creating mandalas: how to draw and design zendala art
TRANSCRIPT
CreatingMandalas
HowtoDrawandDesignZendalaArt
DeborahA.Pacé,CZT
Cincinnati,Ohiowww.createmixedmedia.com
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Contents
SpecialOffers
Introduction
Chapter1
GettingStartedSupplies
WhatIsaMandala?
HowtoCreateaMandala
OtherWaystoMakeaMandala
Chapter2
TypesofMandalasBoldandDramatic
LightandAiry
Colorful
Whimsical
Freeform
Chapter3
BasicMandalaProjectsRiverFlower
Cobblestones
Untitled
Shutes&Ladders
Terra-Cotta
TestPattern
ButterflyCocoon
Chapter4
AdvancedDesignsButterflyCocoon
FerrisWheel
DreamCatcher
Holli
Kaleidoscope
RadioFrequency
CubeSquared
SunFlower
BaliPods
Chapter5
MandalaTemplatesStraightandCurvyCombo
StarPower
TonsofTurns
CropCircleSwirl
Chapter6
GettingCreativeSnowflakes
Stencils
Spirograph
HalfandHalf
IlluminatedLetterd
Chapter7
Gallery
AbouttheAuthor
Acknowledgments
WhatYouNeed
Generalsupplies:Coloredcard:gray,navyblue,tan,white,blackCompassErasersGoldleafGoldmetallicgelpenMountingadhesive,doublesidedPaper,bristol,6 ⁄ "(17cm)squarePapertapePencils,no.2Pens,PigmaMicron01(.25mm)and08(.5mm)blackRulerSakuraGellyRollpen,whiteScissorsSpirographStenciltemplateblanksTracingpaperWhitechalkpencilOptionalsupplies:BonefolderCraftknifeGluestickPermanentmarkerProtractorStencilcutterWatercolorpaintbrush
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Watercolorpencils
Introduction
Theartofmakingmandalasislessaboutdrawingandmoreaboutslowingdownandopeninguptoyourinnercreativeflow.Youdonothavetobeanartist.Thereisnoneedtoknowhowtodraw.Allyouneedtomakeamandaladrawingaresomesimpleeverydaytoolsandalittleeffort.Canyoucreateacircleusingacompassandpencil?Canyoudrawaline?Canyourepeatpatterns?Thenyoucancreateyourownmandalas.
cancreateyourownmandalas.Itisimportanttohavefunandnottostresswhencreatingyourmandalas.
Beautifulmandalasareformedwhenwejustgowiththeflowandletthepatternshappen.Ifyoumakeamistake,sowhat?Learntoincorporateitintoyourdesign,givingyourdesigncharacter.HappyaccidentsareinsomeofthemandalasthatIhavecreated,butyoudonotseethembecauseinsteadofstressingoverit,Ijustincorporatedthemintomydesigns,sometimesintentionallyrepeatingthatlittlehappyaccident.WhatdidIget?Anunexpecteddesignthatworked.Ifyouworrythatyourlinesarenotexactlystraight,oryourcirclesarenotperfectlyroundorallthesamesize,youwillnotenjoymakingyourmandala.Letgoandseewhathappens.Youmightbesurprised.Inthisbookyouwilllearnthebasicstepstocreateamandalaandhowto
makeyourmandalasuniquelyyou.Throughprojectsbasedonmyowndesigns,Iwillshowyoustep-by-stephowtocreatedifferentmandalas,andyoucangiveitatryonpracticepagesthatarerightinthebook.TherearealsomanytemplatesyoucantryandagalleryofmandalasIhavedrawntoinspireyou.Youwilllearnhowtoaddcolortothem,howtofindshapesanddesignsthatareallaroundyou,andmostimportantly,Ihope,youwilllearnhowtorelaxandjustletyourselfplay.Asyoucreateyourmandalas,youwillbuildconfidenceanddevelopyour
ownuniquecreativevoice.IhopeyoufallinlovewithmandalasasIhave,butmostofall,Ijustwantyoutohavefunandenjoytheprocessofmakingthesepersonallittleworksofart.—Deborah
Chapter1
GettingStarted
Mandalasarecreatedfromthecenterout,whetheritiswithadotorcircle.Thesubstrateyoudrawyourmandalaonisusuallywhitepaper,drawnuponwithblackinkorpen.However,thatbeingsaid,asyoubecomemorefamiliarwithcreatingmandalas,youcanstarttoexploreandgobeyondtheusual.Mandalasareeasytodraw.Withalittlebitofimaginationandpractice,youcantakeyour
areeasytodraw.Withalittlebitofimaginationandpractice,youcantakeyourmandalastoanylevelthatiscomfortableforyou.Theycanbeassimpleasacoupleoflines,circlesandpatterns,orcomplex,withfinelines,aseriesofconcentriccirclesanddetailedpatterns.Yourmandalasareanexpressionofyou,soremember,whateveryouchoosetodo,enjoytheprocess.
Supplies
No.2pencils—Ano.2pencilisbesttoworkwithwhendrawinglineswithapencil.Itiseasilyerasable;youcanmakefaintpencillinesandstillseeyourlines.Itdoesnotleaveamarkonyourpaperlikesomeoftheharderleadsdo.IhaveafavoritewoodlessgraphitepencilthatIliketouse.IthasajeweltipthatmakesmehappyeverytimeIuseit.
Erasers—IhaveseveralerasersIliketouse,madebyFaber-Castell,StaedtlerandPentel.Inmyopiniontheyallworkequallywell,butIdotendtofavortheFaber-Castell.TheFaber-Castellisdust-freeanderasescleanly.It’samatterofpreference.
PigmaMicronpens01(.25mm)and08(.5mm)inblack—WhyPigmaMicronpens?Becausetheyarepermanentandtheydonotbleed.Evenwhenyouusethelarge-tip(.5mm)pentodarkenasection,itdoesnotbleedthrough.IlikethisbecauseIdonothavetoworryaboutputtinganotherpieceofpaperunderneathmyproject.IfIusepencillines,Icanerasethemwithoutworryofsmearingtheink.
PigmaMicronpens01(.25mm)and08(.5mm)inblueandbrown—AswiththeblackPigmaMicronpens,thecoloredpensarepermanent,donotbleedandhavethesamegoodcoverage.
SakuraGellyRollpeninwhite—Thispenisexcellentwhendrawingonblackordarkpapers.Thewhiteinkshowsupwell.Youcangetafineorheavylinewiththispen,dependingonthepressureyouapplywhendrawing.
PaperTheskyisthelimit!InthisbookIusebristolpaper,cardstock,scrapbookingpaperandtracingpaper.Butyoucanuseanypaperyouwanttouseorthatyouhaveonhand.
Strathmorebristolpaperpad(vellumsurface)—Iusethisbecauseofthesmoothnessofthepaper.Ihave,however,usedStrathmoresmoothbristolpaper.
Ithasalittlemoretexture,butbothworkequallywell.Ipreferthesmoothnessofthevellum;it’sjustmypersonalpreference.
Coloredpapers—Iliketouseavarietyofpaperstocreatemymandalas.Noonesaysyouhavetousejustwhite.Ialsousecoloredcardstockorscrapbookpaper.SomeofmyfavoritecoloredpapersaretheCansonMi-Teintesdrawingpapers.Theycomeinthreedifferentvarietypacks:pastel,earthtoneandgraytone.Inotonlylikethecolorsinthesepads,butIalsolikethetextureofthepaper.
Tracingpaper—Inthisbookyouwillmakeapapersnowflaketohelpcreateamandaladesign.Ifindthattracingpaperisthinenoughtocutthroughlayersoffoldseasily,yetsturdyenoughtoholduptothecuttingwithoutfallingapart.
Compass,ProtractorandRulerTheseareallessentialpartsofmytoolkit.Thecompassallowsyoutodrawperfectcircles,theprotractorensuresevenlydividedspaces,andtherulerhelpsmakestraightlinesthataretrulystraight.
Compass—Acompassisamust-haveforcreatingperfectcircles.Youcanalsogetacompassthathasalatchtoholdapen.Myfavoritesarepicturedonthenextpage.I’vehadthemforever.
Ruler—Generallyarulerisusedformeasuring,butIuseminetohelpmedrawstraightlinesandnotsomuchformeasuring.Shownismyall-timefavoriterulerandIamlostwithoutit.IlikethatitisclearandIcanseemylinesunderneath.
Protractor—Aprotractorisanothertooltohaveinyourarsenalofsupplies.Itisveryhelpfulwhenyouwanttodrawamultitudeofevenlyspacedlinesaroundyourmandala.
Stencils—Stencilsareagreatjumping-offpointwhencreatingyourmandalas—agreatbeginnertoolorforwhenyouarestuckanddon’tknowwheretostart.Youdon’thavetothinktoomuchaboutthedesign.
Spirograph—ThisfuncontraptionthatfirstcameoutintheUnitedStatesin1965isusedformakingvariouscirculardesigns.Itisidealformakingmandalas.
Pens,PencilsandMorePencilsareperfectfordrawingyourbaselinesandcanbeeasilyerasedwhennolongerneeded,andnothingisbetterthanaPigmaMicronpenfortracingoverpencillines.GellyRollpensandwatercolorpencilsaremyfavoriteforcoloringmandalas,butthereareplentyofotheroptionsoutthereaswell.
Watercolorpencils—Foraddingcolortomandalas,IprefertousewatercolorpencilsevenifIamnotgoingtousewateronthem.Withwatercolorpencils,youcanblendyourcolorstogetherveryeasilyusingablendingstump(Iusecottonswabs;don’tlaugh).Whenshading,IcaneasilyblendthecoloroutsoI’mnotleftwithasharpline.
Watercolorpaintbrush—IliketouseaNijiWaterbrush.Ithasafinepointatthetip,evenonthelargestbrushsize.Icangetrighttotheedgeofmydesignwithoutworryingaboutgoingoutsidetheline.Ithasareservoirforwater,soIdon’thavetoworryaboutaccidentallyspillingacontainerofwateronmywork.
Mountingadhesive—Thisisusedtoadheregoldorsilverleafingtocreateanilluminatedlettermandala.
Goldorsilverleaf—Thisisusedtoilluminateyourdesigns.Itcomesinsheetsandflakes.
Metallicpens—Thesecanbeusedtoenhanceanygoldorsilverleafyouapplytoyourdesign.
WhatIsaMandala?Amandalaisanartworkofintricatelydrawnpatternscontainedwithinacircularorsquareshape.ThewordmandalaisaSanskrittermthatmeans“circle”or“discoidobject.”Circlesappearinnature(flowers,snowflakes,sun,moon,etc.)andinman-madearchitecture,andcirclesarebelievedtohelpindividualsfocusinward.Thebasicformofmostmandalasisasquarewithfourgatescontaininga
circlewithacenterpoint.Mandalascancontainbothgeometricandorganicforms.Theycanalsocontainrecognizableimagesthatcarrymeaningforthepersonwhoiscreatingthem.
CircleWithinaSquareIusedgraytonalpaperbyStrathmoreandablackpentodrawthismandala,Tile,whichshowsacirclewithinasquare.Thereisasimplepatterninthecenter,andasthedesignexpandsoutward,thepatternsbecomemoreintricate.SometimesIliketoleavealotofspaceinmydesignsandothertimesnot,asinthisone,whichhaslotsofpatternsthroughout.IknewassoonasIwasfinishedwiththismandalathatitlookedlikeatile.Iwouldlikesomedaytohave
tilesmadeusingthismandalapatterntouseinmyhomeinthekitchen,bathroom,oronthefloor.Icanseeusingthisasanaccentpiece.
