paper.
2. Draw a simple shape in the centre, such as a small flower, cross, square, diamond or circle. (see photo opposite for centre shape ideas).
3. Draw around the first shape, slowly and carefully with a pattern that continues all the way round, (see photo opposite for pattern ideas).
4. Keep adding small patterns that circle around the previous one, slowly building up the mandala with lots of decorative detail, until you reach the edges of the paper.
Geometric Mandala
1. In pencil, using either a plate to draw round, or a compass, draw a large circle on a square piece of paper.
2. Draw several smaller circles inside the large one.
3. Draw diagonal lines from corner to corner across the circles.
4. Draw horizontal and vertical lines that cut through the centre of the design.
5. Start drawing a shape from the centre, using the points where the lines cross, and repeat this shape on the opposite side and all the way round.
6. Continue to build up different shapes, working out from the centre to the edge of the design, keeping the design symmetrical.
7. Use a felt tip pen or marker pen to go over the shapes, then rub out the original pencil lines.
8. Colour your design, again starting from the centre and working outwards, taking care to use the colours symmetrically.
Further Activities
Research Mandalas found in different cultures:
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Buddhism - Tibetan sand mandalas
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Hinduism - Yantras
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Christianity - stained glass rose windows
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Celtic spirals and knot work
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Native American sand paintings
Look for Mandalas in nature, such as flowers, some plants and shells.
To display your finished work on the online gallery please send a named photo to artclubioanna@gmail.com
