Art & religion are both inventions of the extraordinary human brain that use the creative forces to conceive a history and a future. They are related to the emotional centres of the human brain that express emotionally and satisfactory explanations for human existence on the Earth.
Mandala is one such element.
Unknowingly, you may have created a mandala before without ever understanding it. Ever tried cutting a paper in the shape of a snowflake, or doodling a repeating pattern on a notepad? We feel innately attracted to these intricate patterns. It is a proven fact that drawing 'mandalas' can help reduce stress and anxiety. Hence, in today's blog, we are going to talk about how you can draw a Mandala and list down the art supplies for Mandala art.
What is a Mandala?
Mandala is a religious symbol belonging to Buddhist and Asian culture. It is a geometric amalgamation of characters which is often used for focusing the attention of practitioners and masters, as a medium for spiritual instruction, for the creation of holy space and as an aid to meditate and create trance.
The word 'Mandala' is derived from ancient India's Sanskrit language, which means 'sacred circles'. They are always symmetrical, and they drive your focus to its centre.
"Each person's life is like a mandala – a vast, limitless circle. We stand in the centre of our own circle, and everything we see, hear and think forms the Mandala of our life." - Pema Chodron
A Mandala is an arrangement replicated in a circular pattern with basic shapes. We may look at nature - flowers such as roses, marigolds, and dahlias; swirls in a water body; and snowflakes, as well as ancient art for representations of mandalas. During the first century B.C., the first Mandalas were believed to be made by Buddhist monks. Later, it spread to Asia, Tibet, China, and Japan.
In Hinduism and Buddhism, Mandalas have profound meaning and represent the world in the largest as well as the tiniest sense. In Tibetan Buddhism, breaking Mandalas has a significant philosophical meaning of how fragile life is and that everything on this Earth is temporary. It also means that one should appreciate the beauty without missing it when it is gone.
Mandala art helps you focus, get clarity in terms of mind and spirit; it is almost like meditating like any art form is! Hence, the art of creating Mandala (and destroying it) is a great art form, a spiritual practice and a way to meditate.
What do Mandalas represent?
The mandalas that we see today are not inherently religious or in conformity with any unique spiritual context. But it is important to remember that mandalas are holy artefacts in Buddhism and Hinduism that represent both the cosmos and the pursuit of an individual for enlightenment. Mandalas reflect the journey of life, to enlightenment and self-realization.
Mandalas are immensely common as decorations, wall art, tattoos, greeting cards and so on. So, before we learn how to draw a Mandala, let's list down the necessary Mandala art supplies.
A list of art supplies for Mandala:
The art supplies needed to draw a Mandala is pretty simple and is available in variety at the King's Framing & Art Gallery.
You'll need,
1. Paper
Our recommended drawing papers are,
Fabriano Mixed Media 40 Sheets Block - Fabriano Mixed Media is a versatile, multipurpose product that combines the characteristics of watercolour and acrylic papers with those of drawing papers.
Fabriano Accademia Sketching Pads - These Pads are made of high-quality lignin-free and acid-free cellulose, guaranteeing long conservation over time.
2. Something to draw circles with (like a geometry compass)
Our recommended products,
Staedtler Mars 559 - 7 Piece Compass 7-Piece Set - This seven-piece set contains all the tools you'd require to make a Mandala. Tool are made from metal & distortion-free glass-fibre reinforced plastic.
3. A ruler
Our recommended rulers,
Pro Art Cork Back Stainless Steel Rulers - Flexible, sturdy stainless-steel rulers have a cork back for safe, non-skid use at home, school or the office.
Pro Art Calibrated Transparent Plastic Ruler - Scholastic drawing instruments made of topaz tinted plastic for contrast and easy visibility. Resistant to breakage and will not discolour.
4. Pencil & eraser
You can opt for coloured pencils to fill in the colours or use them to outline your design.
Our recommended pencils & eraser,
Faber Castell Pencil Eraser Perfection 7058B With Brush - Mandala art has intricate details, hence for precise erasing this is the best pick for the eraser. It comes with a brush at the other end of the pencil to dust off the rubber remains.
Check out a variety of other erasers here.
Staedtler Mars Graphite Pencils - These sturdy graphite pencils are the best quality pencils, perfect for drawing. Get a variety of them at King's Framing & Art Gallery!
Tombow Mono Professional Drawing Pencils - The Professional quality pencil for drawing and drafting is a favourite among many artists and illustrators because of its superior extra-refined, high-density graphite, smear-proof lines and high point strength.
5. Markers, coloured pencils or pens
Our recommended products,
Derwent Inktense 72 Pencil Tin Set - Pure, vibrant water-soluble ink pencils that combine the intensity of pen and ink with the versatility of line and wash. Use them to create strong, vivid tones then wash over with water for a translucent ink-like effect.
Faber Castell Polychromos Artists' Assortment Colour Pencils - The high-quality standards of the Polychromos coloured pencils shine through, whether they are used for graphics, artistic freestyle or the exact rendition of plans.
Prismacolor Premier Coloured Pencils - Each coloured pencil features a thick, soft core made from brilliant, light-resistant pigments, to ensure smooth, rich lay-down and colour saturation. The colours are effortlessly blended, slow to wear, break-resistant, and waterproof.
Sharpie Fine Marker - Add that extra shine on your Mandala with the Sharpie Fine marker. Works on both light and dark surfaces with the same bold, smooth and no- shake performance. Quick-drying, fade- and water-resistant ink. Available in Bronze Metallic, Silver Metallic & Gold Metallic.
How to draw a Mandala?
It is super quick to draw a mandala by hand if you prepare for it with some simple drawing tools beforehand.
- With the help of the geometry compass or anything that you have to draw a big circle, draw a circle with the centre of the page as your focus.
- Utilize this same focal point to draw other circles inside this bigger circle. You can also do vice-versa, drawing small to big consecutive circles one after the other. It is not necessary to keep an equal distance between the circles. Ensure that all circles have the same centre point because Mandala art is symmetrical.
- After you are done drawing circles, draw a vertical and horizontal line that cuts the circles in the middle, resulting in vertical and horizontal semi-circles.
- Now, as per your preference, you can split these quarters into more quarters in the same way at different angles. Each wedge should be the same size. Thus, you'll create a grid that will serve as a guideline, which you can erase later.
- Unleash your creative juices, and let the fun begin. Start from the centre, and draw any shape or pattern you want inside a wedge. Repeat that same design in the other wedges next to it, and the one next to it until all wedges of a circle are covered. You will see mini-Mandala! The narrower your drawing, the more snowflake-like points around the circle you would get.
- Now work your way outward in a similar manner. Remember, Mandala art is symmetrical, so what you draw in one wedge of a circle, repeat it in other wedges of that circle. When you change the circle, you can change the pattern. In the end, you will see a large Mandala, and the experience will be nothing less than a therapy!
Also, you can make use of Mandala stencil like the Crafters Workshop Stencil - Orb Mandala for Scrapbooking, Cardmaking, Art Journals, Mixed-Media, Collages, Paper Arts, Surface Design, Quilting, Stencilling, Home décor, metal dies and more.
The result is a beautiful Mandala!
Keep in mind that this whole process should be relaxing. Don't stress yourself if you make mistakes. Let the drawing of a mandala carry you to a quieter, more relaxing place.
Calm the monkey mind as you draw your Mandala, and take you away from the routine, mundane life, schedules, problems and worries. The idea is to zone out and let yourself into a state of artistic flow! So, gather some aromatic candles, play some good music, gather the Mandala art supplies, and release the creative juices in the 'sacred circles' called Mandala.