TellaStoryAfteryoudrawyourmandala,putitasideandlookatitthenextdaywhenyoureyesarefresh.Doesthemandalayoucreatedtellyouastory?
HowtoCreateaMandala
Herearesomebasicguidelinesandsuggestionstohelpyoubegincreatingmandalas.ThisisthesimplestwayIknowtostartamandala.Thebasiclinesgiveyouastartingpoint,butpleasefeelfreetostartyourmandalaanywayyoulike.
Choosethetypeofpaperyouwanttoworkonandthesize.Iusuallyworkwithasquareabout6 ⁄ "×6 ⁄ "(17cm×17cm),butyoucanworkonanysizethatiscomfortableforyou.
Drawlinearguidesandestablishyourcenter.Istartamandalabydrawingstraightlinesonthepaperdiagonallyfromthecornersandthenacross(verticallyandhorizontally),lightlyinpencil.Thisgivesyouacenterpoint.Withapen,placeeitheradotorasmallcircleinthecenter.Thisisyourbeginningpoint.
Drawacircle.Fromthecenterpoint,usingacompass,drawacircle(Idonotusuallymeasure;Ijustputsomethingdowntogetmestarted).Ifyoualreadyhaveanideaforyourcenterdesign,youcanmakeyourcirclelargerorsmallertoaccommodateyourdesign.
Startdrawinglines,patternsandmoreconcentriccirclesuntilyouhaveadesignyoulike.Alwaysconcentrateonthecenterofyourmandala.Thisgivesyouananchorpointtofocusonasyourmindwanders.Thatbeingsaid,Idonotalwaysstartinthecenter.SometimesIworkfromtheoutsideinbecauseIcanvisualizetheoutsideofthedesignbeforeanythingcomestomindforthecenter.Doesthatmakeadifference?Forme,itdoesnot.
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RepeatingPatternsandLinesWhenIwasgrowingup,mymomhadaringerwasher.Youcouldactuallyseetheclothesswishingbackandforth.Thismandalaremindsmeofthat.Themandalawasdrawnusingrepetitivepatternsandlines.Irepeatedthepatternaroundthecenterflowerontheoutsideofthecircle.Havingthemgoinoppositedirectionsmadeitlooklikethemandalawasmovingthiswayandthatway,soItitledthisdesignThisWayandThatWay.
MakeaSketchbookWhileworkingonthisbook,Imadeamini5"×5"(13cm×13cm)sketchbook,andoneachpageIdrewacircleandsomediagonalandcrosslines.WhenIgotanideaforamandala,Iworkedoutthepatterninthatsketchbook.
OtherWaystoMakeaMandalaTherearemanywaystomakeyourmandala,andnoonewayisbetterthananother.Itisuptoyoutodecidewhichwayworksbestforyou,dependingonwhat(andhow)youwanttocreate.ItoldyouhowIliketostart,buthereareafewotheroptionsthatIsometimesuseandthatareveryhelpfulwhencreatingmandalas.Inallofthese,thelinesaredrawnlightlyinpencil.Youcanthenerasethelinesorgooverthemwithpendependingonwhetheryouwantthemtoshowinyourfinalwork.
CONCENTRICCIRCLESInsteadofdrawingguidelinesdiagonallyandacross,findyourcenterpointandthen,withacompass,drawaseriesofconcentriccircles.Youcandrawinasmanyorasfewcirclesasyouwanttoworkwith,andtheycanbeascloseorfarapartasyoulike.Thisisgreatifyouwanttodrawpatternswithnoparticulardesigninmind.
ConcentricCirclesTribalwasmadeinaworkshopItaughtonmandalas.Iwantedmystudentstotrymanydifferentpatternsandlearnhowtoputthemtogether.Whendrawingthis,someusedacompass;othersusedacirclemaker,andoneindividualcreatedtheconcentriccirclesbyusingdifferentlysizedrounditems.Youcandrawyourmandalasusingwhateveryouhaveonhand.Afterthismandalawasfinished,itlookedlikeatribalwarrior’sshield,hencethename.
GRIDSGridsaregreatifyouwantyourdesigntobemoregeometric.Thegridalsohelpsinplacementandensuresyourpatternsanddesignsareevenlyspaced.
GridsIoriginallydrewthisdesignincoloredpencils,markerandmetallicpensinmysketchbook,butwhenIredrewthemandalaforthisbook,Idecidednottofillitinwithcolor.Afterseeingitinblackandwhiteonly,Ilikedthelookbetter.Colorsseemedtomakeittoobusy.InUnderneaththeBambooTreethecenterdesignlookslikeatableandchairsunderneathumbrellaswithbambootreessurroundingitforshade.
LINESAseriesoflinesdrawnfromthecenteroutwardisagreatwaytobegin.Youcancreatemanyfunpatternsthatwillbeevenlyspaced,suchasflowerpetals,stars,intersectingboxesandsoon.Youmightendupwithadesignthatlookslikeamariner’scompass.Ifyoudrewaneyeinthecenter,thenthelineswouldberemoved.
removed.
LinesAretheStarDrawingonablackordarkbackgroundwithawhitepencallsforeithermoredetailormorelines.Thismandalaisveryopen,butthemultiplelinesinthecentersetoffthisdesignnicely.Thename,Glow,cameaboutbecauseoftheglowingeffectthecloselydrawnlinesgive.
FREEFORMThepointoffreeformisjustthat:aformthatiscreatedfreely.Freeformmandalascanbecontainedinaparticularspace,orthespaceyouwillbeworkingincanbefreeform.Itisuptoyouandyourimagination.
BeFreeIdon’talwaysknowwhatIamgoingtodrawaheadoftimewhencreatingmymandalas.IjuststarttomakeamarkandlettheinspirationcomethroughasIdrawmypatterns.Thesameistrueforthismandala,QueenforaDay.Istartedwithasmalldotinthecenterandthenwentwithmygo-topattern,aleafshape,buthereImodifiedtheshapeoftheleafbyonlydrawingonesideandthentheotherandshapeditintheformofatriangle.Whenthecenterdesignwasdone,Iusedafavoritefinishingpattern,theswirlcircle,exceptIdidnotendthere.Idrewfoldedfeathersinthemiddlecircle,andfortheouterdesignIdrewlargeandsmallcurvedtriangles,andthenIaddedsomecirclestothetips.Whenthemandalawasdone,ittooktheshapeofacrown.
Chapter2
TypesofMandalas
Thischapterwillshowyoudifferentapproachestodevelopingyourmandalas.Notallmandalashavetobeblackandwhiteordrawnwithablackpen.Ihopetoshowyouhowtohavefunexploringdifferentoptionswhencreatingthem,includingaddingcolororusingcoloredpaper.Eachofthesemandalaswillincreaseyourknowledgeandshowyouthepossibilities.Ihopethischapterwill
increaseyourknowledgeandshowyouthepossibilities.Ihopethischapterwillhelpyou“thinkoutsidethebox,”sotospeak,andcomeupwithyourownideas.Ihavegroupedtheseparticularmandalastogetherbecausetome,theseare
likestepping-stones,goingfromonesteptoanother,givingyouknowledgeandideasthatcanbeincorporatedintoyournextdesign.Pickandchoosecombinationsyouwanttoputtogether.Experiment!Nowlet’sgetstarted.
BoldandDramaticBoldanddramaticmandalasreallymakeastatement.Theyarestrong,fearlessanddaring.Theyarestrikinglydifferent,clearanddistinct.Darkeninglinescanalsochangethemoodofyourmandala.Ifyouknowyourdesignaheadoftime,youcandrawyourdarkenedlinesinasyougo,butIsuggestthatyouwaituntilyouarefinishedwithyourdesign.Thentakeastepbackandseewhatshapesordesignsyouwanttoenhance.Donotdarkeninallthelinesatonce.Doingthismaynotgiveanydistinctiontoyourpatterns.ThroughoutmydesignsIonlyusedarkenedlineswhereIwanteitherseparationoraparticulardesignorpatterntopop.
DarkenedLinesforEmphasisMandalascanreallymakeastatementaswithAfricanRose.WhenIcreatedthis,Istartedwithpetalsandthenaddedlinestothepetals,creatingleaves(mygo-topattern).Imadestarpointsnext,andlikethepetals,Iaddedlinestomakethemintoleavesaswell.Withthismandala,linesspoketome,soIjustkeptaddinglinesandmorelines.WhenIfinishedmymandala,everythingseemedtoruntogetherwithnodistinction.Sowithablack.5mmPigmaMicronpen,Idarkenedandthickenedthelinesinbetweenthepetalsandalongtheoutsideedgeofthemandaladesign.OnceIdidthat,everythingpopped!
SelectivelyDarkenAfterdrawingyourdesign,stepbackandtakealookatitforasecondortwo.Ifeverythingseemstomeshtoomuch,trydarkeningsomeofthelinesinyourdesign.Remember,noteverylinehastobedarkened.Ifyouarenotsure,useathicker-tippenandjustgooversome
everylinehastobedarkened.Ifyouarenotsure,useathicker-tippenandjustgooversomeofthelines.Thatmaybeallyouneed.
LightandAirySometimesthesimplicityofadesigncanreallymakeitstandout.Youdonotalwaysneeddarklinestoseparateorenhanceyourdesignsorpatterns.Leavingopenspacescandojustthat.Thewhitespaceinbetweeneachpatterncanreallymakeorbreakadesign.WhatdoImeanbythat?Toomuchspaceandyourmandalawilllookemptyorflat.Notenoughwillmakethepatternmeshwithoutanydistinction.Youneedabalancebetweenthetwo.Ifyourspaceslooktooopen,addanotherpattern.Yourmandalasdonotneedtobecompletelyfilledwithpatternstolookbeautiful.
SimplicityandaNonsolidLineIthinkthesimplicityofthisparticularmandaladesignreallymakesitbeautiful.WhenIwascreatingWagonWheel,Ididanddidnothaveanideainmind—IknewsomeofthepatternsIwantedtouse,butnotall.IknewIwantedtousethespokesinthecenterandthescoopshapes.AfterIhadallmypatternsdrawnin,Iwantedtoaddacircle.However,Ididnotwanttoaddasolid-linedcircle,soIexperimentedbydrawingdotsaroundmycenterdesignandlikedthewaythatlooked.Itstilldidnotlookfinishedtome,soIdrewasimplestarlikeshapearounditandleftitatthat.
Don’tOverdoAsyouarecreatingadesignforyourmandala,youdonotalwayshavetoaddalotofpatterns.Donotoverdoit.Sometimeslessismore.Simplicitycanhaveaprofoundeffectonyourmandalaandaddtoitsbeauty.
yourmandalaandaddtoitsbeauty.
ColorfulTothesemandalasIaddedtouchesofcolorusingeitherwatercolorpencilsorwatercolorpaint.Afewofushavedifficultywithshading,butusingwatercolorpencilorpaintcanhelpyoueaseintoshading.Youdonotneedtoknowwhichsidetoshadeorwheretheshadowiscomingfrom,justaddabitofcolor.YoucaneitheroutlineyourpatternswithwatercolorpencilsasIdidwithGelly-Fishoryoucanjustgoforit,paintfirst,andaddpatternslater,asIdidwithBirthofaFlower.Withthisparticularmandala,Ithinkhavinganideaofwhatyouwilldrawaheadoftimehelps.Asyoudrawyourmandala,youwillgetafeelofwhatcoloryouwouldliketouseinyourdesign.Ifyouarepaintingfirst,remembersomecolorswillturnbrownwhenmixedtogether.Keepthisinmindwhenyouareputtingcolordownfirst.
SPECIALCONSIDERATIONSFORADDINGWATERCOLORCreatingyourmandalausingwatercolorpaperandpaintcanbedoneintwoways.Youcaneitherlaythewatercolorpaintdownfirstandthenaddyourpatterns,oryoucandrawyourpatternsfirstandaddwatercolorpaintafterward.Also,watercolorpencilscanbeusedinsteadofwatercolorpaint.SometimesIliketousewatercolorpencilsforshadinginsteadofgraphite.
Thecolorsareeasytoblendanditaddsjusttherightpopofcolor.However,Idonotalwaysusewaterwithmywatercolorpencils—actually,mostofthetimeIdonot.WhenIdoaddwater,though,itisimportanttonotethatthemorewaterthatisadded,themorethepencillooksliketraditionalwatercolor.Ialwaysusewatercolorpaperwhenusingpaintsandpencils.Thisprobably
isn’tnecessaryifyouareusingonlypencilorjustasmallamountofwater,butifyouusealotofwater,paperthatisn’tspecificallymadeforwatercolorscouldbuckle.Plus,dependingonthetypeofwatercolorpaperyouuse,youcangetalotoftexturewhenaddingwatercolor.Iusuallyprefercold-pressedwatercolor
lotoftexturewhenaddingwatercolor.Iusuallyprefercold-pressedwatercolorpaper.However,hot-pressedwatercolorpaperhasasmoothersurface,whichyoumaylikebetter.
TouchesofColorIfyouwanttoeaseintoaddingcolortoyourmandala,Gelly-Fishisagoodexampletostartwith.Ilovetheshapeofjellyfish,andsothatwastheinspirationforthestartofmymandala.Ikeptmyjellyfishverysimple
shapeofjellyfish,andsothatwastheinspirationforthestartofmymandala.Ikeptmyjellyfishverysimpleandaddedoutsidepatternstomakethemandalamoreinteresting.WhenIfinished,Iusedwatercolorpencilstocolorhereandthere,addingjustatouchofcolor.
FullColorForBirthofaFlower,sinceIdidnothaveanideainmindwhenIappliedthewatercolorpaints,IstartedwithlightercolorsfirstinthecenterandgraduallygotdarkerwithmycolorsasImovedoutward.Ilettheshapesspeaktome,drawinginmypatternsandusingthecolorsasmyguide.
StartingonColoredPaperWhosaysyouhavetousewhitepapertocreateyourmandala?IlovedrawingmandalasondifferentcoloredpapersasIdidherewithPearls.ThepaperIusedwasMi-TeintesPastelsbyCanson.IusedawhiteSakuraGellyRollpentodrawmypatternsandthenoutlinedwithabluePigmaMicronpen.
Repeat,withDifferencesTrydrawingthesamemandalausingdifferentcoloredpaperwithdifferentcolorpens/pencils.Seehowalthoughthedesignmaybethesame,thelookandeffectyougetcanbequitedifferent.
DrawingwithColoredPensUsuallywhenIdrawusingacoloredpen,Iuseacoloredbackgroundpaper.IusedwhitepapertodrawOnPointtoseewhatthebluepenwouldlooklikeagainstawhitebackground.Istartedwithatinydotinthecenter,andIusedmydiagonalandcrosslinesthatIusuallydrawfirstas
myguidelinesforthecenterspokes.Ikeptmostlywiththeideaoftrianglesandpoints.WhenIcompletedthismandala,allthepointsjumpedoutatmeand,yes,theywereallonpoint.
TryaSeriesWhencreatingyourmandalawithcoloredpensonawhitebackground,tryworkinginaseries.Drawthesamemandalausingdifferentcoloredpens,penciland/ormarkers,andseehoweachcolorchangesthelook.
WhimsicalThissectionisallaboutlettinggoandhavingfun.Thesemandalasarenotyourtraditionalmandalas.Istayedwiththebasicform,butIhadfunwiththepatterns.Youcancombinepatternswithshapes,repeatingthemasyouworkyourwayout,asIdidwiththeChicksmandala.Pickapattern,playwithitandchangeitupabit.Staywiththebasicshapeofthemandala,usingeitheracircleorsquareorboth,andworkyourpatternsinthem.Thiswayyoukeepthegeneralshapeofthemandalabutstillhavefunwiththepatterns.Trymodifyingyourpatternsandseewhatnewdesignsyoucanincorporateintoyourmandala.
CreatingOutsidetheLinesIdidnotfinishthismandala,butIwanttogiveyouanideaofwhatyoucandousingabasiccircleandlines.(Ienjoyplayingaroundwithsimpleshapes,anditjustsohappenedthatafaceappearedtome!)
LetGoWhenyoucreateawhimsicalmandala,havefunwithit.Thisiswhereyoucanreallyletyourselfgoandletyourimaginationtakeover.Insteadoftraditionalpatterning,seewhatyoucomeupwith.
LightenUpBeingseriousallthetimecanbeabitboring,andthesameappliestocreatingmandalas.Idoliketohavealittlefunandaddabitofwhimsywhendrawingsomeofmymandalasnowandagain,aswithChicks.Ifollowedthesameconcept,startinginthecenterandworkingaroundandoutside.Thistime,insteadofhavingacircle,Iusedasquarewithinacircle,butyoucanuseacirclewithinasquare.
FreeformNowwearegettingtothepartwhereanythinggoes.Althoughyoucanstartwiththebasicshapeofamandala,aswithMr.Pacino,youdonothavetosticktothatshape,whetheritisacircleorsquare.Withthefirstexample,Imadethemandalafreeform,addingbasicpatterns.WithMr.Pacino,Ikeptthebasicshapeandmadethedesignfreeform.IcouldhavemadethismoretraditionalbydividingitintofoursegmentsandrepeatingthepatternfourtimesaswithChicks(ontheprecedingpage),butIlikedtheideaofjustlettinggoandlettingmydesignbewhatitwantedtobe.Withthisparticulartypeofmandala,theskyisthelimit,butkeepinmindthebasicformofthemandalaand/orpatterns.Trynottogetcarriedawaytothepointwhereyourmandalaendsupnotbeingamandalaanymore.
FreeformShapesThisexampleisnotsomuchaboutmakingtheinsidepatternsfreeform,butmakingthemandalashapeitselffreeformandaddingpatternsinside.
StayTruetoYouThisisyourmandala.Createitanywayyouwant.Useoneorbothofthefreeformapproachesshownhere,acombinationofthetwo,orcomeupwithyourownuniqueapproach.Aslongasyoulikeit,that’sallthatmatters.
FreeformPatternsAswithothermandalas,thereisrepetitionandsymmetryinMr.Pacino.Ijusttookafewmorelibertieswiththisexample.Thedesignismorevertical,andinsteadofdrawingmypatternsallthewayaround,Idrewthemfromsidetoside.Icouldhavemadeitmoretraditionallookingbyaddinganotherconcentriccirclearounditandaddingmorepatterns,buttome,itwouldnothavebeenasfreeform,whichiswhatIwasgoingfor.
Chapter3
BasicMandalaProjects
Themandalasinthischapterstartinthecenterandworkoutward.Asyouprogress,eachmandalawillbeabitmorecomplex.Inthelastoneyouwillworkinasquare.Ihaveaddedamandalausingcoloredpaper,butyoucanworkthisoneonwhitepaperifyoulike.Igiveyouabitofvarietytohelpyougetthefeelofcreatingdifferentmandalas.
ofcreatingdifferentmandalas.Aswecreatethefollowingmandalas,youwilllearnhowtoaddlinesand
patternsonestepatatime.Thesemandalasarefairlysimpletocreate,withfewerstepsneededtofinishthem.
Project:RiverFlowerRiverFlowerwasoneofthefirstmandalasIcreatedforthisbook.Asyoucansee,itisaverysimpledesignusingmostlylines.ThenameRiverFlowercameaboutbecauseofthesquigglylines;eachonelookslikearivergoingthroughtheflower.
SUPPLIES
Bristolpaper,6 ⁄ "(17cm)squareCompassNo.2pencilPigmaMicronpens(black):.25mm(01)and.5mm(08)Ruler
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1Withapencil,lightlydrawlinesdiagonallyandacrossasshown.Usingacompass,adda3"(8cm)diametercircleanda5"(13cm)diametercircle.
2Usingtheblack.25mmpen,drawflowerpetalsfromthecenterpointtothefirstdrawncircle.Useeveryotherlineforthecenterofeachflowerpetal,andbringeachtiptoapoint.Drawalinedownthecenterofthepetalandoneithersideofthecenterline.
3Drawleavesbetweenthepetalswitheachpointtouchingtheoutercircle.Usingthe.5mmMicronpen,drawadarkwavylinefromthetopofeachleafdownthecenter.Repeattomakeasecondwavyline.Drawaflameshape(with3curvedlinesinsideeach)oneverypetaltip.
4Usingthe.5mmMicronpen,connecttheleavesandflameswithadark,slightlycurvedline.Thenswitchtoa.25mmMicronpenandoutlinetheentiremandalawithasecondline.Eraseallpencillines.
Project:CobblestonesCobblestonesisanothersimplemandaladesign,butthecenterofthedesignisalittlemorecomplex.Itusessimplelines,butIhavecurvedandshapedthem.WhenIcompletedthepatterninthemiddle,itlookedlikecobblestones.IusuallydonothaveaninspirationwhenIdrawmymandalas,butwhile
visitingmygrandchildrenoneday,Inoticedaclockhangingontheirwall.ThisiswhatItookfromthatclock.
SUPPLIES
Bristolpaper,6 ⁄ "(17cm)squareCompassNo.2pencilPigmaMicronpen(black):.25mm(01)Ruler
1 2
1Withapencil,lightlydrawlinesdiagonallyandacross.Usingacompass,add3concentriccirclesthatare2 ⁄ "(6cm),3 ⁄ "(9cm)and3 ⁄ "(10cm)indiameter.1 2 1 2 3 4
2Drawgridlineslightlywithapencilinthecentercircle,diagonallyandacross.Withtheblack.25mmpen,drawoverthepencillinesonthefirstcircle,thesecondcircle(leavingabouta ⁄ "[6mm]gapbetweeneachdiagonalline),andtheoutercircle.
1 4
3Stillusingthepen,drawaroundeachtriangleshapeinthecentercircle,roundingthecornersandleavingaslightgapbetweeneachtriangleasshown.DrawaVshapeateachgaponthesecondcircle.
AddShadingforInterestTryusingacoloredpencil(insteadofgraphite)toshadeyourmandalaaroundtheoutsideofthecenterpattern.Itwillnotonlymakethatcenterpatternpopbutalsoaddabitofinterest.
4Inthespacebetweenthefirstandsecondcircle,drawconnectingfigureeights,startingandstoppingateachV.Embellishtheoutercirclewithpeaksandvalleys.Eraseallpencillines.
Project:UntitledInthisdrawingweswitchourpenfromblacktowhiteandourwhitepapertonavyblue.Iloveworkingwithcoloredpaperandthisoneisnoexception.Thelookofthewhitepenagainstthedarkpapermakesthedesignreallystandout.EveryyearIgotothePageantoftheMastersinLagunaBeach,California.
Theretheyhaveafreeprintmakingbooth.YoucreateadesignonStyrofoam,pickyourpaintcolor,andtheyprintitforyou.Thisiswhatspilledoutofme.Tore-createthis,IusednavybluepaperandawhiteGellyRollpen.
SUPPLIES
CompassNavybluecardstock,6"(15cm)squareRuler
SakuraGellyRollpen(white)Whitechalkpencil
1Withthechalkpencil,lightlydrawlinesdiagonallyandacross.Usingacompass,add3concentriccirclesthatare1 ⁄ "(4cm),2 ⁄ "(6cm)and2 ⁄ "(7cm)indiameter.DrawasmallcircleinthecenterusingthewhiteGellyRollpen.
1 2 1 2 3 4
2StillusingthewhiteGellyRollpen,drawleafshapesusingthediagonalandcrosslinesasaguide(centeraleafoneachline,aroundthesmallestcircle).Thengooverthesecondcirclewiththepen.Nowdrawscallopsaroundthecircle.Drawcirclesontopofthescallops,andaddadotinthemiddleofeachcircle.Gooverthethirdandfourthcircleswiththepen.
3Drawlinesbetweenthethirdandfourthcircles,goingallthewayaround.Nowdrawazigzaglinearoundtheoutercircle.
4Drawalineextendingfromthedipineachzigzagandembellishtheends.Eraseallchalklines.
TipSometimesasIamcreatingamandala,IalreadyknowwhatIamgoingtonameit,andsometimesanamecomesafteritiscomplete.Untitledbecamethenameofthisparticularmandalabecauseforthelifeofme,Icouldnotthinkofanameforit.Don’tstressoveraname!
Project:Shutes&LaddersHerewearestartingtoaddnotonlymorelinesbutabitmorepatterningandembellishments,aswiththepreviousmandalaUntitled.Aftercompletingthismandala,Inoticedthelinesaroundthehalfcircleslookedlikeladderedparachutes.Thecirclesandthetriangleslookedlikepeopleholdingon,floatingfromtheparachutes—hencethename,ShutesandLadders.
SUPPLIES
Bristolpaper,6 ⁄ "(17cm)squareCompassNo.2pencilPigmaMicronpen(black):.25mm(01)Ruler
1 2
1Withapencillightlydrawlinesdiagonallyandacross.Withacompassdraw3concentriccirclesthatare1 ⁄ "(3cm),2"(5cm)and2 ⁄ "(6cm)indiameter.Gooverthecircleswiththeblack.25mmpen.
1 4 1 4
2Usingtheblack.25mmMicronpen,drawaspiralinthecenter.Drawarrowsbetweenthefirstandsecondcircles.Betweenthesecondandthirdcircles,drawscallops.
3Draw8trianglesaroundthethirdcircle,leavingasmallgapbetweenthem.Nowdrawsmallcirclesoneithersideofthetrianglesandonelargeronebetweenthem.Drawflowerpods(linestoppedwithdarkdots)inthetrianglesasshown.
4Drawacurvedlinefromonetriangletiptothenextallthewayaroundthemandala(creatingshutes),thenrepeatforanothersetofcurvedlinesabove(orbelow)thefirst.Nowdrawlinesinbetweenthecurvedlines(creatingladders).Drawstraightlinesaroundtheshutes,makinganoctagonshape.Finishwithflowerpodsateachangle.Eraseallpencillines.
AddingFacesandHandsIfyouwantthecirclestolookmorelikepeople,tryaddingfacesandlittlelinestolooklikehandsattheendsofthetriangles.
Project:Terra-CottaMovingfurtheralongwithmorepatterns,wearenowcreatingdesignsthataremorecomplex.Choosingwhichpatterntousenextcanbealittleoverwhelming,butifyoutakeitonestepatatime,theoutcomecanbeamazing.WhenIwasmakingthismandala,IknewwhatIwantedtocreatebefore
starting,soItriedtopickpatternsthatwouldlendthemselvestothosethatwouldbeonaclaypot.TheinspirationcamefromapictureIsawinagardenmagazinethathadthesebeautifuldesignsonaterra-cottapot.
SUPPLIES
Bristolpaper,6 ⁄ "(17cm)squareCompassNo.2pencilPigmaMicronpens(black):.25mm(01)and.5mm(08)Ruler
1 2
1Withapencillightlydrawlinesdiagonallyandacross.Withacompassdrawa1"(3cm)diametercircle.Gooverthecirclewiththeblack.25mmpen.
2Stillusingthepen,drawcurvedlinesinsidethecircle,makingasmallloopattheend.Draw8trianglesaroundthecircle.Nowdrawdoubleloopsbetweenthetriangles.
3Drawsquarespiralsaroundthetriangles.Drawatrianglearoundeachspiralsquare,andembellishwithdotsinsideandout.
4Drawcirclesconnectedbydashesaroundthedottedtriangles.Withthecompassdrawacirclearoundthecirclesanddashes.Gooverthiswiththeblack.25mmpen.Againusingthecompass,drawanothercircleabout ⁄ "(3mm)away.Gooverthislinewiththeblack.5mmpen.Nowdrawlinesbetweenthesetwocircles.Drawswirlsaroundtheoutside.Drawanothercirclegoingaroundtheswirls,usingthecompass.Drawoverthepencillinewiththeblack.5mmpen.Eraseallpencillines.
IdeasAreAllAroundInspirationcancomefromanywhereaswithTerra-CottaandCobblestones.Lookaroundyouandseewhatinspiresasyoucreateyourmandalas.
1 8
Project:TestPatternCreatingthismandalawasjustamatterofaddingandremovinglinesuntilIgotsomethingIliked.Sometimesdrawinginlinescreatesaspacethatgivesmeanideaforaparticularpattern.WatchingtelevisionwhenIwasgrowingup,achannelwoulddisplayatest
patternonthescreentoletyouknowthetelevisionstationwasdoneforthenight.Thismandalabringsbackmemoriesofthosetimesandhowtheyhavechanged.Theoutsidepatternlinelookslikeanelectricalchargedancingaroundmytestpattern.
SUPPLIES
Bristolpaper,6 ⁄ "(17cm)squareCompassNo.2pencilPigmaMicronpens(black):.25mm(01)and.5mm(08)Ruler
1 2
1Withapencillightlydrawlinesdiagonallyandacross.Drawasmallcircleinthecenter.Withacompassdrawa3 ⁄ "(9cm)diametercircle.Usingaruler,drawa3"(8cm)squareinthecenter.1 2
2Gooverthesmallcentercirclewiththeblack.5mmpen.Stillusingthepen,startatonecornerofthesquareandgooverthelineuntilitmeetsthecircle,thengooverthecirclecurveuntilitmeetsthenextcornerofthesquare.Continuegoingoverthecirclecurvesandsquarecornersuntilalllinesaredrawn.Drawasecondlineabout ⁄ "(6mm)awayfromthelineyoujustmade.Addcirclesinbetween.
Darkenthelineswiththeblack.5mmpen.Erasethecenterpencillines.Drawdiagonallinesfromthepointswherethesquarecornersandcirclecurvesmeettothesmallcentercircle.Thereshouldbe8diagonallines.
1 4
3Darkenthediagonallineswiththeblack.5mmpen.InthecornersdrawtheTanglepatternBetweedwiththeblack.5mmpen.ForthecentersdrawtheTanglepatternParadoxusingtheblack.25mmpen.Fillinthesmallcentercircle.
4Usingtheblack.5mmpen,drawawavylinewithpointsaroundthecircle-squareshape.Eraseallpencillines.
Project:ButterflyCocoonWehavebeenworkingonroundmandalassofar,whichisthebasicform.Nowwearegoingtodrawasquaremandala.WhenIlookedatthisone,ittooktheformofbutterflywingswithcocoonsinthecenter.Itissortofanart-decodesign,whichwasaccidental.IdonotalwaysknowwhatIamgoingtocreate,butwhenIdrawonepattern
atatimeandtakeitslowly,themandalastartstospeaktomeandtakeshape.Youdonotneedtorushthroughyourdesign.Takeitslowlyandseewhereitleadsyou—youmightbesurprised.
SUPPLIES
Bristolpaper,6 ⁄ "(17cm)squareCompassNo.2pencilPigmaMicronpen(black):.25mm(01)Ruler
1 2
1Withapencillightlydrawlinesdiagonallyandacross.Drawasmalldotinthecenter.Usingacompassdrawa2 ⁄ "(6cm)diametercircle.Usingarulerdrawa3 ⁄ "(9cm)squareinthecenterandaroundthecircle.
1 2 1 2
2Inthecenterofeachsideofthesquare,drawaninvertedpyramid,usingtheblack.25mmpen.Stillusingthepen,gooverthepencillinesofthesquare,stoppingatthepyramids.DrawapartialMookaTanglepatternineachquadrantofthesquare.
3Drawcocoonsfromthepointofeachpyramidtothecenter.DrawlinesfromeachcornerofthesquaretothetopcenteroftheMookapattern,creatingafan.
4Drawacircleoneachcornerofthesquareandhalfcirclescenteredonthebaselineofeachpyramid.Addasmalldotinthemiddleofthehalfcircles.Addcurvedlinesgoingfromeachpyramidtoeachcornercircle,makingtallercurvesasyouapproachthecircles.Eraseallpencillines.
Chapter4
AdvancedDesigns
Thereareawidevarietyofmandalasinthischaptertoexpandyourknowledgeindrawingandcreatingdesigns.Thesemandalasareabitmorechallengingandrequireafewmorestepstocomplete.AswiththemandalasinChapter3,eachonestartsinthecenter,whetheritbewithadot,swirlorcircle,andexpands
outward.Wewillusemorepatterning,andIwillchallengeyoutocomeupwithyourownmandala.Youwillalsolearntofillinoraddweightedlines.Thesecanenhanceyourdesigns.Socomeandexplorenewideasandpossibilitiesforcreatingmandalasinthis
chapter.
Project:ButterflyCocoonIhadanideaofwhatIwantedtodobeforestartingthismandala.Ihadsomepatternsinmind,andIknewIwantedtousecoloredpaper.Thismandalaisdrawnonsilverscrapbookpaper,butIdidnotliketheshininessofit,soIdrewonthebacksideinstead.SomeofthepatternsIhadinmindforthismandaladidnottranslatefrommy
headtothetipofthepen.Insteadoffightingthepattern,Iletthedesignspeaktomeandchangedmyplan.Aftercompletingthismandalaandlookingattheswirlinthecenterandthedarktrianglesaroundtheedge,Isawastarburstingoutward.
SUPPLIES
CompassGraycardstock,6 ⁄ "(17cm)squareNo.2pencilPigmaMicronpens(black):.25mm(01)and.5mm(08)Ruler
1 2
1Withapencillightlydrawlinesdiagonallyandacross.Drawasmallcircleinthecenter.Usingacompassdrawconcentriccirclesthatare1 ⁄ "(4cm),2 ⁄ "(6cm),2 ⁄ "(6.4cm),3 ⁄ "(10cm)and4 ⁄ "(11cm)indiameter.
1 2 1 4 1 2 3 41 2
2Withtheblack.25mmpendrawaswirlpatterninthecentercircle.
3Inthesecondring,drawleaves.Thereshouldbe32leavesaroundthesecondring.
4Inthethirdringdrawcirclesateachofthediagonalandcrosslines.Nowdrawacirclehalfwayinbetweeneachsetofcircles.DrawcurvedMsbetweenthecircles.Thereshouldbe16circlesand16Ms.
5Inthenextringdraw32triangles.Nowdrawcirclesinsidethetriangles,withasmallercircleineachcenter.
6Intheouterring,draw32circleswithswirlsinthecenter.Drawtrianglesaboveeachswirledcircleandfilltheminusingtheblack.5mmpen.Eraseallpencillines.
SeeWhereItLeadsIfyouhaveapatterninmindthatyouwanttouseinyourmandalabutitisnotworking,insteadofforcingthepattern,trysomethingelse,orletthepatterntakeyouwhereitwantstogo.
Project:FerrisWheelThisFerrisWheelmandalaisalittlemorecomplex,andIthinkitwillchallengeyououtofyourcomfortzone,whichisagoodthing.BeforeIdrewthismandala,IknewIwantedtousetheTanglepatternFengle.Iwasnotsurehowitwouldturnout,butwhenIfinished,Iquitelikedthewayitlooked.Thetanglepatternwasdrawntwice,onebehindtheother.Thecirclesdrawn
hereandthereremindmeofthecogsthatholdaFerriswheeltogether.ThespokesinthemiddleresemblethespokesonaFerriswheel.TheendsontheoutsideoftheFenglepatternlookliketheycouldholdpassengercarsforriders.
SUPPLIES
Bristolpaper,6 ⁄ "(17cm)squareNo.2pencilPigmaMicronpen(black):.25mm(01)Compass
1 2
1Withapencillightlydrawlinesdiagonallyandacross.Drawasmallcircleinthecenter.Usingacompassdrawconcentriccirclesthatare1 ⁄ "(4cm)and5"(13cm)indiameter.1 2
2Withtheblack.25mmpendrawstraightlinesuptotheedgeofthefirstcircle.Thereshouldbe32straightlines.Nowdrawapetalshapeaboveeachline.
3AddtheTanglepatternFengleusingtheoutercircleanddiagonallinesasaguide.
4DrawanotherFenglepatternbehindthefirstone.Oneorbothpatternscanbefilledinwithotherpatterns,completelyorpartially.Eraseallpencillines.
Try,ThenTryAgainYoudonotalwayshavetoknowwhereyouaregoingwhenyoudrawyourmandala.Ifyoudonotlikethewayitlooks,youcanalwaystryagain.
CirclesEverywhereTherewasnorhymeorreasontothenumberorsizeofthecirclesIadded.IjustputtheminuntilIwassatisfiedwiththelook.Icouldhavefilledonesetwithcirclesleavingtheotherone
untilIwassatisfiedwiththelook.Icouldhavefilledonesetwithcirclesleavingtheotheronewithout.
Project:DreamCatcherMygo-topatternisusuallyapetalorleafshape,whichIwasgoingtodoforthecenterofthismandala.Ifirstdrawonesidegoingaroundthecenterandthentheotherside.However,whenIwasdrawingthelinesontheoneside,IendeduplikingthewaythatlookedasopposedtothepatternIoriginallyhadinmind.AfterIfinisheddrawingallmylinesin,therewasnodistinctionbetweenthem,soIaddedpatterninginside.Iliketousedoublecirclesalotinmymandalasandthisoneisnoexception,
butinthiscaseIdidnotlikehowthecenterdesignjustfloatedwithinthetwooutercircles.Toremedythat,Idrewtrianglesconnectingthecenterdesigntothebandcreatedbythetwooutercircles.Whenmymandalawasdone,theconnectingtrianglesandthecurvedlinesonthebandmadeitlooklikeadreamcatcher.Icanactuallyseemakingadreamcatcherusingthispatternasmyinspiration.
SUPPLIES
Bristolpaper,6 ⁄ "(17cm)squareCompassNo.2pencilPigmaMicronpens(black):.25mm(01)and.5mm(08)Ruler
1 2
1Withapencillightlydrawlinesdiagonallyandacross.Drawasmallcircleinthecenter.Usingacompass,drawconcentriccirclesthatare2 ⁄ "(6cm),4 ⁄ "(11cm)and5"(13cm)indiameter.1 2 1 4
2Withtheblack.25mmpengooverthecentercircle,thendrawstraightlinestotheedgeofthe2 ⁄ "(6cm)diametercircle,diagonallyandacross.Thereshouldbe8straightlines.Draw8flowerpetalscomingoutfromthecenterofthecircle.Echoeachpetal.
1 2
3Drawacurvedlinebetweeneachechoedpetal,touchingeachofthestraightlines.Thereshouldbe8lines.
4DrawabackwardsCatthetop,connectingthetopofthepetalandthelinejustdrawn.Echodownwardtowardthecentercircle.Dothis7moretimes.
5NowdrawacurvedlinefromthetopofoneCtothetopofthenextC.Dothis7moretimes.Fillintheshapescreatedwithstraightlines.
6Add16triangles,makingeveryotheroneslightlycurved.Fillineveryotheronewiththeblack.5mmpen.Drawabandusingthelasttworingsasguides.Nowaddcurvedandbrokenlinestothebandcreatedbythetwooutercircles.Eraseallpencillines.
Project:HolliThismandalawasahappyaccident;itdidnotturnoutanythinglikeIhadoriginallyintended.Drawingtheouterpetalscreatedpetalsinthecenter,whichIliked,butwhenIstartedtodrawtheotherlines,youcouldnotdistinguishonefromtheother.TosolvethatIfilledinthecenterpetals.Iwantedtomaketheouterpetalsstandout,butIdidnotwanttofillinthebackground.Ifeltdoingsowouldmakeittoodarkandtooheavy,soIwentwithacheckerboardpattern,whichbroughtbalancetothemandaladesign.WhenIfinishedthepattern,themandalalookedlikeahollyflower.Ithinkit
wasthecenterpetalslikeonahollyplantthatmademeseethis.
SUPPLIES
Bristolpaper,6 ⁄ "(17cm)squareCompassNo.2pencilPigmaMicronpens(black):.25mm(01)and.5mm(08)Ruler
1 2
1Withapencillightlydrawlinesdiagonallyandacross.Drawasmallcircleinthecenter.Usingacompass,adda4 ⁄ "(11cm)diametercircle.1 4
2Withtheblack.25mmpendraw8petals,startingfromthecentercircleuptotheoutercircle.Aseachpetalisformed,overlapthebottom,creatingadditionalpetals.
3Fillinthesmallerpetalswiththeblack.5mmpen.
4Fortheouterpetals,drawadoublecurvedline,dividingthepetalsinhalf.Nowdrawdiagonallinesononehalfofeachpetal.Drawacircleonthetipofeachpetal.
5Makeastarontheoutsideofthedevelopingshapeusingthecirclesasthepoints.Fillinthebackgroundwithacheckerboardpattern.Drawswirlcirclesineachindentationofthestar.
6Drawaribbonaroundyourdesign,weavinginandout.Drawinvertedtrianglesateachpointofthestar.Eraseallpencillines.
StartSmallIfsomethingdoesnotworkwhenyouaredrawingyourmandala,tryaddingalittleofthisoralittleofthattogetyourdesignmovinginadirectionyoulike.
Project:KaleidoscopeSpoons,pineapplesandheartshelpedinthecreationofthismandala.Asusual,themandalaledmeastrayandIamgladitdidbecauseIlikethewaythismandalaturnedout.Iliketofinishmymandalaswithacirclearoundthemforthemostpartandthenembellishthecirclewithapatternortwo.However,Ifeltthatwouldnotdoforthisparticularmandala.Iusedpetalsinstead,andIthinkthataddedtothepatternsinside.Becauseofthespoonpatternsinthecenter—actually,Iwastryingtogetthe
effectofawaterwheel—andthewaythepatternsconnectedwithoneanother,themandalatookonthelookofakaleidoscope.
SUPPLIES
Bristolpaper,6 ⁄ "(17cm)squareCompassNo.2pencilPigmaMicronpen(black):.25mm(01)Ruler
1 2
1Withapencillightlydrawlinesdiagonallyandacross.Drawasmallcircleinthecenter.Usingacompass,adda2"(5cm)diametercircle.
2Withtheblack.25mmpengooverthecentercircle,thendraw32straightlinesgoingfromthecentercircletotheoutercircle.
3Addacurvetoturneachlineintoaspoon.
4Onthediagonalandcrosslines,drawpineappleshapes.Inbetweenthepineapples,drawcornhuskshapes.
5Atthetipofeachpineapple,drawanopenVforitstop.Atthetipofeachcornhusk,drawtwofatteardropshapesthatformaheart,withoverlappinglinesshowing(Icallthisan“openheart”).
6Drawacircleaboveeachheart.Drawathinteardroponthesideofeachcircle,startingatthebaseofeachcircle.Drawsmallercirclesinbetweenthetipsoftheteardrops.Eraseallpencillines.
Project:RadioFrequencyIwasinoneofthose“Let’sgoforitandseewhathappens”moodswhenIcreatedthismandala.Iplayedwithpatterns,addingsomeofthis,alittleofthat,notworryingaboutwhatIwasdoing—justhavingfun.WhenIgottiredofdrawingstraightlines,Ithrewinsomecrookedlinesjustbecause.Afteritwasallsaidanddone,thejaggedlinesandorbslookedlikeradioantennas.
SUPPLIES
Bristolpaper,6 ⁄ "(17cm)squareCompassNo.2pencilPigmaMicronpen(black):.25mm(01)Ruler
1 2
1Withapencillightlydrawlinesdiagonallyandacross.Usingacompass,addcirclesthatare1"(3cm)and4 ⁄ "(11cm)indiameter.1 2
2Withtheblack.25mmpen,gooverthe1"(3cm)diametercircle,thendraw3stackedhalfcircles(largetosmall)ateachdiagonalandcrossline.Fromthecenterofeachtophalfcircle,drawabouta ⁄ "(13mm)lineextendingoutward.1 2
3Connectthe ⁄ "(13mm)lines,makingastarpattern.1 2
4Halfwaybetweeneachdiagonalandcrossline,drawswirlcircles.Connectthesecircleswithstraightlines.
5Drawtrianglesaboveeachswirlcircle.Nowfillinhalfofeachtrianglewithstraightlines.Draw4stackedhalfcirclesinbetweeneachtriangle.Fromthecenterofeachtophalfcircle,drawalightningboltextendingtothe4 ⁄ "(11cm)diametercircle.1 2
6Nowdrawswirlcirclesattheendofeachlightningbolt.Usingthe4 ⁄ "(11cm)diametercircleasaguide,drawadoublejaggedlineconnectingtheswirlcircles.Aboveeachmiddlejag,drawabouta ⁄ "(13mm)lineextendingoutwithahalfwhite/halfblackcircleinthecenter.Finishthetopwithasmallercircle.Eraseallpencillines.
1 2
1 2
Project:CubeSquaredIwantedtocreateasquaremandala,havingthepatternsgoingarounditinagrid,sothatisexactlywhatIdid.Itgotitsname,CubeSquared,becausetome,thatiswhatitlookslike.WhatcanIsayaboutthespikesontheoutside?Ijustlikethem.
SUPPLIES
Bristolpaper,6 ⁄ "(17cm)squareNo.2pencilPigmaMicronpen(black):.25mm(01)Ruler
1 2
1Withapencillightlydrawdiagonallines.Withtheblack.25mmpenandarulerdrawconcentric1"(3cm),1 ⁄ "(4cm),2 ⁄ "(5cm)and2 ⁄ "(7cm)squares.1 2 1 16 3 4
2Stillusingtheblack.25mmpen,drawaspiralsquareinthecenter.
3Dividethenextsquareinto20evenlyspacedsquares.Drawverticallinesineveryothersquare,thendrawhorizontallinesintheremainingsquares.
4Dividethenextsquareinto28evenlyspacedsquaresanddrawtrianglesinsideasshown.
5Dividethelastsquareinto36evenlyspacedsquaresanddrawcirclesinside.
6Nowdrawtalltrianglesaroundtheoutsideofthesquare.Thereshouldbe40triangles.(Optional:Togivethecentersquaretheillusionthatitissplit,drawdiagonallineslightlyusingyourno.2pencil.)Eraseallpencillines.
Project:SunFlowerThisisanotheroneofmyfavoritemandalas.AsI’vesaidpreviously,mygo-topatterniseitherleavesorpetals,andthatiswhatIstartedwithhere.Iwantedthesenottobethesame-old,same-old,soIsquaredthetipsalittleandaddedmorepetalsinthecenter.Insteadofusingacirclearoundtheoutside,thistimeIaddedawavyline.WhenIlookedatthismandalaafteritwasdone,theblackonthetipsofthe
petalsresembledsunflowerseeds,andthewavylinemadeitlooklikehugepetalsaroundaflowercenter.
SUPPLIES
Bristolpaper,6 ⁄ "(17cm)squareCompassNo.2pencilPigmaMicronpen(black):.25mm(01)and.5mm(08)Ruler
1 2
1Withapencillightlydrawlinesdiagonallyandacross.Usingacompass,add1"(3cm)and3"(8cm)diametercircles.
2Withtheblack.25mmpengooverthe1"(3cm)diametercircle.Nowdraw16wedgesusingthediagonalandcrosslinesandthe3"(8cm)diametercircleasaguide.
3Drawanothersetofwedgesinsidetheonesalreadydrawn.Thendrawalinedownthecenteroftheinsidewedgesanddarkenthetipswiththeblack.5mmpen.
4Drawcirclesaroundtheperimeterofthewedges.
5Drawsmall,mediumandlargeroundedspikesaroundthecircles.Drawadarklineinsideeachspikeusingtheblack.5mmpen.
6Drawawavylinearoundtheoutside,cominginwardonthelargespikesandoutwardonthesmallspikes.Drawalinefromthecenterofthepeakofeachwavedownbetweenthe2smallspikes.Drawadditionallinesoneithersideofthecenterline,fanningoutoneitherside.Eraseallpencillines.
Project:BaliPodsThistimeIcreatedamandalawithasquarewithinacircle.Squigglelinesmoveoutwardfromthecenterdot.Leavesextendoutwardtothecorners.Insteadofdrawingtheleaves,Iusedlinestoformthem.Therearepetalsinbetween,embellishmentsaroundthesquare,andseedpodsinbetweentheoutercirclesthatmakeupthismandala.TheveinsoftheleaveslooklikethemovementsofBalinesedancers,andwith
theseedpodsallaround,thenameforthismandalabecameBaliPods.
SUPPLIES
Bristolpaper,6 ⁄ "(17cm)squareCompassNo.2pencilPigmaMicronpens(black):.25mm(01)and.5mm(08)Ruler
1 2
1Withapencillightlydrawlinesdiagonallyandacross.Drawa2"(5cm)squareinthecenter.Usingacompassdrawa4 ⁄ "(11cm)diametercircleanda4 ⁄ "(12cm)diametercirclearoundthesquare.Draw4leafshapesdiagonallyinthecenterofthesquare,usingthegridlinesasguides.
1 2 3 4
2Usingtheblack.5mmpendrawdarkcurvedlinesdownthecenterofeachleaf.Then,withthe.25mmpendrawdiagonallinesoneachsideofthecenterline.Stillusingthe.25mmpen,drawpetalshapesbetweeneachofthe4leaves.Echothepetalshapeoneachside.Tracearoundthesquarewiththepen.
3Drawscallopsaroundeachsideofthesquare.Drawa1"(3cm)lineinthecenterofeachsideofthesquareabovethescallops.Drawacurvedlinefromthetopofthelinetothecornerofthesquare.
4Echoyourarchwithadditionallines.Drawfansstartingfromtheoutercornerofthesquaretothecenter.Drawonelineontheinsideofthefirstfanandthen3moreoutsidethefirstfan.Draw8leafshapesonthecornersandcenterpointsofthesquare.Drawcurlicuesoneach.
5Echotheleavesbydrawingalineontheoutsideoneitherside.Drawanotherleafinthecenterofeachleaf.
6Finishthemandalabyaddingcirclesontheoutsideofthecenterleaves.Gooverthe4 ⁄ "(11cm)diametercircleandthe4 ⁄ "(12cm)diametercirclewithyourpen.Erasealllines.
1 23 4
Chapter5
MandalaTemplates
Asabeginner,learninghowtodrawamandalacanbeabitintimidating,andstaringatablankpagedoesnothelpeither.Usingtemplatescanhelpyougetstarted.Inthischapter,fourdifferentblanktemplatesareshownwithsomefinishedexamplestohelpyoustart.Thetemplatesaregeometric,curvilinearor
organic,oracombinationoftwoormoreofthesestyles.Note:Youdonothavetostaywithinthelines;theyarejustasuggestion.Youcanmodifyyourmandalaanywaythatispleasingtoyou.Makeseveralcopiesofthesametemplateandtrycompletingthemwithdifferentpatterns.Trymodifyingtheshapeofthetemplateandseehowyoucanmakeityourown.
TemplateDesign:StraightandCurvyComboThiswasthefirsttemplateIcreated.Istartedwithacircleinthemiddleandthenaddedlines.Ilikedthewaythecurvedandstraightlineslookednexttoeachother.OnceIgotmytemplatedone,Istarteddrawingmypatternsintotheindividualshapes.
ShapesFirst,ThenFillInWhendrawingamandala,trydrawingtheshapesfirstandthenaddyourpatterns.
FinishedExampleWhenIfinishedcreatingthistemplate,itendeduplookinglikeangels.Ididnotwanttocreateamandalawithpatternsinwhichtheangeldesignwouldstandout.Imustsay,IhadahardtimewiththisonebecauseIdidnotwanttomodifythetemplateorchangeitbygoingoutsidethelines.Iwantedyoutoseehowtousethistemplateasis.However,takingastepbackandstartingwithmygo-toleafpattern,thedesignsstartedtotakeshapewithinthetemplate.Itrieddifferentpatternstofillinthetriangles,butintheend,Ilikedtheopenlookbest.
TemplateDesign:StarPowerThistemplatestartedwithacircleinthemiddle,andthenIaddedstarpointsusingstraightandcurvedlines.Ilikechangingupthepatternsometimestogivethetemplateabitofinterest.Toenclosethedesign,Iconnectedthestarpointswithacurvedlineandaddedtrianglesinbetween.
LettheTemplateTellYouAsyouarefillinginthetemplatewithyourpatterns,letitspeaktoyou.Lookatitandseewhatstartstoemerge.
FinishedExampleIbegandrawingmypatterninthecenter.AsIstartedaddingthedifferentpatterns,thetrianglesbegantolooklikeumbrellastome,soIwentwiththattocompletemymandala.
TemplateDesign:TonsofTurnsThistemplatejustspilledoutofme.Itwassimpletocreateandsimpletoworkwith.AlthoughIcouldnotthinkwhatpatterntouseinthecenter,Iwasstillabletomakeitwork.Thistemplateisveryversatile.Ifyouerasethecenterlines,youhavealargespacetofillinwithauniquedesignordrawing.Icanseeaddingeyesinallofthehalfcirclesandendupmakingthistemplateawhimsicalone.
FollowtheLeaderDrawingyourpatternscanbeassimpleasjustfollowingthedesignofthetemplateandrepeatingitwithlines.
FinishedExampleWhenIaddedmypatterns,IstartedfromtheoutsidebecauseIdidnotknowwhatpatternIwasgoingtodrawfortheinsideportionofthetemplate.WhenIgottothecenter,Istilldidnothaveapatterninmind,sofollowingtheinsidecurves,Ijustdrewcurvedlines.
TemplateDesign:CropCircleSwirlMyinspirationforthistemplatewascropcircles.IhadjustcomebackfromavisittoRoswell,NewMexico,andwhileIwasthere,Isawacropcirclesimilartothis.Thisisoneofmyfavoritetemplatesbecauseofthesimplicity.Usingfour
differentpatternsandrepeatingthemaroundthemandala,makingsuretherewasabalancebetweenthelightanddarkpatterns,broughtoutthismandala’struepotential.Thistemplateisveryversatile.Youcancreateadifferentpatternineachsectionorthesamepatternandmodifyasyoumoveontothenextsection.Iwouldusethistemplateasawhole,meaningIwouldnotdeleteanylinesasIworkedmypatternsin.Iwantedsomethingfuninthecenterbutdidnotwantittotakeawayfromthemaindesign,soIjustaddedalittlesomethingforinterestandthereyouhaveit.Ofcourse,youcouldmakeyourcenterpatternmoreelaborateorleaveitblankandaddatouchofcolorinthecenter.
RepeatandVaryDrawingpatternscanbeassimpleasrepeatingapattern.Youcanalsousethesamepatternandvaryitabit.Insteadofusingwhitedotsbycoloringinthebackground,Icouldjustaseasilyhavedrawninblackdots.
Chapter6
GettingCreative
Thischapterwilltakewhatyouhavelearnedaboutcreatingmandalasastepfurther.Sometimesafterrepeatedlycreatingthesamething,wegettothat“nowwhat?”phase.Weaskourselves,“WhatelsecanIdowiththis?HowcanItakethistothenextlevel?”Thefollowingprojectswillshowyouhowyoucancreate
mandalasinunconventionalwaysbyusingdifferentmethodsandtools.Solet’shavesomefunandseewhatwecancomeupwithtotakeourmandalasbeyondthe“nowwhat?”phase.
InspiredIdea:SnowflakesRememberaschildren,duringtheholidays,wemadesnowflakes?Rememberhowtheywerehungfromtheceiling,bringingtheoutdoorholidayseasoninside?Well,wearegoingtotakedownoneofthosesnowflakesanduseitasourpatterntocreateaone-of-a-kindmandala.Afterall,notwosnowflakesarethesame.
SUPPLIES
BonefolderBristolpaper,6 ⁄ "(17cm)squareNo.2pencilPigmaMicronpens(black):.25mm(01)and.5mm(08)Scissors
1 2
TracingpaperOptional:cardstock,craftknife,low-tacktape
SnowflakeDesignThisisthesnowflakeIstartedwith.
FinishedExampleAfterIdrewmysnowflakepattern,IhadnoideawhatIwasgoingtodrawnext.AsIcontinuedtolookatthepatternonthemandala,shapesstartedtoemerge.IdrewalinedownthemiddleoftheheartshapesandwhenIaddedaheavylinearoundtheshape,bugsstartedtoform.Iroundedthetrianglestomakeleaves.Iaddedlinesandshapesand,withoutrealizingit,beesandbutterfliesflewontomymandala.
1. Cuta6"(15cm)squarepieceoftracingpaper.Folditinhalfdiagonallytoformatriangle.Throughoutthesenextsteps,keepthefoldonthebottom.Markthecenterofthetriangleonthefold,lightlywithapencil.Drawaline,lightlywithapencil,fromthebottomcenterpointtothe
centertopofthetriangleonbothsidestoformaV.Taketherightsidebottompointofthetriangleandfoldituptotheleftpencilline.Nowtaketheleftsidebottompointofthetriangleandfoldituptotherightpencillineoredgeofthefoldontherightside.Yourtriangleisnowfoldedintothirds.Foldinhalfagain.
2. Withscissorsstarttocutoutvariousshapesfromeachsideofthetracingpaper(circles,squares,etc.).Cutoffthetoppartofthetriangle(oppositefromthepoint).
3. Openupthesnowflakeandcenteritonthebristolpaper.Withapencillightlydrawaroundthecutoutsandouteredgeofthesnowflake.Note:Tohelpkeepthesnowflakefrommovingaround,tapeitdownwithlow-tacktape.
4. Starttodrawyourshapesusingtheblack.25mmpen.Youcanusetheshapesasistocreatethemandala,orlinescanbeconnectedand/ortakenaway,creatingdifferentshapes.Usetheblack.5mmpentocolorinanddarkensomeoftheshapesandlines.
5. Eraseallpencillines.
SelectivelySliceKeepinmindwhencuttingoutyoursnowflakenottocutallthewaythroughtotheotherside;otherwise,yoursnowflakewillfallapart.Youcanalsodrawinadesignfirstbeforecuttingintothepaper.Ifyouwanttomakeyoursnowflakesturdier,glueittocardstockandthencutaroundtheshapesusingscissorsoracraftknife.
InspiredIdea:StencilsStencilsareagoodtooltohaveforcreatingmandalas.Stencilshelpcreatenotonlytheshapeforyoubutalsosomeofthepatterns.HereIhavetwodifferentexamplescreatedfromonestencil.Youcanseeadramaticdifferencebetweenthetwojustbychoosingwhichlinestouseornotuse.OnoneIusedaheavyline,andontheotherIwentforamoredelicatelook.Thechoiceisyours.
SUPPLIES
Bristolpaper,6 ⁄ "(17cm)square
No.2pencil
PigmaMicronpens(black):.25mm(01)and.5mm(08)
Stencil,smallerthan6 ⁄ "(17cm)square
1 2
1 2
StencilDesignThisisthestencilIstartedwith(PlaidFolkArtPaintingStencil#30606).
FirstFinishedExampleWiththisfirstexampleIwantedtokeepmostofthestencillinesandshapesinmymandalasoyoucouldseehowstencilscanbeused.Ifyoulookclosely,youcanseemostoftheshapesandlinesofthestencil.Ieliminatedveryfewofthelinesandenhancedothers.Keepingtruetothestencildesignmadeforaverysimpleandeasymandala.
1. Besuretochooseastencilthatwillfitonthepieceofbristolpaper.Centerthestencilonthepaper.
2. Withapencillightlytracearoundthestencil.3. Decidewhatlinesyouwanttousefromthelinesdrawn,either
connectingorremovingthem.Withthe.25mmpendrawoverthepencil
lines.Keepgoingoverthelines,addingmorelines,curves,circlesandshapesuntilyougetthelookyouwant.Usethe.5mmpentofillinshapesanddarkenlinesifdesired.
4. Eraseallpencillines.
TaketheSameStencilinDifferentDirectionsYoucanusethesamestencilrepeatedly.Bychoosingwhichlinestoconnectorremove,youwillgetadifferentlookeverytime.Youcanalsousethestencilasisandaddpatternstotheindividualsections.
SecondFinishedExampleThisexampleiscreatedusingthesamestencilbuthasaverydifferentlook.Iremovedalotofthestencillinesandshapestocreatemyowndesign.IwantedtoseehowdifferentIcouldmakethismandalalookfromthestencil.Istillkeptsomeofthebonesofthestencilbutmadeitmoremyown.
HowtoCreateYourOwnStencilsSupplies:Paper,stenciltemplate,pencil,permanentmarker,craftknifeOptional:Stencilcutter
1. Cutoutasquarefromapieceofpaper,anddrawyourdesigninpencil.Thesimplerthedesign,theeasieritwillbetocutout.Keepinmindthatsomeofthelinesneedtostayconnected;otherwise,thestencilwillfallapart.
2. Cutoutasquarefromthestenciltemplatetofityourdesign.Placethestenciltemplateoveryourdesignandtrace,usingapermanentmarker.
3. Cutoutyourdesignfromthestenciltemplateusingeitheracraftknifeorastencilcutter.
InspiredIdea:SpirographTheoriginsoftheSpirographasadrawingtoygobackto1908,whenasimilardevicecalledtheWondergraph,whichusedasystemofgearstoproducegeometricdrawings,wasmarketedbytheSearsandRoebuckCo.ThefirstSpirographtoywasmarketedbyKennerintheUnitedStatesin1965,andtoday,currentlyaHasbrotoy,itisanaturaltooltousewhenmakingmandalas.ThereisnoneedtoworryaboutmakingtheperfectcircleforyourmandalawhenusingaSpirograph;ittakestheguessingoutoftheequationforyou.TheSpirographhasanumberofcircles,squaresandtrianglesinalldifferentsizes;youcouldnotpossiblyrunoutofideasforcreatingyourmandalas.
SUPPLIES
Bristolpaper,6 ⁄ "(17cm)squareNo.2pencilPigmaMicronpens(black):.25mm(01)and.5mm(08)Spirograph
1 2
SpirographDesignThisistheSpirographdesignIstartedwith.
FinishedExampleIcouldhavestoppedattheinitialdesignwhenIdrewmymandala,butIaddedmorelinesandpatternsandfillinginhereandthere,andyoucanseeagreatdifferencebetweenthetwo.
1. FortheinnerpatternIchosewheel#144/96andusedhole6.Centeronthebristolpaperandbegintodrawthepatternusingthe.25mmpen.
2. FortheouterpatternIchosewheel#150/105andusedthesmallestcircle,andwithwheel#24Iusedhole1.Centeraroundtheinnerpatternandbegintodrawtheouterpatternwithyour.25mmpen.
3. Oncebothinitialpatternsaredrawn,starttoaddotherpatterns,lines,curves,circlesandothershapestodevelopthemandala.Alsotryjoiningsomeofthelinestogether.Usethe.5mmpentofillinshapesanddarkenlinesifdesired.
MakeaHomemadeSpirographYoucancreateyourownSpirographusingcogsandwheelsfromthehardwarestore.Oldclockpartscanalsobeused.
InspiredIdea:HalfandHalfIlovethelookofblackinkagainstwhitepaper,butIlovehowawhitepenagainstblackpaperlooksevenmoredramatic.HereIcombinedthetwointoone.Youcanbuytwo-tonedcoloredpaper,butIhaveneverseenblack-and-whitepaper.TosolvetheproblemIcutapieceofpaperinhalffromthewhiteandfromtheblackandtapedthetwotogether.TheonlyproblemIhadwhendrawingmymandalawasrememberingtoswitchpens.SometimesIwassointocreatingmymandalathatIforgot.
SUPPLIES
No.2pencilPapercutterorscissorsPapertape
PigmaMicronpen(black):.25mm(01)Ruler
SakuraGellyRollpen(white)WhitechalkpencilWhiteandblackcardstock
SimpleStartThisisthesimplehalfwhite/halfblackdesignIstartedwith.
FinishedExampleIhadalreadydrawnthismandalaawhilebackusingablackpenonwhitepaper.Ithoughtthiswastheperfecttimetoseewhatitwouldlooklikehalfblack/halfwhite.Ichosethisparticularmandalatodrawbecauseofitssimplicity.Youcanseethedesignclearly,soitiseasytoreplicate.Itisagreatbeginnerdesigntostartwithbecauseyougetatasteofwhatthistypeofmandalaisliketodrawwithouttoomuchdifficulty.
1. Cuta6 ⁄ "(17cm)squarefromboththewhiteandtheblackcardstock.Cutbothsquaresinhalf,thentapeablackhalfandawhitehalftogether.
1 2
Makesurethatbothhalvesbuttupagainsteachotherascloselyaspossible.
2. Drawlinesdiagonallyandacrossusingtheno.2pencilonthewhitesideandthewhitechalkpencilontheblackside.
3. Drawthemandalausingtheblack.25mmpenonthewhitesideandthewhiteGellyRollpenontheblackside.
4. Startwithacircleinthecenter,followedbyastararoundit.Drawanotherdoublecircle,fillingitinwithblackonthewhitesideandwhiteontheblackside.
5. Continuedrawingthedesignwithleaves,swirlsandlines.6. Eraseallpencillines.
Don’tSplitUpWhendrawingyourmandala,drawitasawholeandnotonesidefirstandthentheother.Forexample,donotdrawtotallyontheblacksideandtrytoduplicatethepatternonthewhiteside.Youwillnotgetthatevenflowandyourmandalamayenduplookingdisjointed.
InspiredIdea:IlluminatedLetterdThewordilluminatemeans“tofillwithlight.”DuringtheMiddleAges,ancientliteraturewastranscribedbymonkstohighlydecoratedtextscalled“illuminatedmanuscripts.”Theilluminatedletter,typicallythefirstletterofapageorparagraph,isenlargedanddecoratedwithgold.Anilluminatedlettermandalaislikeanyothermandala,exceptthereisa
letterinthecenter.Insteadofstartingwithacircleinthecenter,youarestartingwithyourletter.Yourlettercanbeaselaborateorasplainasyoulike.Therearemanytypesoffontsonline,sothereisnoneedtoworryaboutnotlikingyourhandwriting.Trydrawingyourpatternthroughyourletter.Itwillgiveyouatotallydifferenteffect.Experimentandseewhatyoulikebest.
SUPPLIES
Bristolpaper,6 ⁄ "(17cm)squareCompass
Goldleaf
GoldmetallicgelpenLetterofyourchoice(handdrawnorphotocopied)No.2pencilPigmaMicronpen(black):.25mm(01)Scissors
1 2
4"(10cm)squaredouble-sidedmountingadhesive
IlluminatedLetterDesignBeforestartingmydesign,Itracedpartofmyletterinthecenterofthedrawncircle.Thepartiallytracedletterismyregistrationmark.Registrationmarksnotonlygiveyouaguidetohelpplaceyourletterontoyourmandala,buttheyalsogiveyouaguideforwheretostartandendyourpattern(s).OnceIgottheplacementofmyletter,Iwasabletodeterminewheretostartdrawing.
FinishedDesignIlookedatsomeoldilluminatedlettersonlinetoseehowtheyweredecorated.Iwantedtokeepthatsamefeelinmymandala,soIchoseascroll.Idrewthepattern,keepingthedesignthesameandbalancedaroundmyletter.Inkeepingwiththeinsidepattern,Iaddedasimilarscrollpatternontheoutsideofthecircletofinishthedesign.
1. Inpencil,drawortracetheletteryouhavechosenonthedouble-sidedmountingadhesive.Cuttheletterout.Savetheotherpieceforanotherproject.
2. Onthebristolpaper,drawa5"(13cm)diametercircleinthecenterwiththeblack.25mmpen.Centertheletterinthecircleanddrawregistrationmarksforplacingtheletter.Thenremovetheletteranddrawyourdesign.Note:Yourdesigncanbedrawneitherbeforeorafteryouplaceyourletterinthecircle.
3. Peelawaythepaperfromthebacksideoftheletterandplaceitinthecenterofthecircle,matchinguptheregistrationmarks.Ifthedesignwasnotdrawnbeforehand,finishdrawingitnow.
4. Whenyouarefinishedwithyourdesign,peelawaythetoplayerofthepaperfromyourletterandapplythegoldleaffollowingthemanufacturer’sinstructions.
5. Outlinetheletterwiththegoldmetallicgelpen.6. Optional:Addanotherdesignaroundtheoutsideofyourmandalacircle.
GiveColoraTryIncreatingthismandala,Iusedgoldleafing,butyoucanusecolorinstead.
Chapter7
Gallery
Ilovegoingtoartgalleriesandlookingatallthedifferentartworksondisplay.Iliketoseewhatnewtechniques,stylesandideasareoutthere.Creativeandtalentedartistsalwaysfascinateme.Iloveabookormagazinethathasagallerysection.Itshowshowindividualartistshavetakenanideaanduseditinmultipleanduniqueways.Iamamazedhowartistscancomeupwithsomanycreative
anduniqueways.Iamamazedhowartistscancomeupwithsomanycreativeideas.Thepossibilitiesseemendless.Tothatend,ImustsayIamamazedthatIcreatedallofthesedifferent
mandalasmyself.Asyoulookthroughthischapter,viewitasifyouwereinanartgallery,gazinguponallthedifferentartworks.Donotjustglanceateachone,butbeinspiredtoeithertryoneorallofthesemandalasorcomeupwithyourownuniqueartpiece.Trytotakesomethingfromeachone.Creatingthesemandalasnotonlychallengedmetothinkoutsidethebox,but
alsopushedmetomakeeachmandalauniquelydifferent.Sometimesyoudonotknowwhatyoucandountilyougothroughthechallenge.Ihopeyouwillchallengeyourselftodothesame,butmostimportantly,Ihopeyouhavefunintheprocess.
LotusBloomAlthoughthismandalahasmanylinesthroughout,Ithinkithasadelicatelook.Usually,ifthereisastrongcenterasinthisone,Iwillmaketheoutsidestrongaswellforbalance.IdidnotfeelLotusBloomneededthis.IfIhad,Ithinkitwouldhavetakenawayfromthedelicatelookofthedesign.LookingatAsiandesignsinthepast,thisdesignremindedmeofthelotusflowerinbloom.
AStitchinTimeAswiththemandalaHolliinChapter4,thecenterdesignmadedoublepetalswhendrawingthelargerpetal.ThistimeIusedlinestofillinhalfoftheinsidepetals.Itgivesthedesignalightandopenfeel.Thewhitelinesagainsttheblackbackgroundreallyenhancethedesignofthismandala.Thedashmarksaroundthedesignremindmeofhandstitching,andsinceittookmesometimetodrawthis…well,youknowwhereIamgoingwiththisinnamingthemandalaAStitchinTime.
ArrowheadsIusedblackpenontancardstockforthismandala.Noticethatthismandalausesmostlystraightlinesforthedesign.Asyousee,youcangetadramaticeffectusingonlylines.Isawarrowheads:round,pointedandfanned.
ThereIwastryingdifferentloopsandcircleswhendrawingthismandala.Ilikethesimplicityofthisdesign.Theloopsconnectingwitheachothermakethemandalalooklacy.Whenitcametimetogiveitaname,theonlythingthatcametomindwasTherebecauseIthought,There,I’mdone.
WeepingWillowHerewehaveanotherwhitemandaladesignonadarkbackground.Onceagain,youcanseehowthesimplewhitelinesonblackpaperhaveadramaticeffectonthedesign.Thewaytheloopshangoverremindsmeofawillowtree.
TryLightonDarkTryusingblackordarkbackgroundpaperwithsimplelinedrawingsusingawhitepen.Drawlinescloseandfarapartandseewhatemergesfromyourdesign.
EyeoftheStormHereisanothermandalaontancardstock,butthistimeIusedawhitepenanddrewmyfavoritego-topattern,leaves.Thismandalahasverysimplelinesandcirclesdrawnaroundtheleafpattern.Althoughitisveryopen,thelinesandcirclesfillitinjustenoughtomakeitinteresting.Theopencircleinthecenterlookslikethecenterofatornadoortwister.Ihaveneverpersonallyseenone,butthatishowIimagineonewouldlookintheeyeofthestorm.
CircusTentHereIdrewanothermandalaontancardstockusingawhitepen.WiththismandalaIusedmostlytriangles,linesandafewcircles/ovalsformypattern.Unintentionally,themandalaendeduplookinglikeacircustentfromabird’s-eyeview.Thetrianglesontheoutsideandthelineswithdotslooklikestakesholdingtheropesonthetent.
Snails’PaceWitheachofthepreviousmandalas,Iusedmostlylines,keepingitsimple.Iwantyoutofeelsimplicitywithadramaticeffect.Here,withSnails’Pace,Iamstillusingmostlylines,butnowIamaddingmorepatterning,weightedlinesandfill-ins.WhenIdrawmandalas,thecenterseemstodictatehowthemandalaisgoingtoendup.Eachpatterntellsmewhatthenextoneshouldbe.IhaveasignaturepatternthatIliketousefrequentlywithmymandalastofinishthem:swirledcircles.
ThistimeIaddedlittleantennasandturnedmyswirledcirclesintosnailsmovingaroundthemandala.
TakeaBreakSometimes,whenIamstuckandIdonotknowwhatpatterntodrawnext,Iwalkawayforawhileorsimplyfinishitthenextday.Youdon’talwayshavetofinishamandalainonesitting.
whileorsimplyfinishitthenextday.Youdon’talwayshavetofinishamandalainonesitting.IttooktheOldMastersalotlongerthanonedaytocompletetheirmasterpieces.
MichaelCreatingmandalasisnotonlyenjoyable,butitcanbeagreatmeditativepastime.Releasingthatnegativeenergycanturnintosomethingpositiveandbeautiful.Forme,thismandalaholdsadeeppersonalmeaning.Icreateditaftermyeldestson,Michael,passedawaytwodaysafterMother’sDay.Idrewthismandalatokeepmymindoccupiedandtogetmethroughadifficulttime,anditdid.
SoapBubblesThismandalaremindsmeofthesongbyDonHo:“Tinybubbles,inthewine,makemehappy,makemefeelfine.”AmIdatingmyself?Anyway,whenIfinisheddrawingthis,Isawasoapdesign—onethatmightbeseenfloatinginwaterasitgoesdownthedrainafterwashingdishes.
LettheMusicMoveYouHavemusicplayinginthebackgroundasyoucreateyourmandala.Themoodofthesongcaninfluencewhatyoudraw.
TowersTraditionallymandalasaredrawnround.Ichosetostartwithasquarewiththismandala,addingdiagonalsquaresaroundtheperimeterofthesquaremandala.Ifyoutakeacloserlook,youcanseethatnotallthelinesthatformthedesignarestraight.Haveyoueverseenapicturelookingdownontoacityscape?Thismandalaremindsmeoftalltowers
hoveringoverthelandscapeofabigcity.
WithaCherryonTopThismandalastartedwithacandyswirlinthecenterandamodifiedversionoftheTanglepatternZinger.Insteadofdrawingastraightcircle,Idrewaslightlycurved,weightedlinearoundtheoutside.Ifinishedtheoutsideofthecirclewithmyswirledcircles.AfterIfilledinthecirclesabovethepattern,theZingerlookedlikeacherryontopofachocolatesundae.
FansThecenterisaflowerpatternwithlinesadded,andthefilled-inshapesaroundthecenterflowermimictheindentationofeachpetal.Thestraightlinesaroundtheflowerdesignendeduplookinglikefansaroundthemandala.Doublecurvedtriangles,withtheinsidetrianglefilledinandapetalshapeinbetween,finishedthemandala.
OpticalIllusionIalreadyknewIwasgoingtocreateamandalathatwasgoingtobeaflowerinitself.IdrewtheTanglepatternAurkasforthecenterofthismandala.Iwantedthepatterntobeboldforthisparticulardesign.Toseparatethepetalsfromthecenterdesign,Iaddedcirclesaroundthecenterpattern.Imustsay,afterfinishingthismandala,itmademedizzy.AsIlookedatit,itseemedtobemoreofanopticalillusion.Itstillmakesmedizzytolookatitnow.
VectorThedefinitionofvectoris“aquantityhavingdirectionaswellasmagnitude,especiallyasdeterminingthepositionofonepointinspacerelativetoanother.”Iwouldsaythismandalafitsthatdescription.Tofinishthemandala,Idrewasquarearounditanddividedthecornerswithtriangles.Doingthismadethecenterdesignpop.
MaiseThedesignforthismandalawasalreadystartingtotakeforminmyheadbeforeIsatdowntodraw.Iwantedthedesigntobeacircleinasquarewithintersectinglines.Thelookwascleanbutemptyandboring.Iknewitneededmore.Withaddedlines,curvesandangles,mymandalastartedtotakeonamazelook.So,thereyouhaveit:Maise.
DaisyDoTomakethismandala,Iusedasnowflakepattern—agreatwaytogetyoustartedbecauseallyouhavetodoistracearoundtheopenspaceandyouhavethestartofyourmandala(seetheSnowflakesprojectinChapter6).Icutoutasnowflakeandtracedarounditonmypaper.Byconnectingand/ordeletinglines,Icreatedthisdesignfromthatsnowflakepattern.Thetipslooklikedaisiesthatdowanttospringoutintothesunshine.
AbouttheAuthor
DeborahA.Pacéisanaward-winningmulti/mixed-mediaartistandworkshopinstructor.SheisaCertifiedZentangleTeacherandSulkyInstructor.DeborahhasbeenpublishedintwoNorthLightBooks,ZenDoodle:TonsofTanglesandZenDoodle:OodlesofDoodles.Shestartedinfashionattheageoftwelve,andfromthereherinterestsandtalentsgrew.Sheisnotonlyaquiltartistanddesignerbutafiberartistaswell.AlongwithquiltingDeborahmakesandsellsherownjewelryandpaperart.SheiscurrentlyworkingondesigningaTanglepatternmarketbagforsaleinthenearfuture.Herinterestsarealwaysgrowing,andsheisalwaysworkingandexperimentingonnewdesignsandlearningnewtechniques.DeborahisamemberofQuiltVisions,SAQA(StudioArtQuiltAssociates)andWAC(WearableArtsConnection)[email protected],orvisitheratherblog,dpacreations.blogspot.com.
Acknowledgments
Firstandforemost,IwouldliketothankGodforthetalentsHegavemeandtheabilitytousethem;F+Wfortheopportunitytowritethisbook;tomyhusband,DougPirie,forsupportingmethroughallthisandbeingeversopatientwithme;andlast,butnotleast,Iwouldliketothankyou,thereader,forpurchasingmybook.
CreatingMandalas.Copyright©2015byDeborahA.Pacé.Allrightsreserved.NopartofthiseBookmaybereproducedinanyformorbyanyelectronicormechanicalmeansincludinginformationstorageandretrievalsystemswithoutpermissioninwritingfromthepublisher,exceptbyareviewerwhomayquotebriefpassagesinareview.PublishedbyNorthLightBooks,animprintofF+WMedia,Inc.,10151CarverRoad,Suite200,BlueAsh,OH45242.(800)289-0963.
OtherfineNorthLightproductsareavailablefromyourlocalbookstore,artsupplystoreoronlinesupplier.Visitourwebsiteatfwmedia.com.
eISBN:9781440341885
Thise-bookedition:November2015